Hi my Cooper S starter motor playing up.

It will eventually turn over but sometimes the Cooper S will click, or do a continous clicking. The Car will give the flat battery trying to turn over but then eventually it starts.

The earth lead gets very hot, sounds like my Earth what does every one here think??

So what A Series or A+ Mods has it had done to it......

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"Show me the Mini!"

1310cc stage 3 Downton head
1.5" twin su
Works cam

Assuming it don't have a huge compression ratio then the stock starter motor should cope....check all your earths for good contact (thats nice shiney metal to shiney metal)....but it sounds like you have a shorted turn in your starter motor....may need to try check your solenoid or try another starter motor...soon

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"Show me the Mini!"

Starter could be poleing (stalling), this draws such heavy current it could quite possibly buckle your battery plates and stuff the battery very quickly (both cables not just the earth would be getting warm). I have found on mine the reason was the bearings (Bronze bushes) were worn particularly the rear allowing the armature to move out of position and actually bind against the pole pieces.
My final solution was the Gemini one.....

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Over 1,000,000Km, but now my retirement restoration project

both of the above but dodgy earths are very common causes of problems even those undiagnosed things that just seem to happen periodicaly.. as cleaning contacts id free start there first ....... earth braids can become faulty too..
failling that prolly throw money at starter

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No longer Ms Westwoods mini outside her original kings road shop

I am going to order a new starter motor what sort do I need its a 1967 Cooper S genuine motor.
CHeers Breett

If you have the stock S' 13 row cooler there your options are limited to a Lucas, really. I bought a re-manufactured one (done in UK) from Karcraft, it's been great.

Of course now I've flung the cooler off, I have other options in future- eg either the Gemini, or a pre-engaged one sold my Heritage MG in Sydney..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

If you want something really good get a Brise - very expensive though $660 delivered from www.minisport.com.au - they work very well, crank like anything and don't run your battery flat.

Jacks.