DC Starter Issues

[The Claw]

The electric shop says they can not find all of the parts to rebuild the starter on my 1953 Case DC. They said that if they could rebuild it, it would not last by looking at how "tore up" it is. Any ideas on what is so hard on the starter? What other issues do I have going on?

 

[J Hamilton]

What is tore up so bad on it? It sounds like they may not want to work on it, I'd try to find another shop for a second opinion. If it is that bad, All States Ag Parts has used and rebuilt ones available. As far as issues causing starter failure would be cranking for long periods of time or bad connections which overheats the starter and if the timing is off making it kick back against the starter while cranking to name a few.

 

[RonSa]

I have had 3 or 4 D series starters refreshed at Harvey Bros in Galesburg, Il.

What was the failure mode? Gradual or sudden? Did it quit working completely?

It is easy to get apart. Remove the two bolt and it should easily pull apart. Two wires going to the brushed will loosely dangle the end cap to the main body. If either the stationary fields or the rotating armature smells burnt, it has been overheated. Burnt electrical windings are not fixable.

Are the brushed worn short? Loose wire to the brushes? Is the commutator black or tore up and not copper colored? The sleeve bearing at the two ends of the armature tend to be standard size. The gear and bendix might be tore up---easy to check with it apart.

If you take all the loose parts in a box to the repair shop, they should have no reason to complain about it being apart.

 

[The Claw]

A reputable shop. Said the armature and fields are shot.

 

[Duner Wi]

Your armature should have a number stamped into it. Possibly MAB2086 as used on Hudsons and Massey Harris from the 1930s.

 

[RonSa]

That suggests the starter needs to be replaced. Don Livingston at Rusty Acres would be a good place to start. You might ask if your starter has any core value?