Toshi 975 said:

I do not know about the N models but on most 500 & 126 there is a thin metal cover plate under the starter motor. If that was missing it would give the flywheel slightly less clearance on the bendix. I have also come across starter actuating/solenoid arm return springs not locating properly And not working. Sure fire way to pin it on the starter is to remove it and bump start the car.

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Yup, I absolutely have that plate, and it was installed on the starter. I really think I had just a half of mm too much tension on the starter cable. It should probably just sag a little bit at the starter pull lever, which mine wasn't. It was taught. Lesson learned.... likely.

the hobbler said:

I have looked in both my parts book and my 1963 workshop manual which covers the 500N. Neither of these factory publications show,or mention, a starter/crankcase shield as is fitted to the 126 engines. But looking at the 500N information, 1 thing did spring (?!) to mind. Built onto the pivot pin for the starter operating lever (that pulls the bendix onto the starter ring) is a fairly strong spring which returns the bendix away from the starter ring---how strong is that spring on your starter?Is it a bit weak and knackered? If it was, it would not pull the bendix back away from the starter-ring. As 'Toshi' suggested, try a 'bump' start with the starter left off. But don;t forget to connect the feed wires that go to starter together (with a bolt through them) AND INSULATE THEM.

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First of all.... I very much appreciate you thinking about my issue on Christmas and even responding! Hope breakfast was good! I have the smell of bacon emitting from the kitchen as we speak!


The spring is fine, I'm sure. I did some hands on exploring of the starter and how it operates, ensuring my knowledge of electric starters on newer cars is not applicable to this well aged car!


Most parts are being delivered tomorrow. Except for a new pilot bushing, which will be the only thing delaying the install and test run of the engine.


It should be nice and fresh though, with all the new parts. The throwout bearing was TOAST anyway! Its a good thing I took it all apart.


Thank you all for you help so far. I'll keep this updated once I dig into it a bit!

Merry Christmas all!

Well, the starter was the issue for sure. Doing it by hand, without connecting the cable, it fires up and no noise!

Now it’s got some blue smoke.... but I did just install a new exhaust and it hasn’t ran in some time, so hopefully that will go away and it doesn’t need rings!

I also learned quite a few things today. After breaking a few things, so that’s good. Biggest learning point, so you don’t do something stupid like me, is there’s a key in the front timing cover pulley where the oil seal is..... ask me what happens when you torque down the 32mm hollow but when it’s not in the key. Broke the pulley. Well, cracked it and bent it at least. After it started dropping oil massively after the first start up, I took it all apart to find out what I did wrong. Didn’t take me long. I was able to tap it back and get it smooth again. At least to make sure it runs ok.

It does. And doesn’t leak like it did, so that’s good!

Ordering a new pulley and a few other bits this week! I’ll post picks of the nut when I pull it off again. I was too pissed to take pics in the moment!

Here’s to learning!!!

ChiapC said:

............................................................................................Well, cracked it and bent it at least. After it started dropping oil massively after the first start up, I took it all apart to find out what I did wrong. Didn’t take me long. I was able to tap it back and get it smooth again. At least to make sure it runs ok.

It does. And doesn’t leak like it did, so that’s good!

Ordering a new pulley and a few other bits this week! I’ll post picks of the nut when I pull it off again. I was too pissed to take pics in the moment!

Here’s to learning!!!

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Errr this is an N!!!!
if it has the original front pulley you can't just order one....
As others have found out Dealers (unless they appreciate it's an N) will sell you what they have in stock... and later pulleys are different...

As we Prototypi owners know... almost everything is different to later cars (later being Post 1960)..

Delighted to hear that the cause of your noise has been confirmed--glad to know that my 'little grey cells' (with apologies to Poirot) are still, to a degree working. Very sorry to hear of your problem with the crankshaft pulley. Being that the 'N' pulley is different, is the damage repairable? Could the crack be welded and then the inside and outside of the 'sleeve' part of the pulley be machined back to standard measurements?
Have you any friends/relatives in Italy? If you have, they might be able to find you a 'N' pulley through an Italian supplier/garage/club.

the hobbler said:

Delighted to hear that the cause of your noise has been confirmed--glad to know that my 'little grey cells' (with apologies to Poirot) are still, to a degree working. Very sorry to hear of your problem with the crankshaft pulley. Being that the 'N' pulley is different, is the damage repairable? Could the crack be welded and then the inside and outside of the 'sleeve' part of the pulley be machined back to standard measurements?
Have you any friends/relatives in Italy? If you have, they might be able to find you a 'N' pulley through an Italian supplier/garage/club.

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Indeed! It was right on! I just had to learn the hard way! I’ve been talking with BigVtwin996 about my car and he’s been more than helpful. He suggested welding and machine the pulley as well. I’ll be digging back into it today and will post pics to document my error and so nobody else who reads this does the same!

I do have friends/family in Italy, though they aren’t very automobile savvy, so I’m likely better at looking elsewhere. Thanks for all the input!

As promised, pics of my crank pulley! Turns out, after further research it appears all of these crank pulleys are similar. For the price of what some shops are asking for the pulley, it’s worth a try.

I was 0 for 2 locally asking anybody to fix my original pulley here in San Diego, so I need to look elsewhere!

So I may stand corrected.... I’ve now seen pictures of both pulley’s for N’s and later models, and they do appear to be different. Unsure if the older cover will bolt up to the newer pulley and function the same. I may be working on finding an original N pulley!

ChiapC said:

As promised, pics of my crank pulley! ...............

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in the words of Christoph Waltz "ooops"

you need ... A spare N engine
or
buy the parts from a later Car and temp convert to F/L/R/126 Pulley
or
ship to me as scrap value..........:devil::devil::devil:

however soon Richard Wilson will be heard saying "I don't believe it"