Starter (rebuild or just go with new)

[Keeper79]

Now that I finally have fire going to the engine the starter is giving me trouble. Seemed weak to turn the engone over and closer inspection and I saw a rivot not looking to hot on the end cap.. So I yanked the starter off last night and what I found on the inside clearly made my blood boil. Don't know who had this car before, but would certainly hate for them to work on a car built out of anything more than Lego's.

Would a rebuild kit have the pieces needs to repair the end cap where the brushes go or just avoid the pain and send it in for core exchange and stand with new rebuilt?

 

[Russ/40]

The brushes definitely look short. I would scrap the end plate and not bother with it. It takes a monster iron to properly solder the brushes in. The end plate is easy to find, bet you could get one for the shipping from a forum member. I think I have a bunch of them around. Get an end plate and have an auto electric shop change the brushes and turn the armature.

 

[Keeper79]

I know of a guy that does starters and alternators for extra coin. He is a retired Ford guy and does all this on the side. Probably has everything to do the brushes and turn the armature. I can get the both the insulated brushes and the ground brushes for about $5 and get him to install the insulated brushes.

 

[jimvette59]

Keeper, the armature looks like it couldn't take an other turning. The rear plate is trashed and the brushes need to be replaced. I would look for an other rebuilt, there are plenty around. Ask to see inside before you buy it, now you know what to look for. Just my opinion.

 

[Keeper79]

I got my micrometer handy and can pull a measurement of where the brushes touch and where they don't and compare to the actual size of an origional.

If its beyond help and depending on the price of a backplate.. might go with a rebuilt just to avoid gathering parts and putting up with the hassle..

just to get the parts and get this one fixed would probably be the same as getting a fresh rebuilt.

 

[Keeper79]

brush area is 1.500in and the non contact area is 1.514in

 

[columbiA]

The commutator does look quite thin & you wouldnt have enough brush tension even with new brushes.With all the other problems you are better off finding another starter.I was lucky last summer when I picked up a grungy starter at a swap meet for $10,took it apart & found it was like new inside so I just cleaned it up & painted it & set it aside for a spare.

 

[mrtexas]

Good used starters are very cheap.

 

[leo]

"Good" being the hard to determine part.