Starter (Click Sound)

I finally was able to take my 1961 CJ5 out to the trails this past 2 weekends and it ran great.
The only thing I noticed this past Saturday is that the starter would click but if I kept tuning the ignition key from off to start eventually it would turn over the engine and my CJ would start. I researched out new starters and boy they are very expensive. Do you think this issue would be serviceable by a home shop? Oh tapping on the starter with a hammer would also help starting the CJ.

 

i would find a local auto electric shop and have them look at it. might just need freshing up.

 

This can also be a sign of a poor connection. Check (remove and clean) both ends of both battery cables.

 

Willy:
You didn't say what engine you have but I will presume an f-head.
Yes you can repair this yourself. Have you checked all of your connections?
Take a real close look at your ground connections. There is also a ground connection under your Generator or altenator. It runs from the engine to the front mount.
I bought all the parts from my local NAPA store. End bushings,Starter drive (bendix); brushes, new starter soleniod. Was under 75 bucks. Took mine apart cleaned out 50 years of dirt, installed new parts, sprayed on some black paint and presto one rebuilt starter. and it didnt cost the 200+ the rebuilder wanted.
Cabover

 

Thanks, Yes it is an F-Head.
I will remove it from the engine today and see. I will also inspect the battery cables and replace if any looks questionable.

 

ok, I took the starter appart when I got home and it was completely full of water. After removing all the rusty water from in there I flushed it out untill it was clean, put some grease on the cap so the shaft can spin freely. I put it back togeather and tested it out.
I can get the starter to spin bypassing the solenoid but when I connect it to the solenoid I get the click sound and eventially it will spin. I guess I should get a replacement solenoid.
When powering the Starter is the bendix supposed to push out or does it only do that when attached to the engine? Mine does not push out when I power it.

 

in my limited experience, the bendix should jump out when powered. Inertia should make it jump. I'd agree; sounds like you have either a bad solenoid, or a dirty bendix and shaft. Remember one thing: wherever you put grease (or oil), dirt will be attracted to it.

 

So it is not a good idea putting grease on both ends (copper bushings)?
I will be going to Napa tomorrow and buy a replacement solenoid and go from there.
The bendix does not look or feel damaged or bad. Could be dirty. Do you know if it is possible to pull it up by hand? I tried and could not muve it more that 1/4 of an inch.

 

I'm not familiar with the starters on these, some of the solenoids had an arm that moved the drive gear out, some went off of inertia and a groove. If your's moves by inertia you should be able to spin it out by hand, you won't be able to just pull it straight out, but by spinning it while pulling it should move out.

As for the grease, those are brass bushings and shouldn't need much grease, but a little red axle grease doesn't hurt. Make sure there is very little play in the bushings, if there is more than just a small amount, replace them. Any starter and alternator shop should have the ones you need.

As for the solenoid,... there isn't much reason not to replace it anyway, they don't cost that much, cheap insurance.

One thing we always did was chuck the armature up in a lathe and spin it while using some 180 grit sandpaper on the armature itself to clean it up and some emory cloth on the shafts, then inspect the windings on both the armature and the field coils (inside the starter housing). If any of the wires look burnt it is probably shorted out and no good. Also make sure the field coils aren't grounding out to the case.


I used to work in a shop that rebuilt anything DC, starters, alternators, motors, winches, generators, etc... if it ran off of DC power we fixed it.

 

Willy:
Remember your orginal question?
When your turn the key it just clicks.
All of your replies are good answers. But getting back to the basic's You can use a little wheel bearing grease on the end bearings, but use very little. It goes a long way. As for the clicking sound go to NAPA and buy a solenoid. and give that a try. With out the soleniod hooked up the starter will only motor and not engage the drive. It will also not engage if the battery is low.
Good luck
Cabover

 

Had same thing when I got mine bendix was stuck dis-assembled cleaned and put it back together works like a champ.

 

I picked up a Soleniod from Napa yesterday and will install it today after work and see how it goes.

 

Ok,
I replaced the Solenoid and all was good with my starter. Thanks for all your help.
I also noticed it had lots of water in there. I guess water gets in via the bellhouing but has no place to go so it gets stuck in the started. The reason for the water is because on my test run I took it to JW Corbett and unfortunately there is plenty of water there.