starter solenoid problem

[dajl]

Having a chronic problem with starter solenoid on Tilton starter on Lola 342 FF. Have had starter rebuilt and checked by starter shop. Had solenoid replaced in summer>shop said vibration caused solenoid to jam. New solenoid worked but then problem returned. Solenoid seemed to hang requiring a hammer tap on solenoid to get it to work. Seems to be worse when car warm and on restarts versus when car sat idle for long time. Also problem getting worse with time. As expected, in my last race, I spun, stalled, and was left with dead car pointing in the wrong direction in the middle of the track. No fun watching cars come at you until the tow truck arrives to push start you. Got black flagged out of race. UGH.

Bottom line: have read posts re solenoid problems due to vibration and that's my issue. What's the best fix to end this misery. I have had chronic problems with Tilton starter and solenoid esp over past years, resulting in lost track time!

Thanks......

[Paul LeCain]

As you've seen, the solenoids on the Tilton starters don't last a long time. The good news is they're only about $35-40 each. I always carry a couple with me.

Heat shields help, but not a great deal.

Replace the solenoid once or twice a year as a matter of maintenance. And if the starter ever sounds 'funny' when you use it, replace the solenoid immediately.

[S Lathrop]

The problem may not be the starter.

Bell housings of that vintage are very easily bent and that will cause the starter and ring gear to be miss aligned. This will cause the starter gear to hang in the ring gear teeth.

If the bell housing has been hammering the ground, it for sure will be bent.

[DaveW]

Back in the '70's when I owned a Triumph TR4, its starter solenoid plunger wore a groove in its housing from engine vibration, causing it to be locked in place (off position) until tapped with a hammer/screwdriver. I'd bet yours is a similar problem. It doesn't seem like there would be much you could do to prevent this - just replace the solenoid when it happens.

[dajl]

dave: That is exactly what my starter shop found>grove in the solenoid housing. A friend suggested thicker solenoid wiring as a solution> any comments on that idea? Am I the only one with a sticking solenoid? Is this common with tilton super starter and not with other starters? I am curious as to how others have resolved this issue. I have had this for years and just learned the cause.........

[Brian]

I think that getting the flywheel balanced so that vibration is minimized might be a good idea, but my personal experience is that Nippondenso startes are less prone to failure from vibration.

Brian

[DaveW]

dave: That is exactly what my starter shop found>grove in the solenoid housing. A friend suggested thicker solenoid wiring as a solution> any comments on that idea? Am I the only one with a sticking solenoid? Is this common with tilton super starter and not with other starters? I am curious as to how others have resolved this issue. I have had this for years and just learned the cause.........

Heavier wiring is unlikely to affect this.

I think that getting the flywheel balanced so that vibration is minimized might be a good idea, but my personal experience is that Nippondenso startes are less prone to failure from vibration.

Brian

Flywheel balance, IMO, is not the issue here. It is the inherent 4-cyl vibration mode that causes manufacturers to add balance shafts.

[Brian]

I've had the same Hitachi solenoid on a BMW 4 cyl engine, with a very light flywheel, for 4 years, and I used to get 4 races out of them on a Ford engine. I just think there is something weird about Ford Kent engines, maybe.

Brian

[racer27]

Whatever your solution ends up being, a heat shield should be an off season addition. A piece of bent aliumiumn with some heat cloth fabric attached should be all that is needed. Can only extend operating life.

Good luck.