The Ford Barn

tubman · 09-01-2021, 12:09 PM

Every once in a while, the starter on my '51 would hesitate a bit before it picked up and started the car. It happened once in about every 20 starts. This bothered me a bit, so I decided to solve the problem. Usually, I would have gone through the starter myself, but minor hand surgery has kinda limited me lately. I had seen several references to quality rebuilt starters from NAPA cheap, so I thought I'd take the easy way out this one time. I ordered a starter through NAPA Online and installed a new drive on it after I received it.

The first time I tried to start the car, it would barely turn over. I had had to start the car with the old starter to get it on the lift, so it had been working perfectly (with a fully charged Optima) just minutes before. We raised the car and checked the installation over and made sure it was grounded properly. The next attempt at starting the car, was the same; I did get it started but it barely turned over. Up again, and this time I put a 4 GA cable between the starter mounting bolt and a head bolt, but had the same labored turnover problem.

I had already disassembled the previous starter in preparation for a checkout, new brushes, and bushings, so I went through my stash and found one that had a "GOOD" tag on it. I installed that one and everything is fine again. Obviously, the unit from NAPA is defective.

One of the objectives I had was to reinforce my faith in NAPA as a consistent good source of parts, so this turned out to be doubly disappointing. Now I get to negotiate their Return Policy. I hope it works better than their starter.

J Franklin · 09-01-2021, 12:53 PM

Anything you buy from any source can turn out defective. It isn't NAPA's fault at all.

Tim Ayers · 09-01-2021, 01:15 PM

My local Napa is incredible with returns. No questions asked. I have built a relationship with them, so maybe that helps. Not sure. I would absolutely return it for another one.

tubman · 09-01-2021, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Anything you buy from any source can turn out defective. It isn't NAPA's fault at all.

This one came with a "Passed" Test Certificate in the box. There was no shipping damage that I could see. Don't get me wrong, I have had plenty of positive experiences dealing with NAPA over the last 50 plus years. I am pretty sure that NAPA does not do their own rebuilding, but outsources it. From a close inspection of said "Test Certificate", it looks to me that the rebuilding was not performed in the United States.

1931 flamingo · 09-01-2021, 01:46 PM

Last year I got a new starter from one of the reliable vendors. Had many problems with it. Come to find out the armature was out of round by a lot. It was replaced and all is good.
Paul in CT

V8COOPMAN · 09-01-2021, 02:05 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

This one came with a "Passed" Test Certificate in the box. From a close inspection of said "Test Certificate", it looks to me that the rebuilding was not performed in the United States.

I believe they sometimes use brushes made from chynezium. DD

19Fordy · 09-01-2021, 02:14 PM

"Chynezium" : a very rare metal which too much stuff sold in America is made from these days.

ford38v8 · 09-01-2021, 03:44 PM

There is a very loose definition of the word "rebuilt" when it comes to starters. The problem is not isolated to NAPA.

Step-down · 09-01-2021, 05:06 PM

Your 51 is still 6 v positive ground just a thought did NAPA convert it to 12

tubman · 09-01-2021, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Step-down

Your 51 is still 6 v positive ground just a thought did NAPA convert it to 12

I sure hope not. NAPA rebuilt starters have been recommended on here by several reputable people, which is why I got one.

If they did, I'll scratch them off my list of recommended suppliers.

Kube · 09-01-2021, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

I sure hope not. NAPA rebuilt starters have been recommended on here by several reputable people, which is why I got one.

If they did, I'll scratch them off my list of recommended suppliers.

I have had very good fortune with NAPA remanufactured starters.
Folks, keep in mind there is an industry difference between remanufactured and rebuilt. Remanufactured is the best way to go if available.
I'm certain a bad one gets through now and then. However, I am willing to bet, at least with NAPA remanufactured starters, the percentage of bad ones is very low.

I disagree completely with a previous post by Franklin. It is solely NAPA's fault and no one else's. THEY sold you the starter.

Dennis, if you want, NAPA will reimburse you for your labor to R&R. You'll need to fill out a form of course but it's easy.

tubman · 09-01-2021, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kube

I have had very good fortune with NAPA remanufactured starters.
Folks, keep in mind there is an industry difference between remanufactured and rebuilt. Remanufactured is the best way to go if available.
I'm certain a bad one gets through now and then. However, I am willing to bet, at least with NAPA remanufactured starters, the percentage of bad ones is very low.

I disagree completely with a previous post by Franklin. It is solely NAPA's fault and no one else's. THEY sold you the starter.

