While I was away from home for a while, someone told me they were starting my 7 (1983, stock 12a and stock carb, TII alternator) but that they had to crank it for about a minute each time and it was hard to start. I'm back now and after charging battery and replacing cables since they melted, the engine turns over but won't start. Unflooded to be sure, even got new plugs. New negative cable gets warm after about 7 secs of cranking then I leave it alone. I was able to start it initially, but then my battery cable smoked and I shut it all down. Going to buy a new starter soon if I can't determine any other problems

Thanks, y'all. Please let me know if you need any more details

 

If the engine is spinning, your starter is working. I'd be more concerned about the heat in the cables for Battery + and - getting overly hot, as that indicates corrosion causing resistance in the circuits. New cables could be fabricated to fix this, and you'll get more juice to where it counts. As to the no-start after 7 seconds - that could be any number of things. Too many to list, so I'll ask some questions;

1) How long has the car been sitting?
2) How many miles are on this engine?
3) Any mods?
4) Last tune-up (*plugs, ignition wires, cap, rotor)?
5) How did the old plugs look?
6) How old is the gas? Is it flooding?
7) How new is your battery?

Lets start (*pun) there,

 

Had to disappear for college, but I made time for the seven a few weeks ago and got it running. Good battery, shot starter--so I replaced it along w battery cables and he fired up. To answer your questions, it's a 3 YO batt, new gas, new plugs (old ones had been there before me owning), sitting only about two months not running, 183xxx miles, and my only mod is a S5 Alternator. The alternator was not wired correctly and was draining my batt when the car was off. Have since ordered a new alt plug and wiring to correct my mistake

I assumed no one would reply to this thread, thank for doing so

 

I don't know why you'd assume no one would reply. We're all a very helpful group of enthusiasts here and try to help out new owners as best we can. Glad you got it up and running, and hope to see you around the boards,

 

These messed wiring with the alt and low battery could be what killed your starter. I've seen it happen on motorcycles. Low battery gets a hard draw from a starter over and over, while the starter doesn't get CCAs it needs and eventually the armature in the starter motor gets cooked.

 

Coming from subarus, I'm used to people telling me to fluff off and figure it out on my own. Rotary community has been a nice change! Cheers dude

 

What you said^ plus the fact someone I knew was constantly cranking the ignition. I got a text saying "I had to hold the key for about a minute so it would start"!

 

Whoever you put in charge of starting it and running it while you were gone doesn't know how a carbeurator works, how a choke works, or how an accelerator pump operates, I'll bet. Well, lesson learned; at least Starters are relatively cheap, available, and easy to swap!