Starter motor

This forum is specifically for engine and gearbox posts, please try to keep on topic in any thread to make things easy to find

Moderator: Board Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
pistolpete
Senior Poster
Posts: 241
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 08:56
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Red
Year: 1990
Location: Oxford

Starter motor

Post by pistolpete »

SO the electrical tabs on the solenoid are becoming a little wobbly , I t might be time to replace or refurb the whole unit. Can you recommend the best course of action Ive seen adverts for newer better faster , or just a refurbishment. your thoughts please

pete

User avatar
Hawaiis0
Senior Poster
Posts: 4376
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
Colour: BRG; Dirty White
Year: 1986
Location: West Oxfordshire

Re: Starter motor

Post by Hawaiis0 »

I'm in the same position looking at a renewal. After 40 years of service I think I'll stick to standard.
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!

User avatar
Tanz
Senior Poster
Posts: 2174
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 22:05
Model: SE
Colour: Calypso Red
Year: 1988
Location: Wolverhampton

Re: Starter motor

Post by Tanz »

I got a high torque one from Lotusbits which is from this company https://www.wosperformance.co.uk/starter-motors
You might get it cheaper by going direct to Wosp?

Turns the engine over quickly and takes less out of the battery..
Cheers, Phil
Never take life seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway!

User avatar
DavidOliver
Senior Poster
Posts: 733
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 11:18
Model: Excel
Colour: Calypso Red
Year: 1985
Location: Majadahonda Madrid Spain

Re: Starter motor

Post by DavidOliver »

I have recently fitted a high torque starter motor, the original motor really sounded struggling to turn the engine, particularly if the engine was not firing inmediately.
Even though now it is evident the starter is not original i can only recommend the high torque version.

Dave the cog.

User avatar
rbgosling
Senior Poster
Posts: 1866
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
Model: Lotus Excel SE
Colour: Midnight Blue
Year: 1990
Location: Rugby

Re: Starter motor

Post by rbgosling »

A properly functioning original starter motor (allied to a non-failing battery, and properly-connected cables) is quite sufficient to start this engine. Mine has done 80k miles worth of starts in my care, and AFAIK probably another 125k miles with previous owners, always spun the engine up just fine as long as the battery was juiced, never needed any work done on it (yet).

That said, owners of the hi-torque starters seem very happy with them. And (I believe) they are smaller, and smaller means lighter, and any adherent to the Cult of Chapman should be dedicated to Adding Lightness.

It's really just a matter of budget, preference, and enthusiasm(/time) for stripping and rebuilding.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3871
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Starter motor

Post by Pete Boole »

I've got one sat in the shed if anyone wants to collect it/pay the postage.

Pete

User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1654
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Starter motor

Post by MetBlue »

I've got one sat in the shed if anyone wants to collect it/pay the postage.
.

Standard or high torque?

Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3871
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Starter motor

Post by Pete Boole »

MetBlue wrote:
Mon May 27, 2024 14:55
I've got one sat in the shed if anyone wants to collect it/pay the postage.
.

Standard or high torque?

Tony
Standard

Pete

User avatar
Lotus-e-Clan
Senior Poster
Posts: 4544
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 13:25
Model: Excel SE - EWP/Waterless!
Colour: Not Blue or Green
Year: 1989
Location: Swaledale

Re: Starter motor

Post by Lotus-e-Clan »

PowerLite starter for Lotus Excel £250 Inc vat
They do one for the Clan/Imp motor too👍.
Peter K

User avatar
Alan_M
Senior Poster
Posts: 1274
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
Colour: Red, red, white
Location: South Wales

Re: Starter motor

Post by Alan_M »

If Tony doesn’t want to claim it, I could do with replacing the one on the prototype as it only engages about 50% of the time and want to keep things as standard as possible.

User avatar
MetBlue
Senior Poster
Posts: 1654
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
Colour: Metalic Blue
Year: 1974
Location: Northampton

Re: Starter motor

Post by MetBlue »

Your need is greater than mine Alan.
Sounds like a Lotus in Peak pit stop.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

User avatar
pistolpete
Senior Poster
Posts: 241
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 08:56
Model: Excel SE
Colour: Red
Year: 1990
Location: Oxford

Re: Starter motor

Post by pistolpete »

Seems the old one if only for budget reasons are fine then, unless anyone else has one knocking about I might try and get it refurbished

Pete Boole
Senior Poster
Posts: 3871
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
Model: Elite
Colour: Monaco White
Year: 1974
Location: Nottingham

Re: Starter motor

Post by Pete Boole »

Alan - I'll bring it along to LITP as Tony suggests if that's OK. It's not been used for many years but I've no reason to suspect it won't work OK.

Pete

User avatar
Alan_M
Senior Poster
Posts: 1274
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
Colour: Red, red, white
Location: South Wales

Re: Starter motor

Post by Alan_M »

MetBlue wrote:
Mon May 27, 2024 22:08
Your need is greater than mine Alan.
Sounds like a Lotus in Peak pit stop.
Tony
Are you sure? Happy to honour your 1st dibs.

User avatar
Alan_M
Senior Poster
Posts: 1274
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
Colour: Red, red, white
Location: South Wales

Re: Starter motor

Post by Alan_M »

Pete Boole wrote:
Tue May 28, 2024 09:31
Alan - I'll bring it along to LITP as Tony suggests if that's OK. It's not been used for many years but I've no reason to suspect it won't work OK.

Pete
That would be great - as long as Tony doesn’t want it - he asked first.

Post Reply