Dennis, if you want, NAPA will reimburse you for your labor to R&R. You'll need to fill out a form of course but it's easy.

Mike, you may be right, but what scares me is that this might be the sign of a permanent downturn in quality. The pre-printed "Test Certificate" I referred to was in Spanish.

Getting reimbursed for labor sounds good, but ya know, I just couldn't do it; I'm just not built that way. It looks like Corporate America has found a way to make money off of my good intentions.

J Franklin · 09-01-2021, 06:41 PM

I doubt NAPA or any other retail merchant tests the starters they sell, they trust their suppliers. I think there is a marked decline, generally, in quality parts across the board.

Charlie ny · 09-01-2021, 07:05 PM

By all means it is NAPA's fault and responsibility. Did you try it on 12volts ? My NAPA
guys are the best, I'm sure yours are too. Don't be counting them out...IMHO.
Charlie ny

Ben38 · 09-01-2021, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Every once in a while, the starter on my '51 would hesitate a bit before it picked up and started the car. It happened once in about every 20 starts. This bothered me a bit, so I decided to solve the problem. Usually, I would have gone through the starter myself, but minor hand surgery has kinda limited me lately. I had seen several references to quality rebuilt starters from NAPA cheap, so I thought I'd take the easy way out this one time. I ordered a starter through NAPA Online and installed a new drive on it after I received it.

The first time I tried to start the car, it would barely turn over. I had had to start the car with the old starter to get it on the lift, so it had been working perfectly (with a fully charged Optima) just minutes before. We raised the car and checked the installation over and made sure it was grounded properly. The next attempt at starting the car, was the same; I did get it started but it barely turned over. Up again, and this time I put a 4 GA cable between the starter mounting bolt and a head bolt, but had the same labored turnover problem.

I had already disassembled the previous starter in preparation for a checkout, new brushes, and bushings, so I went through my stash and found one that had a "GOOD" tag on it. I installed that one and everything is fine again. Obviously, the unit from NAPA is defective.

One of the objectives I had was to reinforce my faith in NAPA as a consistent good source of parts, so this turned out to be doubly disappointing. Now I get to negotiate their Return Policy. I hope it works better than their starter.

I just received one today. It looks OK, but the box sure was beat up, so I’m kinda nervous about it.

There’s an orange label on mine with a number to call for help. Did yours have that too? We’re they helpful?

J Franklin · 09-01-2021, 07:20 PM

So Charlie, what could NAPA have done to be faultless in your book?

Kube · 09-01-2021, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

I doubt NAPA or any other retail merchant tests the starters they sell, they trust their suppliers. I think there is a marked decline, generally, in quality parts across the board.

I'll agree with this.

Still, NAPA in this instance is the place that sold it. It is up to them to source reliable suppliers.

Kube · 09-01-2021, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Mike, you may be right, but what scares me is that this might be the sign of a permanent downturn in quality. The pre-printed "Test Certificate" I referred to was in Spanish.

Getting reimbursed for labor sounds good, but ya know, I just couldn't do it; I'm just not built that way. It looks like Corporate America has found a way to make money off of my good intentions.

Like you, I have often been reluctant to file for reimbursement on a simple job. However, back in the 70's when I did this stuff for a living, I would file. Time, as you know, is money.

I recall clearly Jasper so called rebuilt engines... after two that were total crap, well, no more Jasper (are they still around?). I had no issues with filing for reimbursement.

tubman · 09-01-2021, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben38

I just received one today. It looks OK, but the box sure was beat up, so I’m kinda nervous about it.

There’s an orange label on mine with a number to call for help. Did yours have that too? We’re they helpful?

I will wager that I have changed dozens of flathead Ford starters in the last 65 years. I have rebuilt several of them as well; it just wasn't a good fit for me this time. I will guarantee that there was nobody at that number that would have been able to offer anything I didn't know.

If you have problems, post here before you call that number (unless you are fluent in Spanish).

The part they supplied was clearly defective. All of this being said, yours is probably good. Please let us know if it's not, as that would portend an unfortuante trend with NAPA.

Charlie ny · 09-01-2021, 08:58 PM

Franklin....."who shot john ?"......party at fault is the party that caused Denny a PITA.
NAPA will make it right but the PITA remains.

Charlie ny

mike42 · 09-02-2021, 03:53 AM

Tub ……..

