VINTAGE BENTLEY STARTER MOTORS AND ALTERNATIVES
BY ALAN C SMITH
I refer to the recent article in Review 263 page184 about fitting a CAV BS5 starter motor to a 3 litre Vintage Bentley Engine and also to the letter from the ever wise Stuart Forsey in the following Review.
Unfortunately, the cerebral database held by the old guard white haired enthusiasts with grease under their fingernails is gradually depleting as they slowly bite the dust. Perhaps it`s only fair to say that I should be included in this group.
Of course we have the Bentley bible “The Technical Facts of the Vintage Bentley”. This is no Haynes instruction manual, but it`s the best that we have.
Over the years the Vintage Bentley ownership has shifted from enthusiasts that bought their cars for “tuppence” and were not afraid to get their hands dirty in order to restore and keep their cars going, to well off entrepreneurs and speculators, who rely on Bentley restorers to do this work for them.
This has created a problem where the centres of knowledge are now with those restorers and to access that knowledge you have to go to them.
There seems to be a dearth of information about starter motors as used on Vintage Bentleys, this article is intended to make available to all Vintage enthusiasts my own experience with 3, 4 and 4 ½ starter motors and alternatives which may not be exhaustive but will give new owners an insight into some of the available possibilities.
Several years ago I bought an incomplete 4 litre engine from Martin Hatcher which was the catalyst for my enthusiasm for this design. There was no starter with the parts, so that I faced the prospect of having no starter motor as all the spare 4 litre starters have been snapped up for mounting in 3, 4 ½ and 6 ½ litre engines as per Technical Facts page 33 note 9. The 4 litre starter is saddle mounted and sits in a short depression in the crankcase. This meant a lot of research into the possibilities of finding some kind of starter motor that will fit into this recess. The knowledge that I gained is the basis for this article.
SMITHS 4LSA Starter.
Standard equipment on all 3, 4 ½ and 6 ½ engines. The problem with the 4LSA is that it has an original built in design fault which is the small diameter of the Bendix shaft, and the square thread on it, which further reduces it`s diameter. The reason for this is that Bendix shaft has to reach beyond the rear of the flywheel ring gear as the starter pinion is drawn in from behind it. The designers incorporated the patented American Bendix Corporation design for the method of drawing the starter pinion into mesh with flywheel gear ring. The large spring behind the pinion is there to absorb the acceleration forces exerted on the pinion during starting and when the pinion is thrown out of mesh. Unhappily the designers chose a pinion diameter too small to allow for a decent diameter of shaft. The result is that the bendix shaft is long and thin, thus susceptible to bending.
The Modus Operandi is that on completion of the electrical circuit, the Bendix shaft rotates drawing the bendix and the pinion, via the square thread, into mesh with the gear on the flywheel, which spins the crankshaft and thus starts the engine. Once the engine is going and the starter switch is in the off position, the pinion is physically thrown out of contact with the flywheel gear ring via the square thread.
Any strange dynamics, such as a violent kick back caused by starting the engine on full advance ,can result in the Bendix shaft bending beyond it`s plastic limit.
Some Smiths starters have a support for the end of the Bendix shaft which does improve the situation, but in my opinion, why use a Smiths when you can have something much better?
I know that some of the old brigade will have an apoplexic fit upon reading this, muttering that they never had a problem with the Smiths. I bet you that under their garage benches there will be a box of rusty bent shafts that they have forgotten all about. I expect that will have to brace my shoulders for a vitriolic epistle from our very own C Scuttle Shayke, once he`s finished tiffin of course.
For the new breed of gung ho owner, racing and rallying around the world in their Bents, the Smiths is just a ticking time bomb awaiting the most inappropriate moment to fail. For the more sedentary owner, there will be many willing hands at the pub to push start the Bent, should the Smiths fail, so that there is no real problem. On the other hand, should the Bent stall at the traffic lights, and the Smiths gives up the ghost, this will just reinforce the opinion of those impatient drivers of modern vehicles that old cars should be in museums, and not on the road.
Another disadvantage of the Smiths is that on the original wiring layout the starter cable was routed from the chassis up to the Smiths starter switch on the dashboard and then down to the starter motor. I imagine that at some time in the life of the cars this cabling would have been replaced by a modern solenoid switch wired to the dashhboard switch.
