Where to get starter solenoid?

[Slow_boat]

I have to tap the starter solenoid on my Perkins Prima M50 with a spanner to get it to work. Obviously I need a new solenoid but my local car spares place reckons they can only get a full starter motor assembly. The boat is three hundred miles away so I can't take it off to compare.

Any suggestions where I could get a solenoid?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have to tap the starter solenoid on my Perkins Prima M50 with a spanner to get it to work. Obviously I need a new solenoid but my local car spares place reckons they can only get a full starter motor assembly. The boat is three hundred miles away so I can't take it off to compare.

Any suggestions where I could get a solenoid?

Is it a pre-engaged starter? When I needed a solenoid for a Lucas starter motor I was able to buy one from my local Lucas shop. I think all of those have closed now, so I suggest you look up "Auto electrician" in the Yellow Pages and ask if they can help. However, you may well not need a new solenoid. If tapping helps something is sticking, and you may be able to remove, dismantled, clean and grease it.

 

[Gordonmc]

I had the same problem, different engine.
No need to remove the starter motor.
On mine the solenoid (pre-engage) is mounted on the starter motor assembly with two allen bolts.
After disconnecting the battery and low voltage cables the solenoid casing, piston and spring came away easily:

After cleaning off the corrosion and treating to vaseline and Corrosion Block the refitting was a reverse of the strip-down, 'though making sure the end of the piston locates on the fork of the engage lever properly.

 

[vyv_cox]

I agree with the others, a bit of TLC is probably all it needs. Quite easy to do. It's well worth running a file over the main electric contacts while the solenoid is off, they become pitted after a time and benefit from cleaning up.

 

[VicS]

Also I would have thought worthwhile making sure the starter motor pinion moves freely and that the mechanism between the solenoid and the pinion is free.
It should be possible to check this once the solenoid is removed without removing the entire starter unless it proves to be necessary.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Also I would have thought worthwhile making sure the starter motor pinion moves freely and that the mechanism between the solenoid and the pinion is free.
It should be possible to check this once the solenoid is removed without removing the entire starter unless it proves to be necessary.

Also worth checking the state of the ring gear teeth and lightly dressing with a file if they are burred.

 

[Slow_boat]

Thanks, all. Looks like a job when we go back for our last cruise of the year in a couple of weeks.

Then I suppose we'll have to get jobs for the winter. :-(

 

[pampas]

New caps and bridge pieces for most makes are readily available, better to renew than file. Possibly worn or sticky brushes are the usual cause of your symptons. now to get shot down for saying that.

 

[Bilgediver]

I have to tap the starter solenoid on my Perkins Prima M50 with a spanner to get it to work. Obviously I need a new solenoid but my local car spares place reckons they can only get a full starter motor assembly. The boat is three hundred miles away so I can't take it off to compare.

Any suggestions where I could get a solenoid?

Sometimes all the fettling and other tinkering will do nothing as the coil might have burnt out. I went to a Scottish company who with the details of the Bosch starter on my MD2b had no problem identifying the matching solonoid. I was happy to pay £27 as the last one many years ago was more than twice that.

Check out your local motor factors and for those in Scotland Dingbro now sell much more than filters.

http://www.dingbro.com/

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sometimes all the fettling and other tinkering will do nothing as the coil might have burnt out.

True, but in this case the OP says tapping the solenoid works, which it wouldn't if the coil was burnt out.