Hi,
I've got a Mk2 1.6 1976 Escort Panel van when I turn the key to start it, it labors to turn over for a few seconds then kicks and goes. Once its started its all sweet can not work out why. I have checked battery all good changed starter motor and starter solenoid run through all all wiring and all appears fine yet it still turns over slow till it kicks sounds like its not going to start once its going it runs fine. I've never had the manual chock connected don't like it so I know that's not it. Any suggestions on what it might be or what else I should check?
Thanks,
Greg.

Try replacing your earth cables and make sure they have a good connection to the body and also try replacing your 12V cable from the battery to the starter motor.

You can easily check the cables and connection using a digital multi meter.
 
Disconnect the coil to prevent the engine starting.
 
Using the 12V range setting place one of the test leads on the battery + post and the other on the starter solenoid post, check voltage drop when cranking.
 
Repeat the test from the starter body/housing and the battery - post when cranking.
 
If you find excessive voltage drop repeat the test between electrical connections to isolate the high resistance area causing the voltage drop.
 
Voltage drop should not exceed about 0.5 when cranking.
 
Also check the battery's voltage when cranking. Should not drop below 9.6v, if unsure get the battery tested at a reputable battery place.

Like admin says, could be earth cable.  You may need a flexible "earth strap" connected between the motor (preferably one of the starter motor bolts) and a clean area (bare metal) of the chassis.
Cheers

Try using  one or two of your jumper leads as a temp "earth strap" between your battery and engine block as a quick test.

Sounds like a crook Earth,crook Battery,crook Starter, and/or All wire connections.!!  ... Clean all earth connections to bare metal with wet & dry paper, ADD a decent size earth wire to 1 bolt on your Starter motor then to the Body, after cleaning the whole bolt, clean pos & neg battery terminals, also starter pos connection.!! ... Add Zinc Cream to EVERYTHING you have cleaned, it's the white stuff Cricket players use, available from your Chemist.!! ... With jumper leads attached to your battery from a running car, and Fire up your Esky, if prob still exists Starter may be the culprit, make sure the zinc is only on the brass Starter screw & connector, If you are in Vic. & 1300 & 1600 starters are the same, i can lend you a 1300 Starter, Pickup only.!!  ... Hope this helps, the Zinc is a Great Conductor, Cheers 

If after a session on your Battery Charger it does not hold 13.2v, if it's low 12's, this indicates heavy Sulphate build up, Prob may be a crook Battery.!!

Check engine timing. Could be a little bit too far advanced.

yup - haha, u have to check just about everything! EVERY earth point, sand shiny on each and every surface, smear with (di electric grease preferably) or vaseline. Make sure batt cables are good - test in post #3 will show this. Timing also - however with too much advance it will usually get worse as engine heats up - 
 
choke will have no effect on cranking over. You replaced the starter - with an old one? Just because it spins on the bench means zip. Ive had a pro shop "test" my starter - only to find PO had cranked it WAY too much - brushes were brand new but glazed - on visual inspectino it all looked brand new. The brush wires were purple form the heat - I replaced them and still cranking with a high pitch ever since - and this was a big diesel!

Your "replacement" starter might still be toast. Do the volt test and report back :)

Hi,
Thanks for all the good advice this weekend I'll go over all my leads and connections again, starter motor and starter solenoid are both brand new made no difference money well wasted, Battery on multi is fine I'll have to put the multi on the starter and a few other spots I've only just got the multi so not too experienced. I'll also try and get someone to check the timing for me. Let you know how I go thanks for the offer of a another starter motor to try but I'm in NSW.
Thanks,
Greg.