Hi Adrian,
As far as I can see from the photo, everything looks OK. It is difficult to assess your remark about the axial float. In addition circlip (D) should hold everything within the barrel and the springs (A + C) should push any float to “one side”. I’ve added an “exploded view” of this type of starter drive for you to see whether you’re missing anything. Also added a photo of a disassembled Eclipse drive as refernce material. Hope this will make everything clear to you.
Regards, Bob K.
Hi Bob,
That’s a crisp-looking Eclipse mechanism : ) I do have all the components in the photo and the drawing. Could you please pull back the Location Nut(G) to show the tip of the Center Sleeve(N) and the retaining Circlip which keeps the Location Nut on the Center Sleeve? It will be very useful to see what an unworn one looks like.
We note that the Eclipse model we both have is different to the diagram in this particular area … we have a circlip & it shows a thread … a poor version of this diagram is in the workshop manual I have, so thanks for a readable one!
Adrian,
See attached photo of a disassembled starter drive. I guess the end of your Centre Sleeve looks different indeed: the spindle should continue for a few millimeters after the spring washer. whereas yours almost ends immediately and is tapered instead of straight.Could this be the reason?
Regards, Bob K.
Hi Bob,
I was in a starter motor repair specialist in Coventry when your picture came through, so perfect timing! To add detail to this thread here are more numbers.
According to the experts, my circlip groove wear will indeed cause this problem and can be cured with a new ‘Sleeve and Drive head’ (Lucas #54251057) or, temporarily, adding an extra Ring, ‘Barrel Retaining’ (Lucas#255815) [found in Lucas Eclipse kit ‘Google: Lucas TIPI 563746’]. The good news is that the full Eclipse mechanism is fitted to the M45G 26062A as well as the M418G, which makes it much more common (and not just on Jaguars!).
My 10-tooth ‘Pinion and Sleeve or Barrel’ (Lucas #291101) search started with the thread on this site and has drawn a blank so far 
. Alternative part numbers to 291101 are TLB109 and SDV3158. It appears the TLB109 was in the Lucas M45G 25038 (driving the flywheel of a Standard 20S TVO engine 1949–56) which was Fitted to the Massey Fergusun ‘MF TE-D 20 Gasoline tractor’ known as the TED-20.
The 10-teethed Pinion is pressed into a barrel. The barrel can be easily made in my local machine shop but I don’t know yet who could make the Pinion.
If anyone knows the Canadian company referenced in this thread, I’d be really pleased to know who they are!
[Yorik is still patiently waiting in the garage but I hope to take him to www.jaguarbreakfastclub.org.uk on 04-May www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/jaguar-festival-2019.html on 12-May] even if I have to refit the worn parts I have.
We shall leave home fully prepared with red wine and a picnic hamper … as usual 
Thanks Roger. I’ve popped the entire set of eclipse parts into my sonic cleaner then rinsed & lightly oiled with WD40 as suggested. The action is now really smooth & the return is now good so I’m hopeful it will now work well.
How one gets a hammer/mallet onto the starter motor body on the XK140 though is a mystery to me ! Too low to the ground to hit it from underneath & no space in the engine bay!