I refer to the recent article in Review 263 page184 about fitting a CAV BS5 starter motor to a 3 litre Vintage Bentley Engine and also to the letter from the ever wise Stuart Forsey in the following Review.
Unfortunately, the cerebral database held by the old guard white haired enthusiasts with grease under their fingernails is gradually depleting as they slowly bite the dust. Perhaps it`s only fair to say that I should be included in this group.
Of course we have the Bentley bible “The Technical Facts of the Vintage Bentley”. This is no Haynes instruction manual, but it`s the best that we have.
Over the years the Vintage Bentley ownership has shifted from enthusiasts that bought their cars for “tuppence” and were not afraid to get their hands dirty in order to restore and keep their cars going, to well off entrepreneurs and speculators, who rely on Bentley restorers to do this work for them.
This has created a problem where the centres of knowledge are now with those restorers and to access that knowledge you have to go to them.
There seems to be a dearth of information about starter motors as used on Vintage Bentleys, this article is intended to make available to all Vintage enthusiasts my own experience with 3, 4 and 4 ½ starter motors and alternatives which may not be exhaustive but will give new owners an insight into some of the available possibilities.
Several years ago I bought an incomplete 4 litre engine from Martin Hatcher which was the catalyst for my enthusiasm for this design. There was no starter with the parts, so that I faced the prospect of having no starter motor as all the spare 4 litre starters have been snapped up for mounting in 3, 4 ½ and 6 ½ litre engines as per Technical Facts page 33 note 9. The 4 litre starter is saddle mounted and sits in a short depression in the crankcase. This meant a lot of research into the possibilities of finding some kind of starter motor that will fit into this recess. The knowledge that I gained is the basis for this article.
SMITHS 4LSA Starter.
Standard equipment on all 3, 4 ½ and 6 ½ engines. The problem with the 4LSA is that it has an original built in design fault which is the small diameter of the Bendix shaft, and the square thread on it, which further reduces it`s diameter. The reason for this is that Bendix shaft has to reach beyond the rear of the flywheel ring gear as the starter pinion is drawn in from behind it. The designers incorporated the patented American Bendix Corporation design for the method of drawing the starter pinion into mesh with flywheel gear ring. The large spring behind the pinion is there to absorb the acceleration forces exerted on the pinion during starting and when the pinion is thrown out of mesh. Unhappily the designers chose a pinion diameter too small to allow for a decent diameter of shaft. The result is that the bendix shaft is long and thin, thus susceptible to bending.
The Modus Operandi is that on completion of the electrical circuit, the Bendix shaft rotates drawing the bendix and the pinion, via the square thread, into mesh with the gear on the flywheel, which spins the crankshaft and thus starts the engine. Once the engine is going and the starter switch is in the off position, the pinion is physically thrown out of contact with the flywheel gear ring via the square thread.
Any strange dynamics, such as a violent kick back caused by starting the engine on full advance ,can result in the Bendix shaft bending beyond it`s plastic limit.
Some Smiths starters have a support for the end of the Bendix shaft which does improve the situation, but in my opinion, why use a Smiths when you can have something much better?
I know that some of the old brigade will have an apoplexic fit upon reading this, muttering that they never had a problem with the Smiths. I bet you that under their garage benches there will be a box of rusty bent shafts that they have forgotten all about. I expect that will have to brace my shoulders for a vitriolic epistle from our very own C Scuttle Shayke, once he`s finished tiffin of course.
For the new breed of gung ho owner, racing and rallying around the world in their Bents, the Smiths is just a ticking time bomb awaiting the most inappropriate moment to fail. For the more sedentary owner, there will be many willing hands at the pub to push start the Bent, should the Smiths fail, so that there is no real problem. On the other hand, should the Bent stall at the traffic lights, and the Smiths gives up the ghost, this will just reinforce the opinion of those impatient drivers of modern vehicles that old cars should be in museums, and not on the road.
Another disadvantage of the Smiths is that on the original wiring layout the starter cable was routed from the chassis up to the Smiths starter switch on the dashboard and then down to the starter motor. I imagine that at some time in the life of the cars this cabling would have been replaced by a modern solenoid switch wired to the dashhboard switch.
