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Rolls Royce 20hp


Guest Glostick21

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Guest Glostick21

I have a 1924 Rolls Royce 20HP. I was able to start the car a number of times. The starter stopped working out of no where. I was able to hand crack it and have it start it that way. The hand crack broke just as I was going to pull it out of the trailer at a car show. :mad:

When i got home from the show I took the starter out and seemed that the part that spins the flywheel was stuck. Moved the gear back to the home position and tried to start the car again. All I hear is the starter turning but seems the gear does not have enough power to move the flywheel.:confused: I am able to move the cam shaft with no problems. So I think the starter might be shot.

I would like to rebuild the starter myself if I can. So I guess I am asking if I am on the right track and does anyone know where I can get parts for the starter?

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You do mean crank shaft don't you? Its been a long time since I worked on a 20 but I think they have a conventional Bendix drive arrangement and this sounds as if the spring is broken. If the starter spins it is very unlikely it is "shot"... Forgive me if this sounds a bit high-handed, but your description of the problem leaves me wondering if you are equipped to do this... There is nothing overtly special about a RR starter but it might be better left to a specialist. That said, I sympathize with your problem. I can't say how often in the past I've had people see $$$ the minute I said RR. That sort of reaction is one of the things that forced me to learn to do my own work. I remember years ago the RROC did a whole series of articles on the 20... perhaps those are still available and would be a help.

Edited by JV Puleo (see edit history)
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Guest Glostick21

I will look into the RROC.

The crack shaft is fine as what I can tell. The starter stopped working and I was able to,start the car with the crack a number of times with no problems at all. I was even able to drive the car. The main reason I think it is the starter is because the bendix seems to not have the torque it should to turn the flywheel. The spring you are talking about is there and it is not broken at all. One problem i do see is that when I turn the starter by hand the bendix does goes forward but does not spring back. There should be a photo attached of the starter and bendixpost-102378-143142669318_thumb.jpg

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Carefully remove the cover over the brushes. I'm betting the brushes are worn, and no longer touching the commutator. I think there are 4 or 6 brushes in that starter. I had a similar issue with what looks to be the same starter in a '37 Bentley. Starter worked on day, next day it wouldn't turn the engine. I found worn down brushes.

What I was able to do was to carefully bend the end of the spring that pushes on each brush, so that the spring was resting on the end of the brush, instead of the brush holder that guides the brush. This gave me another year to look for and buy brushes for the starter.

Good luck with the repairs.

GLong

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I am not positive because I have never owned one but I believe that the RR 20 has a friction clutch in it so if the starter motor is turning but the bendix is not, it may be the clutch plate between them that has failed.

This company in England can supply all the parts you require to repair it. I see the friction clutch on their list.

I am also told you NEVER try a RR starter by hooking a battery to it while it is on the bench. The result will be that you will be looking for another starter and that would be an expensive search.

http://www.fiennes.co.uk/Parts/Catalogue/L/LD

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Guest Glostick21

DavidAU, I was just going to post a question about the bendix, then I saw your post. I know never to test the starter on the bench, thanks for that. I was going to post that the bendix does move when I turn it by hand, even when it should be engaged. So with that being said I will see if the site you posted as the part and I will try to replace that.

GLong, I removed the cover by the brushes and they look really good. post-102378-143142675017_thumb.jpg

post-102378-143142675001_thumb.jpg

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Guest Glostick21
post-102378-143142676477_thumb.jpgJust took apart the bendix and it seems that the friction washers are bad. One was totally gone and the other one was rock hard but still intact. I am going to order them and see if that is the problem. Other then that everything seems to be in great shape, no damage or anything like that.

post-102378-143142676493_thumb.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Glostick21

Just got in the friction washers for the starter. They look very think. The only thing is that I am being told that I need to rub the cork down. Now what does that mean, let me know what you guys think.

post-102378-143142697701_thumb.jpg

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