Starter motor fixing

[jagpeter]

I thought that I was quite handy with the spanners but the wretched top bolt on the starter motor is troublesome nd keeps working loose. I find that a socket with a raft of extensions can almost fit the nut ( at the front) but there is so little room next to the solenoid that my socket will not fit sufficently well to apply any turning moment !. Similarly at the bolt end I have yet to find a long enougth 1/2 '' spanner to fit !
Am I just incompetent or is there a technique that does not involve dismantling half the engine ?
Peter
557 EXK FHC

[Charles Russell]

Did you take the go through the access plate on the passanger side of the transmission tunnel to get to the starter top bolt?

Charlie

[andyp]

Or the drivers side if you are in the UK.

You can just do it from underneath but it is tight and you do need to be right under it.

The factory workshop manual suggests removing the distrubtor to make room to get it out but I managed without.

Andy

[Heuer]

I used an Allen bolt to replace the hex bolt and the Allen key allowed me enough room to apply some torque (with the aid of a Mole grip I seem to recall).

[Moeregaard]

I know this is citing the obvious, but since I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, here goes:

DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND REMOVE WATCHES AND JEWELRY BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELECTRICAL!

Some years back a friend allowed the gold bracelet he was wearing to complete the circuit between battery and ground. He now has a scar showing a very nice imprint of the chain's pattern around his wrist.

[stradman]

Some years back a friend allowed the gold bracelet he was wearing to complete the circuit between battery and ground. He now has a scar showing a very nice imprint of the chain's pattern around his wrist.

Nice one!