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1st Gen. Ram - All TopicsDiscussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.
Just wanted to post photos of the recent starter rebuild I did, and not take up any more space, or add more unneeded posts to BC847's Starter thread in the sticky. Hopefully the photos will help another out when they take on the project of rebuilding their own starter.
Super fast priority shipping, and price was great for an entire rebuild kit. It had everything needed to rebuild my starter. Granted it did not have the "larger" brushes for the solenoid that Larryb's has, but it still works fine. I figured, I got 210,000 miles out of the standard brushes, then what the heck ? Right ?
The only thing I reused was the solenoid starter bolts, as the new ones in the rebuild kit were copper plated steel, and I wanted to reuse the original all copper bolts that came in the original starter.
Pictures to follow
Thank you BC847, as you are indeed EVERYONE's inspiration here. Original starter taken out of the truck Lots of dust in the starter from the worn brushes Solenoid contacts not really worn bad as expected Collection of Dust in the one corner due to rubber boot failure The rubber drain boot failed, and caused all the gunk to sit in the corner, and you can see how the moisture infiltrated and gunked up the metal Failed rubber drain boot removed from the housing. The brush holder was seized in the housing, and it took some persuasion to get the motor out. It should have easily lifted out, but did not. Disassembled parts
Disassembled lower section of starter gear reduction housing Cleaned up parts with wire brush and lots of elbow grease Cleaned up continued Starter nose removed, cleaned casing Opened parts packaging Removed center bearing and replaced New Brushes installed in brush holder Reassembled motor Starter rebuilt complete Tested and functions as should
Not removing that end cap and replacing the growly bearing inside there bothered me.
I had to "home brew" a puller / pusher, and get it apart.
Took a while to design and manufacture it, but it was worth it, because it popped that bearing off the nub in about 15 seconds. The bearing itself was stuck in the end cap, and I had to use a torch to get it out. Just "warmed" up the cap, and it popped right out.
Now I can sleep at night knowing my growly bearing was replaced.
Stuck Gray end cap First stage of fabricating a puller / pusher Puller fab continued puller installed puller popped hub out Bearing stuck in place Used a torch to expand cap, and it popped out To be reassembled with the new bearing
Nice job! I was going to use this week to do mine while the wife would be here to call 911 but I got pneumonia instead. I'm looking at one of those $299 Odyssey AGM batteries from Amazon. Anyone have any experience with them?
My current O'Reilly special was always undersized and now will not hold a charge longer than 2 days. It may have been damaged by the overcharging when my regulator went bad, also an O'Reilly special. I have a genuine Mopar now so will see how that goes.
Finally finished up the starter rebuild, and it's back in the truck. That bearing was a bit growly, and I'm happy I spent the time disassembling the unit again, and installing the new bearing. Instead of using a puller on the next starter I rebuild, I'm going to try heating up the end cap to release the bearing from the seat. I'll let ya know how that goes.
The Puller I made, caused the motor windings protective varnish to chip a little on the end. I didn't damage the windings, but I did scuff the coating a bit. Ordered the repair varnish from Amazon. No one had it locally. When I put it all together, it was nice not hearing that bearing growl anymore, and I reassembled the unit, and put it back in the truck. I may modify the puller, clean it up, and apply a rubberized protective coating on the fingers, this way, I can still use the puller if necessary, without damaging the varnish coating on the windings. Either way I have the varnish, if need be. Repaired varnish with Red protective coating Bearing installed on shaft Fully reassembled Back in the truck and working good.
Tman—- Great job of rebuilding, you’re so through. Pictures were fantastic and helped a lot.
Thank You, very much appreciated
Your welcome, Bob.
I have the extra starter I bought from Oliver as a spare on the bench. I'm going to refurbish that one as well. I'll have a brandy new starter sitting on the shelf, so that when I'm dead, someone else can use it.
An update to this is to remove the end cap off the small bearing, was simply to heat up the end cap with a torch, being careful not to overheat anything, and it slid right out. Nice and easy, and you don't need to make a a push / puller, as I had.
You will require a regular puller to remove the bearings from the ends of the center shaft, though.
A trick to installing the bearing back into the end cap is to put the bearing in the freezer of your fridge, overnight. You should be able to easily reassemble it frozen into the room temperature end cap. Buddy I know used to work in a machine shop instructed me to do it that way when I reassemble them
Once the end cap bearing assembly has returned to room temperature, you can press the center shaft into the new bearing center completing the rejoining of the unit.
THANKS T-man!
I look forward to driving Poncho without having to bring my ball peen hammer and pull strap with me in case the old starter gives up the ghost.
12-28-2018, 11:33 AM