ORIGINAL VERY NEAT SMITHS STARTER INSTALLATION SHOWN HERE ON A 3 LITRE ENGINE
PRE ENGAGED STARTER MOTORS
This type of starter motor is much stronger, as the pinion is pushed into mesh with the flywheel gear ring from the front of the flywheel, so that the diameter of the shaft is not dictated by it`s proximity to the outer diameter of the flywheel gear ring, but means that the starter is more complex than the Smiths type.
On completion of the electrical circuit, the pinion shaft is actuated by a solenoid coil which spins the shaft slowly and at the same time slides the pinion into mesh with the flywheel ring gear. Once the pinion shaft has reached the extent of it`s movement, a switch is tripped, that energises the main coils which rotate the shaft, thus spinning the crankshaft. Once the starter switch is released a powerful internal spring returns the shaft to the off position
This is the principle of the pre engaged starter, more information will be given for individual models. What we are looking for is a contemporary type of pre engaged starter that will compatible with the Bentley starter configuration and look right.
For the Vintage Bentley, the Bosch family of starters are ideal substitutes for the Smiths, as the body of the starter is a diameter unobstructed by protusions that is designed to be mounted on a saddle or in a bored hole. The Bosch starters that we are concerned with were designed in Germany in the 1920`s by a committee of professors, doctors, diploma engineers and engineers with a combined university training of about 350 years and yards of duelling scars. Whilst I imagine that the Smiths was designed by a draffie, in an afternoon, on the back of a fag packet after a night out with the boys, as many British products seem to be.
Joking apart, the Bosch is a quality item, and to use the latest British seal of approval, “It does exactly what it says on the tin”.
CAV BS5 STARTER
This is a very good pre engaged starter and has been used on Vintage Bentleys for some years now, but surprise! Surprise! This starter was originally a Bosch starter made under license in the UK by CAV before the war and bore the logo “CAV BOSCH”. Just before the war the Bosch name was dropped and it became CAV BS5. My guess is that BS5 stands for Bosch Starter 5” as the diameter of the motor is 5 inches (127 mm).
I did use a BS5 on my Bentley, but doing so went against my engineering instincts, as the main body of the starter only penetrates halfway into the mounting housing and the tapered clamp bolt only engages marginally with the front end of the starter body.
Stuart Forsey in his letter to the Review, pointed out that by machining the front end of the gear portion of the pinion back, the starter can be pushed a fraction further into the housing which will give the tapered bolt a better purchase on the starter body. All I can say is that the BS5 works well if you can ignore the engineering abominations and the rumours of failure of the engine starter housing. The starter housing is not as solid as it seems as the casting is partly cored internally to save weight. The overhang of the BS5 and the minimal clamping can exert a point load on the internal wall of the starter housing which may cause the housing to crack.
If you must install a BS5, don`t forget to chamfer the teeth on the front of the flywheel gear with a small angle grinder, as the pinion now enters from the front, not the rear of the flywheel ring gear. Also the starter must be fitted with a 11 tooth pinion in order to mesh properly with the Bentley flywheel ring gear. Always apply a smear of copper grease when installing starters in the housing as the galvanic action over time between the aluminium or magnesium housing and the steel starter body can make removal difficult. Do not apply excessive torque to the tapered bolt as this could contribute to failure of the housing.
One way to make this installation more palatable engineering wise would be to replace the front end cap with a new cap matching the old cap internally but with the outside diameter matching and continuing the diameter of the main body of the starter. Then the clamping and supporting problems will be solved, but the motor is still too big and too heavy, and In order to mount it in the engine, you have to remove the oil filler pipe and the two lower filler pipe mounting studs before it will enter the starter housing bore.
This type of starter motor is much stronger, as the pinion is pushed into mesh with the flywheel gear ring from the front of the flywheel, so that the diameter of the shaft is not dictated by it`s proximity to the outer diameter of the flywheel gear ring, but means that the starter is more complex than the Smiths type.
On completion of the electrical circuit, the pinion shaft is actuated by a solenoid coil which spins the shaft slowly and at the same time slides the pinion into mesh with the flywheel ring gear. Once the pinion shaft has reached the extent of it`s movement, a switch is tripped, that energises the main coils which rotate the shaft, thus spinning the crankshaft. Once the starter switch is released a powerful internal spring returns the shaft to the off position
This is the principle of the pre engaged starter, more information will be given for individual models. What we are looking for is a contemporary type of pre engaged starter that will compatible with the Bentley starter configuration and look right.
