starters

[daytrader]

FWIW, I dont see alot of starter problems discussed. ( maybe cause there arent many?) Anyway, my starter was making this terrible noise like its going to hell. Wouldnt always engage, ect. Starting to beat up the flywheel to. (87 175 merc). I took both end caps off and the shaft bushings were shot. One brush was actually broken off its wire. This created "slop" in the drive gear, causing the fly wheel teeth to get beat up too. The armature shaft was still good so I got a starter with a 9 tooth gear,(mines 8 tooth) swapped my shaft into the newer end caps and it works fine now. Point being, dont always think your starter is completely shot, i.e. armature shaft mite still be good, could be other problems. Hope this mite save some body some time or money. Respectfully, Gary, BTW, somebodys been selling rebuild kits on sleazebay for 15.95, cheaper than a new starter.