356c starter problems?

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:42 pm

roy mawbey wrote:Max,

Only a point but I think its likely your T6 might have been converted later to 12V and is running with a 12 v generator and 12 V voltage regulator but still probably with the 6v starter and matching flywheel.

I might be wrong but "C" 's had 6volt but could of course run on 12v after conversion. I know my 63 C was 6v and don't think it changed for the 64/65 cars?? ( someone confirm if I am wrong please on that )

Was the starter all okay before it went down to a slow crank?

Roy

Yup. thats what i was trying to say earlier. my 1964 356c was 6v , (12V was still an optional extra.) we had the car converted to 12v and couldn't understand why we had such trouble starting it. untill it was pointed out to us that we had forgotten to upgrade the starter motor. now it usually starts first turn of the key.

Max Steiner · Post by **Max Steiner** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:54 pm

Helen wrote:
roy mawbey wrote:Max,

Only a point but I think its likely your T6 might have been converted later to 12V and is running with a 12 v generator and 12 V voltage regulator but still probably with the 6v starter and matching flywheel.

I might be wrong but "C" 's had 6volt but could of course run on 12v after conversion. I know my 63 C was 6v and don't think it changed for the 64/65 cars?? ( someone confirm if I am wrong please on that )

Was the starter all okay before it went down to a slow crank?

Roy
Yup. thats what i was trying to say earlier. my 1964 356c was 6v , (12V was still an optional extra.) we had the car converted to 12v and couldn't understand why we had such trouble starting it. untill it was pointed out to us that we had forgotten to upgrade the starter motor. now it usually starts first turn of the key.

I see now, I didn't realise it was an optional extra, as I said my vw still has the 6volt starter and works great with 12 volts so why would it not be good in a 356, sorry if I'm being stupid!

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:03 pm

i wouldn't have a clue (never really understood these things) but maybe the 356c engine is bigger/heavier/more powerful to turn over ?

i seem to remember it was to do with the speed of the flywheel. we run the 12v car with the 6v starter for about a year. it was a pain but did eventually(some times took half an hour) start the car but you could hear the flywheel whizzing (almost squeeling) struggling to do its job.

Max Steiner · Post by **Max Steiner** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:06 pm

Helen wrote:i wouldn't have a clue (never really understood these things) but maybe the 356c engine is bigger/heavier/more powerful to turn over ?

That makes sense, it's got shed loads of compression!

Max Steiner · Post by **Max Steiner** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:44 pm

Hello everyone.

Firstly thanks to all who have given advice and ideas, she now starts!!

The problem seems to be bad earthing and ignition problems, the bad earths would make the starter spin slower(as if the battery was flat which is why there was no improvement when I used jump leads from another car!) and the poor spark wasn't enough to fire her up, I recharged the battery, bought a new battery earth lead and cleaned all earthing points(again!), new HT leads, points, plugs etc etc, then first turn of the key and she fired up immediately!!

Thanks again, I now have a problem with the gears!