M20 starter not engaging

Post Sat Oct 25, 2014 12:49 pm

Hi imnfinishing my m52 conversion I have the lightened m20 flywheel and the m20 starter but when you go to start it it won't engage? The motor turns freely and I have tested the starter on the bench and it works. I've also went straight to the starter and put 12vs down it like on the bench and it just makes a clicking noise?

Any help would be much appreciated

Jon

Post Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:54 pm

The power cable came off the battery so now it comes out and spins but doesn't want to engage the flywheel and I have tried 2 starters? Surely not both starters have gone they're came out of my car working! There isn't something silly I'm missing?

Post Sat Oct 25, 2014 8:48 pm

and1_e30 wrote:The power cable came off the battery so now it comes out and spins but doesn't want to engage the flywheel and I have tried 2 starters? Surely not both starters have gone they're came out of my car working! There isn't something silly I'm missing?

hi, The reason you hear the clicking noise because the starter not in good position, the small gear hit the flywheel. So just try to move the starter up a bit and everything will be fine.

Post Sat Oct 25, 2014 9:43 pm

Slacken the bolts off about a turn and then see if it engages.

If so you likely have missed a dowel from the gearbox when fitting the box.

Post Sat Oct 25, 2014 10:01 pm

ok cheers ill try that tomorrow the dowel I'm sure there all in, how would a dowel matter surely if all the bolts are in it shouldn't matter? i have also turned the engine loads of time and tried starting it in different positions

Post Sun Oct 26, 2014 2:44 pm

I've slackened the bolts off then I've take the gearbox out and check all the dowels and there in? I don't see how it is doing it as in the starter can't move I've even elongated the holes abit so u have a bit of play so I can move it up and down a touch and still nothing?

Post Sun Oct 26, 2014 5:26 pm

right i have 2 starters and tryed both i found out that one isn't working. i have taken both apart and put the teeth on the flywheel one fits and one doesn't the one that fits is the broken one and it 10tooth instead of 9. i have a part number on it which is 63223433 magnetic marelli but what is the bmws part number as i can't find it out.

cheers

jon

Post Sun Oct 26, 2014 5:37 pm

BMW 12411279747
BMW 12411718750
BMW 12411719999
BMW 12411720643
BMW 12411725786
BMW 12411726504
BMW 12411726508
BMW 12411735608

Post Sun Oct 26, 2014 5:56 pm

cheers mate i can't seem to find them on euro shall i just go on eBay and get one? sorry to be a pain

Post Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:17 pm

everyone I've found is all 9teeth not 10? i can't for the life of me find a 10tooth one. the numbers on the starter i type in google and eBay they all come up as 9tooth starters does anyone sell a 10tooth? really frustrating i really need to get the car sorted and on the road!

Post Sun Oct 26, 2014 11:05 pm

Could you not get the 10tooth one repaired?

Post Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:22 am

That's what I was thinking but surely they still make them :s it's confusing I've searched and I've found one bloke in Australia a few years ago with that problem but it doesn't say if he got a new starter or not! And I can't seen to sign up to that forum to message him