Triumphrat

bigjohn

Have a problem on my 95 T'bird that's foxing everyone! A few days ago it started 1st time and then after about 20 secs just stopped dead. It restarted immediatly, then stopped again. The 3rd time I just got a click from the starter as if the battery was flat. I charged the battery and now it would turn over very slowly but not fast enough to start. So far i have replaced the battery, removed the starter and had it tested ok, cleaned main earth connection and connection to starter and tried to jump start it off my car. Despite all this it still turns over so slowly it will not start. I know about the spragg clutch problems on this model as I replaced one on my previous T'bird but that manifested as a banging noise when the starter was used and gave me plenty of notice before finally expiring! Any ideas I am desperate! :???:

WoodsieIII

Sounds like its grabbed a piston or nipped up on a bearing. I could be wrong too. I would pull the plugs out of it first and check the compression. If the starter is OK and theres plenty of power there has to be something internal making it "bind up"

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I believe there is no such thing as accidents. When I ride I must leave enough room for others stupid mistakes, added to that is enough room to make my own.

jimmyj900

Try shorting across the starter solenoid terminals with a heavy screwdriver. If the bike cranks to speed then the solenoid is the problem. (Be sure the rear wheel is off the ground when you try this.)

Otherwise, WoodiseIII may be on target.

I'd check for internal engine binding by removing the sparkplugs and the right forward cover on the engine to expose the end of the crankshaft.

Turn the nut on the end of the crank CLOCKWISE and with the sparkplugs removed, the engine should turn relatively freely.

You'll feel three distinct 'lobes' on each rotation -- progressively more force required then it eases up -- as the camshafts rotate against the lifters.

A 'scraping' or 'grinding' noise (or feel in your wrench hand) indicates something bad has happened.

Jim

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