For the Vintage Bentley, the Bosch family of starters are ideal substitutes for the Smiths, as the body of the starter is a diameter unobstructed by protusions that is designed to be mounted on a saddle or in a bored hole. The Bosch starters that we are concerned with were designed in Germany in the 1920`s by a committee of professors, doctors, diploma engineers and engineers with a combined university training of about 350 years and yards of duelling scars. Whilst I imagine that the Smiths was designed by a draffie, in an afternoon, on the back of a fag packet after a night out with the boys, as many British products seem to be.
Joking apart, the Bosch is a quality item, and to use the latest British seal of approval, “It does exactly what it says on the tin”.
CAV BS5 STARTER
This is a very good pre engaged starter and has been used on Vintage Bentleys for some years now, but surprise! Surprise! This starter was originally a Bosch starter made under license in the UK by CAV before the war and bore the logo “CAV BOSCH”. Just before the war the Bosch name was dropped and it became CAV BS5. My guess is that BS5 stands for Bosch Starter 5” as the diameter of the motor is 5 inches (127 mm).
I did use a BS5 on my Bentley, but doing so went against my engineering instincts, as the main body of the starter only penetrates halfway into the mounting housing and the tapered clamp bolt only engages marginally with the front end of the starter body.
Stuart Forsey in his letter to the Review, pointed out that by machining the front end of the gear portion of the pinion back, the starter can be pushed a fraction further into the housing which will give the tapered bolt a better purchase on the starter body. All I can say is that the BS5 works well if you can ignore the engineering abominations and the rumours of failure of the engine starter housing. The starter housing is not as solid as it seems as the casting is partly cored internally to save weight. The overhang of the BS5 and the minimal clamping can exert a point load on the internal wall of the starter housing which may cause the housing to crack.
If you must install a BS5, don`t forget to chamfer the teeth on the front of the flywheel gear with a small angle grinder, as the pinion now enters from the front, not the rear of the flywheel ring gear. Also the starter must be fitted with a 11 tooth pinion in order to mesh properly with the Bentley flywheel ring gear. Always apply a smear of copper grease when installing starters in the housing as the galvanic action over time between the aluminium or magnesium housing and the steel starter body can make removal difficult. Do not apply excessive torque to the tapered bolt as this could contribute to failure of the housing.
One way to make this installation more palatable engineering wise would be to replace the front end cap with a new cap matching the old cap internally but with the outside diameter matching and continuing the diameter of the main body of the starter. Then the clamping and supporting problems will be solved, but the motor is still too big and too heavy, and In order to mount it in the engine, you have to remove the oil filler pipe and the two lower filler pipe mounting studs before it will enter the starter housing bore.
TYPICAL HOME SPUN BS5 INSTALLATION. THE SQUEAMISH PLEASE LOOK AWAY NOW!
In the case that you have fitted a new modern flywheel and clutch to your engine, the starter ring may be further back than in the normal position with a standard flywheel. In this instance there isn`t much choice, the BS5 can be used and will satisfy all engineering criteria with regard to mounting in the engine, as the main body of the starter will be fully engaged in the starter housing and the clamping bolt will engage with the starter body correctly.
BS5 SHOWN IN CONJUNCTION WITH MODERN PLATE FLYWHEEL. NO PROBLEMS HERE
4 LITRE STARTER BOSCH BJG
This is the 4 litre starter, the actual BOSCH identification number found stamped onto the front of the starter body is as shown below together with an explanation:
BOSCH BJG 1.2/12 RS7
BOSCH BJG = STARTER MAKER AND TYPE
1.2 = HORSEPOWER
12 = VOLTAGE
R = RIGHT HAND ROTATION
S7 = PINION CONFIGURATION ( 11 TOOTH IMPERIAL )
This very nice pre engaged starter is the older brother of the BS5 and about half the weight, and as stated in the Technical Facts, is suitable for the 4 cylinder engines and the 6 ½ litre and importantly is contemporary with the Bentley engines. The only problem is finding one, but some advice is be given below.
The Bosch starters have a solenoid built into the operating switch which makes the wiring simpler.
