[bretsspot]

This is the inside of my starter. There shouldn't be wear marks here, I assume (please see picture). Would that mean that the end cap bearing is worn? Looks like the one I got in my rebuild kit is the wrong size. The outside diameter is too small.

[I apologize for starting yet another starter thread, but I didn't see this covered when I searched.]

The starter stopped working on my cx500, so I pulled it and bench tested it. It arced. So I took it apart, bought a rebuild kit and went through it, BUT I did not replace that bearing. I put it back together and although the arcing has stopped, it won't spin on the battery, and it's lumpy and stiff to turn. (Also checked with an alternative ground.)

So my thought is that I have to get another rebuild kit, this time with the right bearing? Or are bearing like it available individually? Guess I'd need the specs to find one. Sounds tricky.

Or do I simply scrap the whole and try to find a replacement? All I'm finding are $100 used ones that haven't even been gone through... Are there any decent aftermarket replacements I could find new... that will fit right? (79 CX).

I noticed that the goop on the armature stack is worn off one each end too.

Thanks for your time!!!

 

[TonyG]

A photo of the bearings would be helpful. Was that problem there before installing the rebuild kit?

There is process of adding a ground wire that would eliminate arcing.

On a side note, 20 yrs ago you could get a whole engine for $100. Starters were $10-$25. $100 sounds high for a starter motor that is rather common.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

The starters are the same through the whole series, so don't limit your search to a '79.
There's no aftermarket replacement.
Can you feel lateral motion in the shaft to indicate bearing wear?

 

[reclinedrelic]

The starter has bushings rather than bearings AFAIK. The kits that I see on line seem to have one bushing, I assume to replace the one in the end cap. Is that what you have tried?
The wear marks indicate that the armature was not running true. Possibly a bent or worn shaft? I suspect that a starter repair service could source the bushing.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

I've seen scratches like that from rust on the armature, too. How rusty was this starter when opened?
A bushing is also called a plain bearing.

 

[bretsspot]

The starters are the same through the whole series, so don't limit your search to a '79.
There's no aftermarket replacement.
Can you feel lateral motion in the shaft to indicate bearing wear?

Hey Randall! Long time! Yes, when I put the end cap in the vice, and set the armature in the bearing, there is about a 3 degree wobble.

Yeah, I've been searching all years, but still. there seems to be little available on Amazon and ebay. Are there any cx500 boneyards online I should try?

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

If that's not recoverable, we can look in my parts stash. None are currently rebuilt, but I'm sure I have a spare.

 

[reclinedrelic]

A bushing is also called a plain bearing.

I stand corrected.

 

[bretsspot]

I've seen scratches like that from rust on the armature, too. How rusty was this starter when opened?
A bushing is also called a plain bearing.

The marks (and the photo) are not of the armature stack. The wear marks in the photo are on the field magnets. The question is whether or not it's normal to find contact marks on the field magnets.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

The question is whether or not it's normal to find contact marks on the field magnets.

It might be, if there's rust scale built up on the armature. You'd be surprised how much rust can be in a "working" starter motor.

 

[bretsspot]

A photo of the bearings would be helpful. Was that problem there before installing the rebuild kit?

There is process of adding a ground wire that would eliminate arcing.

On a side note, 20 yrs ago you could get a whole engine for $100. Starters were $10-$25. $100 sounds high for a starter motor that is rather common.

The bearing looks like the replacement bearing but it's a tiny bit smaller OD. I can't get a good picture to show it since the original is still in the cap.

As I mentioned, I also tried with an alternative ground. (That most likely caused the arcing prior to me taking it apart and rebuilding it.) The new ring solved that issue, I presume since it's not arcing with the new ring.

 

[CXPHREAK]

I'm not sure how significant wear on the bush actually is.

A while back I dismantled a working starter motor only to find the bush completely missing. There was no clue to this in its operation at all.

I fitted a bush from a Caltric kit.

 

[bretsspot]

It might be, if there's rust scale built up on the armature. You'd be surprised how much rust can be in a "working" starter motor.

No rust al all in the interior. It had been working just a few days before. No excess of brush dust either, but those problems would have been eliminated when I cleaned it up.

I guess I just want to know if those marks on the field magnets are normal or not. If not, then I can assume I have to replace the bearing. Then there's the question of how to get the right one. Evidently they are not all the same. I read something in another post warning people to make sure they get the right one. Unfortunately, I read it today and I bought the kit a month ago!

 

[bretsspot]

I'm not sure how significant wear on the bush actually is.

A while back I dismantled a working starter motor only to find the bush completely missing. There was no clue to this in its operation at all.

I fitted a bush from a Caltric kit.

The brushes were replaced when I rebuilt it...

 

[bretsspot]

The starters are the same through the whole series, so don't limit your search to a '79.
There's no aftermarket replacement.
Can you feel lateral motion in the shaft to indicate bearing wear?

Thank you for letting me know I can stop looking for an after market replacement!

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

If it's not making contact, I don't think that marring will affect operation at all.

 

[CXPHREAK]

The brushes were replaced when I rebuilt it...

Bush {bearing} not brush.

 

[bretsspot]

The starter has bushings rather than bearings AFAIK. The kits that I see on line seem to have one bushing, I assume to replace the one in the end cap. Is that what you have tried?
The wear marks indicate that the armature was not running true. Possibly a bent or worn shaft? I suspect that a starter repair service could source the bushing.

Interesting. I'll check to see if the shaft is bent, but it was working only like a week or so before, so I can;t imagine how it would have gotten bent. But good idea!

 

[bretsspot]

Bush {bearing} not brush.

Brushes... not bush. The magnets that are on the ring are referred to as brushes. And they were replaced. I was not referring to the bushing/bearing in the end cap.

 

[bretsspot]

Bush {bearing} not brush.

No... I mean BRUSH