I had a similar problem several years ago with a new starter I bought with the updated drive. No one told me I had to grind away the bell housing to make it fit. After a long time working on that I finally got the starter to fit. Once installed it barely turned over. I burnt out 3 solenoids before I took the damn thing out and threw in the trash. Had the original rebuilt and worked perfect. When I called the supplier the guy told me…..oh yeah we’ve had that problem. Didn’t you get the flyer in the box ! What flyer ? Why would you sell something that you knew wouldn’t work ?

Mike

38coop · 09-02-2021, 06:01 AM

Back in the 70's , i worked in a parts house and we sold new and rebuilt starters. Of course we sold more rebuilt than new because of the price difference. I f a customer brought back a part and said it would not work we would replace it and send the bad one back to our supplier. Now if the customer brought the second back then we would question them.

tubman · 09-02-2021, 06:28 AM

I have learned my lesson. No more rebuilt starters for me; I'll do 'em myself from now on. When this debacle is finally over, I'll have a good spare and NAPA will have theirs back.

It's ironic; I did it this way to save some time on labor and will end up having changed the starter twice and rebuilt two starters.

I was kinda amazed at how many cores I have accumulated over the years.

Tim Ayers · 09-02-2021, 06:57 AM

My take is different and I agree with 38coop. Think of the thousands of starters that get rebuilt or remanufactured. Sadly, you got a bad one. It happens in ever form of manufacturing.

I would simply take it back, ask for a replacement and go from there. To say Napa is putting out crappy stuff is being too critical over getting one bad unit without letting them make it right. Napa is a good company and I'd be surprised if they don't exchange it.

tubman · 09-02-2021, 07:01 AM

I have no doubt I'll be able to get my money back, as I have all of the paperwork and am easily within their required time frame. I don't need another, and if I did, it wouldn't be from them. I want to emphasize the fact that there was a filled in Test Certificate that came in the box with the starter stating it was fine.

That tells me that the quality control at the rebuilder they use sucks. It is my belief that something has changed at NAPA, and it's not for the better.

Mart · 09-02-2021, 08:45 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

You have places you can go and buy flathead starters?
You're lucky.

19Fordy · 09-02-2021, 08:58 AM

Lots of starters for sale on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...arter&_sacat=0

deuce_roadster · 09-02-2021, 09:50 AM

The hardest thing for me to get used to when trouble shooting something is that "NEW DOES NOT = GOOD". I believe there is NO QC on anything anymore as it is far cheaper to just give the poor customer another unit. Sad state of affairs but probably has to do with the "global economy" and manufacturing plants who knows where.

Jack E/NJ · 09-02-2021, 09:51 AM

>>>I would simply take it back, ask for a replacement and go from there. To say Napa is putting out crappy stuff>>>

I'd do the same. Sorta proves they sold me some crappy stuff. 8^)

Tim Ayers · 09-02-2021, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

>>>I would simply take it back, ask for a replacement and go from there. To say Napa is putting out crappy stuff>>>

I'd do the same. Sorta proves they sold me some crappy stuff. 8^)

Ask any busy mechanical shop if they've ever gotten a poor quality remanufactured item. If they say no, they aren't busy.

Jeff/Illinois · 09-02-2021, 10:35 AM

I worked as the Parts Manager at the local Ford dealership in the mid 70's.

We sourced a TON of Rebuilt Ford parts from the Ford rebuilder in Peoria, Illinois. I think they were called 'Universal' or something like that. Their parts came in a box marked 'Ford Rebuilt----' whatever it happened to be.

We never ever had a single problem with anything we got from them. Water pumps, alternators, starters, fuel pumps you name it. They did engines and transmissions too. Excellent quality excellent work, our customers appreciated the prices. The parts were warrantied the same as the new parts were.

Man I miss the 70's when you could still get good parts, unlike today. Today it's a crap shoot you have no idea what you are getting. And if it is coming from off-shore it will no doubt be garbage.

mike42 · 09-02-2021, 10:38 AM

Amen Jeff .....!!!

'36 5W · 09-02-2021, 11:08 AM

Yep, it's a different world today. I would bet most, if not all of the parts house suppliers, sell cheaper, imported hard parts, especially
starters and alternators. The cores are shipped over by the boat
load, and come back full of Chinezium, but "at very competitive
prices".

Caveat-Emptor(sp?) applies here too. Read the fine print, ask the
counter-guy if they are imported, and plan on spending almost
twice the price for a QUALITY REMANUFACTURED part, preferably
sourced in the U.S. You get what you pay for.....!!