This is the 4 litre starter, the actual BOSCH identification number found stamped onto the front of the starter body is as shown below together with an explanation:
BOSCH BJG 1.2/12 RS7
BOSCH BJG = STARTER MAKER AND TYPE
1.2 = HORSEPOWER
12 = VOLTAGE
R = RIGHT HAND ROTATION
S7 = PINION CONFIGURATION ( 11 TOOTH IMPERIAL )
This very nice pre engaged starter is the older brother of the BS5 and about half the weight, and as stated in the Technical Facts, is suitable for the 4 cylinder engines and the 6 ½ litre and importantly is contemporary with the Bentley engines. The only problem is finding one, but some advice is be given below.
The Bosch starters have a solenoid built into the operating switch which makes the wiring simpler.
BOSCH BJG 1.2 HP STARTER MOTOR
4 CYLINDER STARTER MOTOR ALTERNATIVES
VBE RESTORATIONS offer a new starter which engages properly in the engine starter housing to replace the Smiths or BS5. They also offer an annular support for the end of the BS5 motor to give added security if the existing BS5 is to be retained. Tim or Richard Cresswell will be happy to give details on request
VBE RESTORATIONS offer a new starter which engages properly in the engine starter housing to replace the Smiths or BS5. They also offer an annular support for the end of the BS5 motor to give added security if the existing BS5 is to be retained. Tim or Richard Cresswell will be happy to give details on request
VBE SOLUTION VERY NEAT
BOSCH BJ 1.2 hp, BJG 1.2 & 1.5 hp, BJH 1.4 & 1.8 hp
All this family of Bosch pre engaged starter motors are suitable for the 4 cylinder Vintage Bentley engines with the flywheel gear ring in the normal position relative to the end of the crankshaft. The body diameters are all 112mm as apposed to the bore in the starter housing of 127mm so that a sleeve will have to be made up to enable the starter to fit properly into the starter housing. Take care before making the sleeve by measuring accurately the housing bore and starter body diameter, as distortion could have affected their nominal diameters.
What you have to take into account is that very few of these Bosch starters were imported into the UK and that these starters were only fitted to prestige cars as they were extremely expensive from new.
These starters can be found, but rarely with the 11 tooth pinion necessary for the Bentley flywheel gear ring. Spares are no longer available from the manufacturer, an 11 tooth pinion can be made by your friendly machine shop. Other spares such as springs, carbon brushes and solenoid switches can be sourced from companies in Prague and Germany. Donald Day can supply springs and pinions. Although finding, and if necessary repairing, these Bosch starters can be expensive and time consuming, the result will be well worth it as it will outlast you and possibly the car as well, and most importantly, will look correct on your car.
All this family of Bosch pre engaged starter motors are suitable for the 4 cylinder Vintage Bentley engines with the flywheel gear ring in the normal position relative to the end of the crankshaft. The body diameters are all 112mm as apposed to the bore in the starter housing of 127mm so that a sleeve will have to be made up to enable the starter to fit properly into the starter housing. Take care before making the sleeve by measuring accurately the housing bore and starter body diameter, as distortion could have affected their nominal diameters.
What you have to take into account is that very few of these Bosch starters were imported into the UK and that these starters were only fitted to prestige cars as they were extremely expensive from new.
These starters can be found, but rarely with the 11 tooth pinion necessary for the Bentley flywheel gear ring. Spares are no longer available from the manufacturer, an 11 tooth pinion can be made by your friendly machine shop. Other spares such as springs, carbon brushes and solenoid switches can be sourced from companies in Prague and Germany. Donald Day can supply springs and pinions. Although finding, and if necessary repairing, these Bosch starters can be expensive and time consuming, the result will be well worth it as it will outlast you and possibly the car as well, and most importantly, will look correct on your car.
STARTER COMPARISON: Top CAV BS5 centre BOSCH BJH bottom BOSCH BJG
WHERE TO FIND THESE ALTERNATIVE STARTER MOTORS
BS5 These should be in plentiful supply as they were manufactured in the UK and can be found in several different ways. Expect to pay between £30 to £700.
AUTOJUMBLES Instead of going with the wife and kids to the boot Fairs on Sundays and eating those dodgy hamburgers that can give you life threatening brain damage. Why not go to your local autojumble and see if you can find that BS5. Here you will find people rushing around trying to find that elusive part for awful postwar British cars that should be forgotten and are now lumped under the rather up market title of “Classic Cars”. Upon spotting your target, sidle up to the stall and instead of picking it up, ask the prices of several items on the stall, say that these items are too expensive, make derisory offers which are refused. This will establish you as a cheapskate in the eyes of the stallholder and give you a psychological advantage.
