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Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:12 pm

Recently installed new motor into my bus, at the time did not replace the starter. Lately I have noticed that the bus will fire right up when cold, but once I have driven it several miles and attempt to re-start I have a terrible time getting it started. The bus is still 6V and is mechanically sound except fot this issue. Any Ideas? Could the bushing be creating my problem and not the starter itself?

Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:28 pm

Meaning what? It won't crank over or it cranks a ton then starts?

If it won't crank over, it could be the bushing.

If it cranks over and over when hot and finally starts, I would check the fuel pump pressure on the new engine to start with. It should be around 3 psi but some of the aftermarket pumps are made wrong and can put out 8-12 psi straight out of the box.

Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:45 pm

Ev,
Fuel pressure has been checked satisfactory, when hot it cranks and cranks, often to the point where it sounds as if the battery will give out before it actually starts, I will be replacing the starter and bushing this weekend. Hopefully it is one of the two at fault. When cold this thing fires right up.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:18 am

Um, that bushing will not prevent the engine from firing. It only prevents cranking. Have fun replacing that bushing. It wont solve your problem. Unless when hot it cranks slloowwwllyyy, then you might even have other issues too. Like an overheated engine?

Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:42 am

get a type 3 auto starter, no bushing to worry about.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:31 am

I would look at a vacuum leak. is your carb new or old? check the throttle shafts. Also, as mentioned before, look at an overheating issue. what is the oil or cyl head temp when it wont start. also, check for fuel output when it wont start.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:19 am

Had same problem and turned out front bushing in the starter itself was too worn. So armature was rubbing inside the field coils and causing it to draw so much electricity that the coil would not fire. The 6 volt starter still turned over great with 12 volts, but it just would not fire...

Or it could be your carb shut off valve is faulty, or the float and allowing fuel to drip down the carb. Had the former leak in hot weather and added a second gasket to solve the problem.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:03 am

Once in a while, the sleeve where the pushrod for the fuel pump sits can swell and bind it. I had a POS Empi product do that to mine. Had to shave some material off of it and it solved that issue.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:17 am

quartermilecamel wrote: Um, that bushing will not prevent the engine from firing. It only prevents cranking. Have fun replacing that bushing. It wont solve your problem. Unless when hot it cranks slloowwwllyyy, then you might even have other issues too. Like an overheated engine?

Eric&Barb wrote: Had same problem and turned out front bushing in the starter itself was too worn. So armature was rubbing inside the field coils and causing it to draw so much electricity that the coil would not fire. The 6 volt starter still turned over great with 12 volts, but it just would not fire...

On my old '60 Double Cab, the starter bushing was worn. It would crank fine but wouldn't start... only when hot. Sometimes it would just click though, no cranking at all. It was still 6-volt so I think the same thing happened that E&B describe above. I could tell there was an issue because the battery cables got HOT. Especially the negative cable, I burned my hand on it.

It wasn't consistent though, most of the time it would start and other random times it wouldn't.

If I remember correctly, replacing the bushing fixed it.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:26 pm

Wow, if thats actually the case then jumpering the coil to battery + would prove the bushing theory, unless its pulling huge amounts of juice, drawing the whole battery load voltage down.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:01 pm

I'll replace the bushing, I've got a newly re conditioned starter that needs to go in as well, Engine does not seem to be getting hot, It is newly rebuilt, and fuel pressure checks out good. I will keep you all posted.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:13 pm

big wavos wrote: I'll replace the bushing, I've got a newly re conditioned starter that needs to go in as well, Engine does not seem to be getting hot, It is newly rebuilt, and fuel pressure checks out good. I will keep you all posted.

Just remember there are two bushings and both should be checked!!

Fri Mar 09, 2012 9:10 pm

Interesting, I'm having issues with my pick up as well, it's a 6v starter on a 12v system, it used to spin super fast like any other 6v starter with 12v juice running through it, that motor would start right up, then it went to starting really slow like I had a dead battery, to now not wanting to start at all, tonight I pulled the starter out and the bushing came right out with the starter, all worn out and full of scratches inside and out, the bushings I have in my stash don't look any like what came out of the pick up and they're both 12 and 6v
I'm interested on seeing if your bushing / starter combo would solve your problem, best of luck.

Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:44 am

Manny did you mean you have a 12v and a 6v bushing or the 12/6v converison bushing? THere are a few different options, just not sure what you meant.