Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 M3W Starter Removal Tips

I need to change my starter on my M3W & looks like its a very tight process? Any tips or suggestions on this swap?

Sorry no tips but from the Alernative parts list it’s from a Mazda MX-5 Series 3. p/n LF9H-18-400. M000T37471.

Surprising the stater motor would be an issue, as these Mazda units are notable for their long trouble free life. And M3W's are typically low frequency of use machines, so again, surprising.

I just removed my engine so starter came out with it. Don’t know if all the steps are necessary but Bleazey’s YouTube video on engine removal helped a lot. There was also a video I had from Emil on his way of removing engine which I also referred to. Don’t think that one is publicly available and not sure how to share it.

The starter motor wears out much more with a two-cylinder engine compared to a four-cylinder engine with a two-liter displacement, especially if an exhaust cam is pushing down the hydraulic tappet. It takes at least five engine revolutions to bleed the hydraulic tappet so the camshaft can act as a decompression mechanism. I'm on my fourth starter motor since 2013: two LF9H-18-400 M000T37471 starters and two aftermarket ones.

It can be done but it’s an absolute bag, take the near side engine mount off and drop the engine as much as possible it will then come out, just.