Starter upkeep?

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Funracer

Have the starter out to aid in cleaning the valley. As most
of you know its a long way down there. Is there anything I can
do to prolong the starters life while its out? I am thinking along the lines
of lubes, cleaning contacts, etc.

My starter was replaced by the dealer under warranty (kind a sort a, after
I threatened a class action) in 1994 after it got wet and died. The pic shows mine was made in Japan. I am guessing AC Delco was original?
I don't really care just curious.



Thanks!

Be sure to open the drain hole...or rather the mouse "lew"?

The cap covering the connection to the starter was trashed (mice in my valley as well), so I slathered on a thick coat of RTV silicone gasket goop...Seems to be holding just fine!

As for the mouse problem? Sealed the garage doors. Oh! And, "One-Bite" has successfully stood guard for 8 winters now. Mice haven't faired so well. Neither did a couple RATS!

While the starter is out, ya might wanna look at/replace the solenoid terminals and clean up the etching on the copper shunt ring. I got the terminals off ebay. NAPPA had the kits too, I later discovered.

WARNING: If you replace the "guts" of the solenoid, just wanna check to be sure the plunger that engages the starter gear is the same length. The one in my kit was short and thus only half of the stater gear would engage the ring gear. So, I ended up R&R'ing the shunt ring with some emory paper stretched over a block of wood. No problems since.

P.