Like many I junked the OE starter and associated gear trainon my Mk3 when fitting a belt primary drive (RGM)
Now I intend to refit an 'electric foot' and was wondering if anyone has suggestions for lubricating the paraphernalia I shall be refitting?
I have seen chain spray mooted, given that it tends to stay put, but any other comments or ideas welcomed, thank you.
Your choice, Charles but I…
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I came across a similar se…
I came across a similar set up recently that was running dry belt with original electric start arrangement. The sprag and gears need lubrication! You want to hear the noise when the starter drive engages at 50mph due to lack of oil. Knackered the armature on the starter.
I replaced the original chain and sprockets etc and put oil in it as intended.
Never heard of a chain drive failing, how many people with belt drives go on holiday with spare belts!
Previously Neil Wyatt wrote:
Your choice, Charles but I don't understand why you ditched the very reliable and available Renold triplex chain? These chains are good for more than 30,000 miles on the Mk3 and require no maintenance, other than a change of ATF or oil. And you can keep your electric boot if you want ,without going into experimental mode.
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Hello Charles If you want…
Hello Charles
If you want to refit the electric start gubbins and keep the belt drive you have to have a belt that is able to be run in an oil bath. If you imagine that the sprag is a roller bearing and the drive gears are a gearbox (which they are!) would you run a gearbox with no oil? Anyone running a dry belt primary MK3 with the electric starter fitted is asking for trouble.
Regards
Peter
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So many opinions, all vali…
So many opinions, all valid, and many thanks for those taking the trouble to respond.
Will admit I wasn't looking for 'belt vs chain' debate, like the whole 'which oil?' issue, everybody has their own preferences.
As to the sprag being like a roller bearing, yes, but..... the wheel bearings don't run in oil, no? And the drive train gears? Used (hopefully!) once (twice if you stop before you come back!)on each journey?
But again, good to hear others views, thank you.
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Previously charles_claxton…
Previously charles_claxton wrote:
So many opinions, all valid, and many thanks for those taking the trouble to respond.
Will admit I wasn't looking for 'belt vs chain' debate, like the whole 'which oil?' issue, everybody has their own preferences.
As to the sprag being like a roller bearing, yes, but..... the wheel bearings don't run in oil, no? And the drive train gears? Used (hopefully!) once (twice if you stop before you come back!)on each journey?
But again, good to hear others views, thank you.
Wheel bearings are packed and run in grease. The sprag requires oil lubrication or it will wearout and/or seize, and as for hoping that the drive gears will be ok with out oil, No chance. The heat from the engine will dry out any lubrication you applied on assembly. Refit the chain or fit an oil proof belt or forget refitting the electric boot.
regards
Peter
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Many thanks for your input…
Many thanks for your input Peter, but I'm afraid the gearbox analogy didn't sit well given that most boxes are in constant motion, whereas the starter gearing only moves for as long as the green button is held (battery permitting!)
But as you rightly point out, heat is always going to be the bogey here, it would have been nice to think I could pack the sprag clutch as per thewheel bearings, and surprisingly enough the 'chain spray' was suggested by a Norton parts retailer. ...
I do realise this wouldn't be a 'fit and forget' fix, with no ongoing maintenance, but that's the joy of owning these things, no?
Best regards.....
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Sorry Charles, but it's a…
Sorry Charles, but it's all been said really, if you pack the sprag with grease it will tend to drag the starter gears until it has generated sufficient heat to melt the grease, at which point it will escape, leaving effectively a dry roller bearing, before it all locks up and takes your starter gear train & motor out. When this happens, the reverse effect of the gearing spins the starter motor at something like 30,000 rpm. usually destroying the motor, the gear train and the primary cases. I've seen it happen more than once ! As others have said, either change to a belt that is happy to run in oil, go back to a good old fasioned chain or forget about electric start. Do not try to run it dry.
Best regards, Tim
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Your choice, Charles but I don't understand why you ditched the very reliable and available Renold triplex chain? These chains are good for more than 30,000 miles on the Mk3 and require no maintenance, other than a change of ATF or oil. And you can keep your electric boot if you want ,without going into experimental mode.