'36 5W · 09-02-2021, 11:08 AM

Re..

tubman · 09-02-2021, 11:12 AM

You're probably right, but it's still a shame to see NAPA go down the same dusty trail as
Autozone, O'Reilly's, Auto Value and the rest of the chains. We used to be able to depend on them as "for the pro's" and not just a place for a do-it-yourselfer to get cheap parts.

Tim Ayers · 09-02-2021, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

You're probably right, but it's still a shame to see NAPA go down the same dusty trail as
Autozone, O'Reilly's, Auto Value and the rest of the chains. We used to be able to depend on them as "for the pro's" and not just a place for a do-it-yourselfer to get cheap parts.

If it helps you reconcile this, I believe NAPA is trying.

For example: I doubt the other vendors you mentioned above are still supplying caps for the old Mallory dizzys like in the thread we had going a few weeks ago.

I feel NAPA is one of the good ones left. Even the best have a few missteps. It's how they deal with those missteps is what keeps them on top.

Just my two cents.

russcc · 09-02-2021, 12:23 PM

Sorry to hear that about NAPA. If you folks lived in the Southeastern MA area I would recommend you call or visit Dennis at LH Boulanger in New Bedford MA. Small father & son automotive electric shop that rebuilds starters, solenoids, generators and alternators. They have been in business for years, and do a a lot of heavy equipment and marine as well as automotive. Another good old time rebuilding shop is Yankee Auto Electric in Pawtucket RI, (Near Providence), in business 55 years.

fortyonerag · 09-03-2021, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mart

You have places you can go and buy flathead starters?
You're lucky.

Luuxuury!!!!

5851a · 09-03-2021, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

I worked as the Parts Manager at the local Ford dealership in the mid 70's.

We sourced a TON of Rebuilt Ford parts from the Ford rebuilder in Peoria, Illinois. I think they were called 'Universal' or something like that. Their parts came in a box marked 'Ford Rebuilt----' whatever it happened to be.

We never ever had a single problem with anything we got from them. Water pumps, alternators, starters, fuel pumps you name it. They did engines and transmissions too. Excellent quality excellent work, our customers appreciated the prices. The parts were warrantied the same as the new parts were.

Man I miss the 70's when you could still get good parts, unlike today. Today it's a crap shoot you have no idea what you are getting. And if it is coming from off-shore it will no doubt be garbage.

Yes Universal was it, they had almost everything right over the Ford counter, one of my cars has a Universal rebuilt started I bought in 1973.

Crankster · 09-03-2021, 06:54 PM

"Krylon rebuilds", eh? Always been a problem for DIYers. It's one reason shop fees & labor charges are what they are, they have to incorporate defective replacement parts into their business model or whatever. They probably aren't gonna come out ahead on that deal plus the customer is mad. One thing that would probably weed out a lot of bum starters is a current draw check but without some sort of test jig it would first have to be installed on the engine.

One thing most people pick up on when they start to do their own repairs & rebuilds or machine work, not too many outfits have much attention to detail or excellence in their work. Or to be fair, not too many want to pay for it.

Bored&Stroked · 09-04-2021, 07:38 AM

On a Starter Side Note: Awhile ago we were discussing rebuilt 12V Ford starters that could be used to switch/swap parts from a 6V unit to create a 12V starter. So, I bought the part number RAY 2449609 from NAPA, swapped in a good 6V armature, front bearing plate and bendix from a 6V starter and had a perfectly running 12V starter for roughly $75. I've used it on the stand a few times - works perfectly.

Of course it was "Frankensteined" together by me - (built from 2 starters) - but for the price, it worked out well.

Note: Make sure you have the right 6V donor starter before you head down this road - you need the one with the short front bearing plate (about 3/8" thick).

IMG_9030.jpg

Brendan · 09-06-2021, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

I believe they sometimes use brushes made from chynezium. DD

From Chinaville

Ben38 · 09-09-2021, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

I will wager that I have changed dozens of flathead Ford starters in the last 65 years. I have rebuilt several of them as well; it just wasn't a good fit for me this time. I will guarantee that there was nobody at that number that would have been able to offer anything I didn't know.

If you have problems, post here before you call that number (unless you are fluent in Spanish).

The part they supplied was clearly defective. All of this being said, yours is probably good. Please let us know if it's not, as that would portend an unfortuante trend with NAPA.

My starter from NAPA is working fine. I haven’t been able to get the engine started, but the starter is fine.

