Mind of its own.

I had a problem with an Alfa like that, but from memory it was the starter solenoid that basically 'stuck on' and once it was whacked (finely adjusted ) it unstuck and didn't do it again. You said you had the starter off altogether though, so I wouldn't expect that to be the problem. You haven't got an electrical short somewhere in the main battery lead or anything like that have you?

 

Change your ignition switch.

Also recommend fitting a Tildon reduction gear starter (put the original starter on the shelf for concours duty) for less weight (6Kg) faster cranking and easier starting. You find them on ebay, just search "ferrari starter".

 

Well done, its often the simple things that we overlook.

Bet you're now regretting the "Belt the **** out of starter" strategy! Can you buff the hammer marks out...!

 

I had an 'interesting' underbonnet fire once in my Alfa when the main battery lead which runs under the crossmember to the starter chafed through after many years of rubbing, sight unseen on a steering tie rod and the first sign of it was the firewall grommet started smoking where the choke cable passed through it. The choke cable had become like a hot wire...Fortunately I was just turning into a carpark and wondered why I could smell burning rubber. Was glad to have an extinguisher in the car and wouldn't be without one now. Was VERY glad that I didn't have any big fuel leaks from the webers either...

 

i had a similar issue with the Morgan a couple of years ago. The airfilter came off the carbie on the Bay to Birdwood run and when i stopped to fill the car up, i flooded the carb and it caught fire. Nothing major, except i was in a service station. The good thing was the servo had a fire extinguisher, which i didn't. The bad thing was the attendant emptied the whole thing onto the car and called the fire brigade. It could have been fixed with a fire blanket. The moggie never leaves home without an extinguisher these days.

edit: pleased to hear you got the 512 sorted Rob.

 

Most bizarre breakdown I've ever had was tool bag in the 500 somehow got dislodged and landed with the shifter that was in the bag neatly across the battery terminals - fortunately just cooked some (most!) wiring and was found before a fire started.

 

my car copped a flat battery today, its stranded in the school car park

 

holler a marshall