starter motor removal

[Will.birkinshaw]

I have a 1989 3.2 and I am having difficulty in removing the top Allen cap scew.
Either my hands are just too big or I have some peculiarity in my installation that is making life difficult.
All the notes I have read seem to indicate that it can be done without lowering the engine or taking other specific or sugnificant steps.
I have removed adjacent bits like the heater valve, which gives a little more room but I can't seem to get enough room to apply the torque required to undo the screw and there doesn't seem to be enough room to get a ratchet to move to the next "click".
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks Will

 

[Geoff_Fields]

I have seen this done by an OPC some time ago. They released the gearbox mounting and tilted the engine and gearbox down a little to improve access. Obviously this is quite easy IF you have the equipment to do this eg. car ramps and supports.

 

[Big_nige]

Done this a couple of times, as Geoff says, its a partial engine drop. May sound drastic but its easy and quick. Car on axle stands on the torsion bar tubes, trolley jack under the engine, with wood or stiff cardboard between the two. I lowered the back half of the engine, rather than the gearbox end as that requires you to remove the ARB and I couldn't be bothered. Remove the rear engine mounts from inside the engine compartment, with the trolley jack taking the strain under the engine. You may need to remove the loom that clips to the ally cage on the inner wing, then lower the trolley jack watching you don't snag anyting on the way down. With the car on the stands I got about 300-400mm 'drop-age' of the engine. Access to the starter was massively increased.

Also you must disconnect the gear linkage from inside the car, between the seats on the tran's tunnel. Also watch you don't snag anything in the way back up. Another also, you will need to disconnect the flexi hoses on the heat exchangers.

 

[Will.birkinshaw]

Thanks for your advice. As I thought it is not perhaps the easiest of jobs!

Will

 

[nathan 1981 930 G50]

I managed to get mine off my early 3.2 (915 tranny) without doing a partial drop but it wasn't exactly easy.

 

[Big_nige]

think 915 box is slimmer so has abit better access around the starter, there is fat all chance doing it without an engine drop of some sort on a G50. Don't think even a special bent socket/tool would work.

 

[nathan 1981 930 G50]

Ah, I was wondering if that was the difference. Now that I think about it the flywheel is a larger diamater on the G50 so that makes perfect sense. It's only another 15mm but that could make or break it.