Then ask the price of the BS5, the stallholder will probably say “This starter is used on old Bentleys” and give an extortionate price. The next step is to pretend to be amazed and say “I only want it for my Perkins diesel engine” and make an offer about half of the asking price. Meanwhile your wife and kids should be trying to pull you away from the stall to prevent you from throwing away the precious housekeeping money. The stallholder, upon seeing that the golden goose is departing, should cave in and the starter is yours. Please remember to take pictures of the queen with you as cheques and credit cards will not be acceptable.
EBAY Try scrolling through all that rubbish on the website, If you don`t snuff it from terminal boredom, you may get lucky.
INTERNET Don`t do as I did, type something like BS5 into the search engine, only to have an insalubrious site explode onto the screen, it goes without saying, that this is the moment your loving wife will choose to bring in your tea and biscuits.
BREAKERS YARDS These can be hard nuts to crack, luckily I can give you a crash course in how to crack that nut and it`s totally free!
I`m aiming this advice at the new wave Vintage Bentley owner that has no real knowledge of Bentley workings, those of you who earn your living by knocking on old grannie`s doors and telling them that there`s a tile missing on the roof, can skip this chapter.
Although you are a captain of industry, when dealing with Bentley matters, you feel rather inadequate when confronted by your confident knowledgeable Bentley restorer. He speaks a foreign Bentley language that you cannot seem to grasp, but pretend to understand. You sign cheques for amounts that don`t seem to equate with work progress on your green painted investment, with a smile.
The restorer always has a plausible reason for delays and price increases, such as, having to send parts to Kazakhstan to have the machining done at a reasonable cost, or that the price of restoration is somehow linked to the price of gold. Is it your paranoia, or do you really hear laughter when leaving the restorer`s premises?
The restorer cannot find a BS5 under a grand, this is the moment that you`ve been waiting for, now you can show him that you know a thing or two, what satisfaction you could get by buying the starter for a song and then plonk it on his desk with a loud bang!
Enablement is the name of the game but breakers are a breed apart, their primeval instincts are finely honed and able to suss out punters in a nanosecond, so it`s important to look and speak the part on your visit to their yard.
Your voice is a giveaway, those plummy tones which are normally your passport to the inner sanctum of the good life will not earn you any brownie points here, but will only increase the asking price of your BS5. Read a few of Red Daniels articles in past BDC Reviews and swot up on the cockney rhyming slang. In the south of England try a brummie sing song accent, it works.
Dress code is informal, but don`t wear those Lobbs hand made shoes, they will be ruined by the mud and oil in the yard. Use wellies but not those green ones that your wife wears in the garden. The VSCC uniform of grubby dark anorak or donkey jacket and brown corduroy trousers is ok, but not the ratting cap, use one of those ski caps that the criminals on television wear. If you must wear an after shave make sure it`s “Brut”, the working man`s fragrance, and not one of those poncey French ones that smell like a tart`s handkerchief. It`s best not to shower for a few days before going in order to give off an authentic aroma. This may cause difficulties for you at work and a lack of cooperation by the distaff side, but remember, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.
Now you are ready for the visit, don`t go in the Bentley GT Speed Coupe´ as all your efforts will have been in vain, it may also be detrimental to your Bent`s paintwork with all those disgruntled scavengers hanging around the yard, borrow the gardener`s run down Ford instead.
Let me prepare you for this experience, what you will find is a yard full of cars piled on top of each other about five high. All the prestige and pomp is gone, there is a truth and honesty prevailing here. Range rovers and Jags have cheap Korean cars nestling on their roofs. The cars that you liked and once owned or coveted in a former life are there, making their peace with Thor, the god of automobiles, before starting their final journey to a fiery Valhalla.
After a couple of drinks, and if you squint through narrowed eyes as the sun sets over the yard, you can almost imagine a Wagnerian scene of the dwarves of the Nibelungen hammering those scrap cars into new souvenirs destined for sale to tourists in Berlin.
Upon arrival at the yard the first thing that you will observe are cars in the car park with different coloured doors and body panels. These belong to the hordes of scavengers clambering all over the piled up cars. Your first obstacle will be the guard dog, it doesn`t matter what breed, they`re all trained to maim and kill. Be brave, don`t show any emotion as the dog stops chewing on a wheel hub, jumps up and charges at you full tilt, snarling and foaming at the mouth, only to be pulled up sharp, just before making contact, by the length of fraying string attached to his collar.
