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MG MGB Technical - Starter buzz

Today while starting my 71 MGB the starter did not engage but buzzed instead. Not a click, but a constant buzz while the key was in the start position. After several attempts, the starter did engage and away I went. It felt like the starter wasn't even trying to engage, just buzzing. The noise I heard was from the passenger foot well area, or where the starter is. Any ideas?? Thank you
G Nicholas

Low battery volts, insufficient to pull the solenoid in.
Check battery terminals and connection at solenoid.
Herb
Herb Adler

Bendix pinion stuck on the motor shaft. Needs cleaning and a light oil.
Art Pearse

If the noise is more like a chattering then bad connections or low voltage as Herb says.

If a Bendix jams you just get a clonk, but that would only be on the earlier inertia starters. It could just be the solenoid (on what should be a pre-engaged starter on a 71) failing to push the gear into engagement with the flywheel so the motor is spinning freely, and that makes more of a whine than a chatter. This would not be because the gear has jammed on the shaft, because that would stop the solenoid moving far enough to energise the motor, but because whatever pushes the gear has failed.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for the thoughts. I think it is the starter drive, and the noise I hear is the starter spinning. But my battery is 7 years old, and the cable to the positive cable could use a renew anyways, so I'll start there and see where this ends. Thanks again.
G Nicholas

I had my battery tested, and it needed replacement. So with a new battery and new positive cable end at the battery I tried several starts, all good. Time will tell I guess, but for now it looks good.
Glen
G Nicholas

This thread was discussed between 30/05/2013 and 01/06/2013

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