MGB & GT Forum

Starter from a 77 mgb. How would i go about bench testing it? It has been salvaged at some point with wires cut. If someone has a photo that would help. Thanks. B.

How complete is it? Pic's?

Its complete with solenoid. someone has simply cut the wires. It has a foot of the battery cable which i tried to jump but nothing happened.

using a battery,and jumper cables...connect the pos cable to the post where the heavy cable is- on the starter, and ground the negative cable to the body of the starter. Help, does this sound right?

Lay starter on floor hook up batt and jumper cables pos to big post neg to body
it will move suddenly as power applied hold with foot before jumping..

You should see the solenoid extend the gear and the gear start spinning. If that's not happening, I don't know where to go from there, but I'd just jump directly to the high torque starter. Nearly everyone says they are more reliable. I tried half heartedly to remove the cap of the starter, but IIRC, it has screws not bolts, and they were hard to get leverage on and defied my first efforts to release them.

don't you have to apply power (jumper from big post) to the ign post on the solenoid?

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current changes-
Delco 63 amp alternator, Energy/Prothane suspension bushings, front to rear, JVC deck with IPOD controls, new Moss radiator, ADCO front 7/8" sway bar, OD black label trans, chrome bumper conversion, tan leather interior, AA wire block.

future mods-VTO 8 spoke 15x6 wheels (on order)

Aquired parts-
snug top

Clarity and expansion on Bernard's post.

Using two people might be helpful.

Starter on the floor.

Hook jumper cable from battery positive to the post on the solenoid that previously was connected to the car battery.

Hook other jumper cable from battery negative to an ear on the starter mount flange.

Place your foot firmly on the starter, effectively stabilizing it.

Now use a jumper wire to briefly connect the previously attached positive cable joint to the small blade connector on the solenoid between the two larger cable terminals.

The starter should be immediately energized as the pinion gear is snapped back toward the solenoid body and the starter motor itself begins to spin.

Do this several times and make sure that the "rapid deployment" happens without hesitation.

Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order.

The above tests both the starter and solenoid.

If you wanted to just test the starter motor by itself you could make your positive connection to the post on the solenoid that has the very short cable disappearing into the starter and THEN make your ground connection. The motor should then begin to spin.

If you wanted to just test the solenoid you would use the jumper cable from the battery negative to the assembly body and a single wire between the battery positive and the small central blade terminal of the solenoid.

Jack

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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2011-01-14 08:54 AM by twigworker.

Or you could take it to Auto Zone or Advanced Auto etc, and have them test it. Go during the middle of the week during the day when they are bored.

Without load testing the starter, you'll never know how many Amps it draws while cranking. That makes a bench test fairly useless. Auto parts store testers have some load capability, but generally bad starter performance has more to do with proper power supply and grounding at the car.

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jeff@advanceddistributors.com

I asked the same question just a short while back. After getting help from this forum I made this picture for future reference. Hope it helps.
Mick