Best thing to do is to stare the dog down whilst imagining that you are a vet cutting away at his crown jewels, so that he backs away crouched on all fours whining. This will earn you grudging respect from the yard employees and may give you a bargaining advantage. It`s important that you know exactly what you want, they will ask you what vehicle the starter is for, you say it`s for a Perkins P6 diesel engine for your dad`s tractor. You should have already scanned and copied the image of the BS5 from this article so that you have something to show them. Remember that cash is king, your diamond credit card will be received by hoots of derisive laughter.
Nine out of ten times they will not have what you want, be persistent, you will be rewarded eventually and find that elusive starter motor at a reasonable price. Don`t be surprised if the yard`s owner turns out to be the neighbour that you see every morning in a pin stripe suit jumping into his Jag, with his girls attending an expensive finishing school in Switzerland. Just swear each other to secrecy.
VINTAGE BOSCH STARTER MOTORS These are rare items but are worth the search. Expect to pay from £800 to £1500 depending on type and horsepower.
AUTOJUMBLES The only place in the UK would be Beaulieu Autojumble both May and September, otherwise Essen in Germany. When asked the price for the starter, the stallholder without exception will say that it comes from an Alpha Romeo, Mercedes or a Horsch quoting a sky high price. If it`s raining on the last day of the jumble you may get it for a song.
INTERNET Try sites such as www.prewar.com
There you go, it`s simple when you know how to do it!
I acknowledge the kind help of VBE Restoration CEO Richard Cresswell also Vintage Bentley Spare Parts CEO Peter Butler in allowing me to take some of the photographs included in this article. Usual disclaimer.
As always, I invite anybody that has any questions about this article or has any 4 litre news to CONTACT me.
BS5 These should be in plentiful supply as they were manufactured in the UK and can be found in several different ways. Expect to pay between £30 to £700.
AUTOJUMBLES Instead of going with the wife and kids to the boot Fairs on Sundays and eating those dodgy hamburgers that can give you life threatening brain damage. Why not go to your local autojumble and see if you can find that BS5. Here you will find people rushing around trying to find that elusive part for awful postwar British cars that should be forgotten and are now lumped under the rather up market title of “Classic Cars”. Upon spotting your target, sidle up to the stall and instead of picking it up, ask the prices of several items on the stall, say that these items are too expensive, make derisory offers which are refused. This will establish you as a cheapskate in the eyes of the stallholder and give you a psychological advantage.
Then ask the price of the BS5, the stallholder will probably say “This starter is used on old Bentleys” and give an extortionate price. The next step is to pretend to be amazed and say “I only want it for my Perkins diesel engine” and make an offer about half of the asking price. Meanwhile your wife and kids should be trying to pull you away from the stall to prevent you from throwing away the precious housekeeping money. The stallholder, upon seeing that the golden goose is departing, should cave in and the starter is yours. Please remember to take pictures of the queen with you as cheques and credit cards will not be acceptable.
EBAY Try scrolling through all that rubbish on the website, If you don`t snuff it from terminal boredom, you may get lucky.
INTERNET Don`t do as I did, type something like BS5 into the search engine, only to have an insalubrious site explode onto the screen, it goes without saying, that this is the moment your loving wife will choose to bring in your tea and biscuits.
BREAKERS YARDS These can be hard nuts to crack, luckily I can give you a crash course in how to crack that nut and it`s totally free!
I`m aiming this advice at the new wave Vintage Bentley owner that has no real knowledge of Bentley workings, those of you who earn your living by knocking on old grannie`s doors and telling them that there`s a tile missing on the roof, can skip this chapter.
Although you are a captain of industry, when dealing with Bentley matters, you feel rather inadequate when confronted by your confident knowledgeable Bentley restorer. He speaks a foreign Bentley language that you cannot seem to grasp, but pretend to understand. You sign cheques for amounts that don`t seem to equate with work progress on your green painted investment, with a smile.
The restorer always has a plausible reason for delays and price increases, such as, having to send parts to Kazakhstan to have the machining done at a reasonable cost, or that the price of restoration is somehow linked to the price of gold. Is it your paranoia, or do you really hear laughter when leaving the restorer`s premises?
