1939 P2 R10 starter motor

Post Reply
ANDY
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2025 11:19 am

1939 P2 R10 starter motor

Post by ANDY » Sat Jul 11, 2026 1:17 pm

Having sorted my steering problem I can't start the car, the starter motor runs but does not engage. I've taken the motor out and everything seems to work. Powered up on the bench the dog flies out and returns when powered off. I've read posts that suggest moving the motor further forward but that doesn't work so I return it to its correct position with the locating screw and it still won't engage.
Any idea's?
Andy

TonyG
Posts: 326
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:38 pm

Re: 1939 P2 R10 starter motor

Post by TonyG » Sat Jul 11, 2026 6:42 pm

Andy,

I can’t remember exactly, but there is a rubber interface (steel outer) as part of the starter drive. If this unit is perished the rubber no longer grips the steel and the starter doesn’t engage. However, on the bench the motor may appear to be working as there is no load on it to facilitate the slipping. I hope that my memory isn’t too far out and that my description makes sense!

If this is the problem, Mike Evans at Viking or Mike Couldry at Meteor should be able to supply the part. Of course, it could be something else but that would be the first place I’d look.

Hope that helps.

Tony.
Tony Gilbert

P1 12 Tourer
P2 12 6 Light Saloon
Discovery 3
Discovery Sport

SHyslop
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2021 4:17 pm

Re: 1939 P2 R10 starter motor

Post by SHyslop » Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:10 am

Dear Andy,
In addition to the excellent advice from Tony, can I add that the sleeve is also available from John Wearing who also say they make them, or have them made exclusively - photo of their part below :

https://www.johnwearingp4parts.co.uk/pr ... rod=260046

When you take the starter apart (which is straightforward), could I ask you please to check something and let me know. The rubber in the sleeve is indeed one reason why the starter fails to engage but it can also be that the two metal prongs on the inner sleeve can break off while the rubber is still in good shape. I would be interested to know what has happened to your particular sleeve. Thank you.
sleeve.jpg
sleeve.jpg (7.05 KiB) Viewed 178 times

Post Reply