[H. L. Chauvin]

Just one opinion from quite a few vintage past experiences:

The minute an 80+ year old properly "grounded" starter begins to drag or slow down while using a fully "charged" good battery, with all "clean" electrical connections, and a fully "operable" starter switch, it is always best to immediately further investigate the starter and not wait like that of many vehicle operators.

Slow turning "worn" starters begin to generate intensive heat which rapidly wears metal parts ...... they always get worse as time goes on ...... never better.

As starters continue to get hotter, (sometimes smoking), one day the starter will wear enough to die ...... hence, after far more damage is done.

Most common are commutator cylindrical level surfaces get worn down unevenly with worn uneven brushes, commutators get out of round, hard steel brush holders can later wear soft metal commutators in a jiffy.

On old vintage starters with unknown history:

1. Replacing old starter bushings with new greased starter bushings for under $5.00 is a steal.

2. Replacing starter brushes on old starters at under $5.00, once starters are dismantled can never hurt.

3. One can test for armature commutator continuity between commutator segments with a test lamp and repair old field coil tape with electrical tape.

4. With armature shaft set in (2) simple wood shaped vertical 1 x 4 vees, armature can be rotated by hand .... a flat mill file can be set up on level wood shims to correct an out-of-round and/or un-level worn soft metal commutator, followed by polishing commutator with fine sand paper.

5. Not much to it for a Model A handyman willing to try .... and ....... after careful completion .... your simple, starter re-build procedure can be as good as making a one (1) time $10.00 payment on a 50 year Life Insurance Policy.

Hope this helps.