The restorer cannot find a BS5 under a grand, this is the moment that you`ve been waiting for, now you can show him that you know a thing or two, what satisfaction you could get by buying the starter for a song and then plonk it on his desk with a loud bang!
Enablement is the name of the game but breakers are a breed apart, their primeval instincts are finely honed and able to suss out punters in a nanosecond, so it`s important to look and speak the part on your visit to their yard.
Your voice is a giveaway, those plummy tones which are normally your passport to the inner sanctum of the good life will not earn you any brownie points here, but will only increase the asking price of your BS5. Read a few of Red Daniels articles in past BDC Reviews and swot up on the cockney rhyming slang. In the south of England try a brummie sing song accent, it works.
Dress code is informal, but don`t wear those Lobbs hand made shoes, they will be ruined by the mud and oil in the yard. Use wellies but not those green ones that your wife wears in the garden. The VSCC uniform of grubby dark anorak or donkey jacket and brown corduroy trousers is ok, but not the ratting cap, use one of those ski caps that the criminals on television wear. If you must wear an after shave make sure it`s “Brut”, the working man`s fragrance, and not one of those poncey French ones that smell like a tart`s handkerchief. It`s best not to shower for a few days before going in order to give off an authentic aroma. This may cause difficulties for you at work and a lack of cooperation by the distaff side, but remember, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.
Now you are ready for the visit, don`t go in the Bentley GT Speed Coupe´ as all your efforts will have been in vain, it may also be detrimental to your Bent`s paintwork with all those disgruntled scavengers hanging around the yard, borrow the gardener`s run down Ford instead.
Let me prepare you for this experience, what you will find is a yard full of cars piled on top of each other about five high. All the prestige and pomp is gone, there is a truth and honesty prevailing here. Range rovers and Jags have cheap Korean cars nestling on their roofs. The cars that you liked and once owned or coveted in a former life are there, making their peace with Thor, the god of automobiles, before starting their final journey to a fiery Valhalla.
After a couple of drinks, and if you squint through narrowed eyes as the sun sets over the yard, you can almost imagine a Wagnerian scene of the dwarves of the Nibelungen hammering those scrap cars into new souvenirs destined for sale to tourists in Berlin.
Upon arrival at the yard the first thing that you will observe are cars in the car park with different coloured doors and body panels. These belong to the hordes of scavengers clambering all over the piled up cars. Your first obstacle will be the guard dog, it doesn`t matter what breed, they`re all trained to maim and kill. Be brave, don`t show any emotion as the dog stops chewing on a wheel hub, jumps up and charges at you full tilt, snarling and foaming at the mouth, only to be pulled up sharp, just before making contact, by the length of fraying string attached to his collar.
Best thing to do is to stare the dog down whilst imagining that you are a vet cutting away at his crown jewels, so that he backs away crouched on all fours whining. This will earn you grudging respect from the yard employees and may give you a bargaining advantage. It`s important that you know exactly what you want, they will ask you what vehicle the starter is for, you say it`s for a Perkins P6 diesel engine for your dad`s tractor. You should have already scanned and copied the image of the BS5 from this article so that you have something to show them. Remember that cash is king, your diamond credit card will be received by hoots of derisive laughter.
Nine out of ten times they will not have what you want, be persistent, you will be rewarded eventually and find that elusive starter motor at a reasonable price. Don`t be surprised if the yard`s owner turns out to be the neighbour that you see every morning in a pin stripe suit jumping into his Jag, with his girls attending an expensive finishing school in Switzerland. Just swear each other to secrecy.
VINTAGE BOSCH STARTER MOTORS These are rare items but are worth the search. Expect to pay from £800 to £1500 depending on type and horsepower.
AUTOJUMBLES The only place in the UK would be Beaulieu Autojumble both May and September, otherwise Essen in Germany. When asked the price for the starter, the stallholder without exception will say that it comes from an Alpha Romeo, Mercedes or a Horsch quoting a sky high price. If it`s raining on the last day of the jumble you may get it for a song.
INTERNET Try sites such as www.prewar.com
There you go, it`s simple when you know how to do it!
I acknowledge the kind help of VBE Restoration CEO Richard Cresswell also Vintage Bentley Spare Parts CEO Peter Butler in allowing me to take some of the photographs included in this article. Usual disclaimer.
As always, I invite anybody that has any questions about this article or has any 4 litre news to CONTACT me.
THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE BDC REVIEW