Engine won't start - burnt out starter motor?

[Niander]

Take the injector/s out [if no decompreser]and turn the engine ...the correct direction it should turn fully...[then you know engine is ok];probably]
if you don't know how you should by now ;]

 

[NormanS]

Take the injector/s out [if no decompreser]and turn the engine ...the correct direction it should turn fully...[then you know engine is ok];probably]
if you don't know how you should by now ;]

It's a lot of work to take the injectors out. A 24mm ring spanner, or socket, on the end of the crankshaft, taken slowly, will overcome normal compression, and confirm that the engine is free to turn.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I'm not sure if yoi missed what i was saying
By this I mean turn the key, hear the click (pinion now engaged) then short across the solenoid terminals. Engine should turn over. You could make a slightly more permanent arrangement with starter cable if not in easy reach of a place to get spares.

I agree with you on that.

What I was refering to is that if you short the big terminals without turning the key to engage the pinion and the starter motor will turn without any load and would then confirm that the motor itself was OK and not not turning due to a jammed/seized engine. If the starter motor turned due to shorting the big terminals and the solenoid clicked the most likely cause would be faulty solenoid contacts.

 

[vyv_cox]

It's a lot of work to take the injectors out. A 24mm ring spanner, or socket, on the end of the crankshaft, taken slowly, will overcome normal compression, and confirm that the engine is free to turn.

Exactly. The OP said it would turn half way but no further, not sure whether this was with the starter motor or not. First thing to check, as I and others have said, is that the fault is not a seizure of the engine. Probably not but something you definitely need to know before trying again with a refurbished starter motor.

 

[charles_reed]

Exactly. The OP said it would turn half way but no further, not sure whether this was with the starter motor or not. First thing to check, as I and others have said, is that the fault is not a seizure of the engine. Probably not but something you definitely need to know before trying again with a refurbished starter motor.

Re-reading, starter motor "clicks" no engine movement, but can be turned half a revolution by hand.

Fail to see why/how he could have water in cylinders. Sounds more like a solenoid failure. From photos the starter appears to be non pre-engaged.
Maybe the solenoid got drenched changing the coolant pipe?

 

[demonboy]

Exactly. The OP said it would turn half way but no further, not sure whether this was with the starter motor or not. First thing to check, as I and others have said, is that the fault is not a seizure of the engine. Probably not but something you definitely need to know before trying again with a refurbished starter motor.

Thanks for all your replies. Since taking out the starter motor I am able to turn the engine fully.

I received a call this morning with good news that the mechanic on the mainland has found the fault with the starter motor and has managed to fix it. I won't receive it until tomorrow night to reinstall, however, and the shop manager is not in today to get a further breakdown of the problem. My contact has send a blurred photograph of what looks like the rear end of the motor but couldn't tell me anything more than 'some fibreglass needed to be replaced'. I'm not sure if he is talking about the brushes, but should find out more tomorrow.

The rest of the thread on decompression may (hopefully) not be relevant but it's an area of weakness for me so I've bookmarked it for future reference.

Will update tomorrow when I know more.

Thanks,

Jamie