Cleaning a starter to rebuild

[Anonymous-0]

What can I safely use to clean the field coils in a starter in order to rebuild it? Can the same product be used to clean the armature? Thanks,

 

[old]

They make an electric spray cleaner just for that type of thing. A good auto parts store should have it on hand
Hobby farm

 

[Bob]

A good blast of compressed air will clean it up, unless there's oil in there, for some reason. If that's the case, "electric motor cleaner" should do the job.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for the info Bob.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Good windings are often damaged by amateur cleaning. You want to use a low pressure air and minimal electrical cleaner, otherwise you may drive and/or wash the dirt down into the windings. Abrasive grit lodged in the windings plus some vibration eats right through that light insulation coating and you can end up with a shorted winding down the road.

Blow air across, not into, the windings to remove the surface dust. Spray electrical cleaner lightly, not soak of bathe, wipe lightly with clean cloth, repeat until clean. Once you get it clean to the eyeball, then you can direct the air more toward the winding for final spray and blow off cleaning.

Commutators are much more forgiving. Don't try to clean the dark burnish off. If you have a wear ridge or any rough spots on the bars, take it in for turning. If you need to seat brushes, use fine sandpaper, not emery or crocus cloth.

Joe

 

[Anonymous-0]

Joe: Thank you for the timely information on starter cleaning. AWB

 

[Mike M]

We always used stoddard solvent or mineral spirts and blowed dry with air gun when I worked at the rebuid shop.

 

[Walt Davies]

I use Brak-clean it works very good and dries up with no residue.
Walt