Hi!
I have read through the other posts regarding starter motor problems and haven't managed to find one that fits my issues so here goes..

I have owned a defender 110 for several years and every single year without fail I have needed to replace the starter motor...not the most difficult of jobs (and am a bit of a pro now)... would just be nice not to have to replace it every 12 months !

After putting up with a leaky clutch for a fair while before eventually finding that it was pouring it's contents into the bell housing which accounted for the crud filled starter motor when I took it out - this issue has been fixed - I have also had the gear box off to replace the dreaded clutch fork issue (which occurred while I was sat at the lights of a very busy roundabout) - I took the opportunity to give everything a good clean and it is now mostly spotless!!
(At the time I considered changing the starter motor too, but had no issues with it...).

So, everything back together, all working perfectly until a week ago... I turn the key, it whirs then I turn it again and it starts - the worse it gets, the more times I have to try and start it (it hasn't gone completely yet).

On every one that I have removed so far and tested on the bench, it opporates like it should except the gear that engages with the flywheel spins freely on the turning shaft (eventually) - everything else on them works as it should.... is it just that this one has died a slow death, weakened from its previous bathing in clutch fluid (would this even be a thing), or is there something more sinister at work....

Is there such a thing as a 'heavy duty' starter motor?

Any advice greatly appreciated - thanks for reading this short novel..

maybe a dumb question; where are you getting the replacement SMs? i.e. supplier, brand, part number etc

also do you also get an overactive SM when starting, like it is still engaged as if the key is still being turned?

Just first thoughts!

Guessing they are not Bosch? Fit a Bosch .
Cheapy starter motors are crap I've found.

Bendix not throwing (ie spinning but not engaging) is usually a case of being gummed up with crud.

If you've got rid of the cause hopefully flushing with WD or similar cure it

My 200 used to eat starters, but that was from being immersed in muddy water quite often, In the end I had a spare stash of two or three, I used to strip and clean/repair them the difference inside between the bosch unit and the britpart was worlds apart, metal in the bosch bakelite in the britpart, basically britpart = cheap and nasty just as we the tightwad consumers want!, but the one in it at present is the britpart.
You can buy the bendix gear separately.

Thanks for the replies!!
They are just standard starters from DLS, maybe it's worth investing in a Bosch, especially now all the crud has been cleaned out - will keep this one for spare tho like you say (as a back up).

There's no abnormal noises and once I release the key it stops turning (well slows down then stops). It doesn't sound like it's still engaged - just weird that it catches the second or third time...

I wonder if your ring gear is worn?

Flossie said:

I wonder if your ring gear is worn?

Click to expand...

I did consider that before when my others failed, but having just removed the gearbox to replace the clutch assembly I checked everything inside there and the teeth in the flywheel are spot on, the actual gear on the starter motor is sound too, it's just that it ends up spinning freely - maybe it is just cheap motors - it's our main family car and I use it everyday, but changing it every 12 months...

lynall said:

My 200 used to eat starters, but that was from being immersed in muddy water quite often, In the end I had a spare stash of two or three, I used to strip and clean/repair them the difference inside between the bosch unit and the britpart was worlds apart, metal in the bosch bakelite in the britpart, basically britpart = cheap and nasty just as we the tightwad consumers want!, but the one in it at present is the britpart.
You can buy the bendix gear separately.

Click to expand...

Thanks for this, is Bosch the best type to get??

I don't know a whole lot about starter motors so forgive my ignorance...so on the bench, I put current through it, the 'gear' pops out to the end of the housing and spins, but, if I put a piece of wood on the gear while it's spinning I can stop it while the 'shaft' it's attached to keeps spinning...

200tdi110/H said:

I don't know a whole lot about starter motors so forgive my ignorance...so on the bench, I put current through it, the 'gear' pops out to the end of the housing and spins, but, if I put a piece of wood on the gear while it's spinning I can stop it while the 'shaft' it's attached to keeps spinning...

Click to expand...

sounds like a poor clutch in the starter gear