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Thread: Starter Motor freshen up

  1. #1
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    Starter Motor freshen up

    Anyone bothered to pull their Isuzu starter down and give it a freshen up?

    I did mine earlier in the week and was surprised at how good it was inside. Not sure of its history, but if its the original its lasted pretty damn well.

    Only issues were old/dry grease, some dry/rumbling bearings, and a two of the brushes being quite worn (the ones connected to the field coil).
    I also replaced one of the solenoid contacts that had a bit of wear. Would have just re-used it but was an easy replacement so just did it while I was it was apart.
    The commutator was hardly worn and cleaned up nicely with a bit of emery paper.

    I had a lot of trouble trying to de-solder the brushes before finally working out that they weren't just soldered.
    Thought for a start it was a problem with the soldering iron not having enough grunt, but after a helping hand from a gas torch with no success I'm guessing maybe spot welded. Ended up cutting them off and soldering on the new ones.

    Over the years I've disassembled a few car starters, and getting the brushes back onto the commutator is always fiddly but no great drama.
    These bigger starters are a different animal altogether. Trying to get the 4 NEW brushes onto the commutator was impossible with just my fingers.
    Finally got it done using a socket to hold the brushes compressed into their holders while I place it back on the commutator.

    I'm interested in what others have found if you've had them apart.

    Steve

  2. #2
    lokka Guest
    Ive done quite few rover V8 and vairous holden and jap ones there all much the same id say the isuzu jobbie would be much the same only larger scale i have a spare one which has sat for a long time and has only seen 160k of service like the donk its hanging off mite pull it and give it a birthday soon tho i just have to get rid of a few pesky toyotas first

  3. #3
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    There's two little "gotcha" parts that would be easy to lose on dis-assembly if you didn't realise they were there.

    One's the ball bearing that sits on the end of the solenoid plunger rod, and the other is a small square locating tab about 8mm square and 1mm thick that locates the outer case of the motor to the reduction gearbox.

    I've got some part numbers and photos so will try and get those posted up.

    Steve

  4. #4
    JDNSW's Avatar
    JDNSW is online now RoverLord Silver Subscriber
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    I would comment that it is considered poor practice to use emery on electrical contacts such as commutators, as it is conductive, and if not completely removed, encourages sparking. Glass-paper is the material to use.

    My experience with starters (including Isuzu) is that generally they stay in very good condition unless damaged by water/mud. Modern starters are better waterproofed than older ones.

    I have had two problems with my Isuzu starter motor - solenoid problems, ultimately due to a poor engine/chassis earth link, and the spring that hold the pinion out of mesh broke, leading to the need to replace the pinion as well as the spring.

    On the 2a, the only thing I have ever done to the starter is to clean up the impulse engagement mechanism a few times.

    John
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

  5. #5
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    Yes I have and it made a huge difference to current draw. But I know I have a different model starter to you guys.

    I was having starting issues quite a few years back, so I bought a clamp-meter and checked the amps going through the battery earth strap. 513 amps peak.

    Stripped the starter down, brightened up the commutator and hosed everything out with about a can of electra-clean. The same amp test afterwards dropped to somewhere just over 300 amps.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by JDNSW View Post
    I would comment that it is considered poor practice to use emery on electrical contacts such as commutators, as it is conductive, and if not completely removed, encourages sparking. Glass-paper is the material to use.

    <snip>

    John
    Thanks John - wasn't aware of that.
    Its not back in the car yet so will pull the brush cap back off and give it another flush with some contact cleaner.

    Steve

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