Cadillac_chris · 09-23-2021, 03:48 PM

Ya I always try t refurbish my original stuff and use oe or nos stuff

Cecil/WV · 09-24-2021, 11:56 AM

I worked at a machine shop for a local, independent parts store in the late '60s who bought rebuilt parts from a rebuilder in Baltimore and their rep told me that they actually tested rebuilds randomly as they went thru the process, as it was cheaper to replace a unit for the customer now and then, rather then testing every unit as it was built.

09-01-2021, 12:09 PM	#1
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Every once in a while, the starter on my '51 would hesitate a bit before it picked up and started the car. It happened once in about every 20 starts. This bothered me a bit, so I decided to solve the problem. Usually, I would have gone through the starter myself, but minor hand surgery has kinda limited me lately. I had seen several references to quality rebuilt starters from NAPA cheap, so I thought I'd take the easy way out this one time. I ordered a starter through NAPA Online and installed a new drive on it after I received it. The first time I tried to start the car, it would barely turn over. I had had to start the car with the old starter to get it on the lift, so it had been working perfectly (with a fully charged Optima) just minutes before. We raised the car and checked the installation over and made sure it was grounded properly. The next attempt at starting the car, was the same; I did get it started but it barely turned over. Up again, and this time I put a 4 GA cable between the starter mounting bolt and a head bolt, but had the same labored turnover problem. I had already disassembled the previous starter in preparation for a checkout, new brushes, and bushings, so I went through my stash and found one that had a "GOOD" tag on it. I installed that one and everything is fine again. Obviously, the unit from NAPA is defective. One of the objectives I had was to reinforce my faith in NAPA as a consistent good source of parts, so this turned out to be doubly disappointing. Now I get to negotiate their Return Policy. I hope it works better than their starter.

09-01-2021, 12:53 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Anything you buy from any source can turn out defective. It isn't NAPA's fault at all.

09-01-2021, 01:15 PM	#3
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA My local Napa is incredible with returns. No questions asked. I have built a relationship with them, so maybe that helps. Not sure. I would absolutely return it for another one.

09-01-2021, 01:46 PM	#5
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Last year I got a new starter from one of the reliable vendors. Had many problems with it. Come to find out the armature was out of round by a lot. It was replaced and all is good. Paul in CT

09-01-2021, 02:14 PM	#7
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,921	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA "Chynezium" : a very rare metal which too much stuff sold in America is made from these days.

09-01-2021, 03:44 PM	#8
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,633	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA There is a very loose definition of the word "rebuilt" when it comes to starters. The problem is not isolated to NAPA. __________________ Alan

09-01-2021, 05:06 PM	#9
Step-down Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Hat City (Danbury CT) Posts: 647	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Your 51 is still 6 v positive ground just a thought did NAPA convert it to 12 __________________ "I can't cry as long as I know the Lord has risen "

09-01-2021, 06:41 PM	#13
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA I doubt NAPA or any other retail merchant tests the starters they sell, they trust their suppliers. I think there is a marked decline, generally, in quality parts across the board.

09-01-2021, 07:05 PM	#14
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA By all means it is NAPA's fault and responsibility. Did you try it on 12volts ? My NAPA guys are the best, I'm sure yours are too. Don't be counting them out...IMHO. Charlie ny

09-01-2021, 07:20 PM	#16
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA So Charlie, what could NAPA have done to be faultless in your book?

09-01-2021, 08:58 PM	#20
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Franklin....."who shot john ?"......party at fault is the party that caused Denny a PITA. NAPA will make it right but the PITA remains. Charlie ny

09-02-2021, 03:53 AM	#21
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,599	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Tub …….. I had a similar problem several years ago with a new starter I bought with the updated drive. No one told me I had to grind away the bell housing to make it fit. After a long time working on that I finally got the starter to fit. Once installed it barely turned over. I burnt out 3 solenoids before I took the damn thing out and threw in the trash. Had the original rebuilt and worked perfect. When I called the supplier the guy told me…..oh yeah we’ve had that problem. Didn’t you get the flyer in the box ! What flyer ? Why would you sell something that you knew wouldn’t work ? Mike

09-02-2021, 06:01 AM	#22
38coop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 180	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Back in the 70's , i worked in a parts house and we sold new and rebuilt starters. Of course we sold more rebuilt than new because of the price difference. I f a customer brought back a part and said it would not work we would replace it and send the bad one back to our supplier. Now if the customer brought the second back then we would question them.

09-02-2021, 06:28 AM	#23
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA I have learned my lesson. No more rebuilt starters for me; I'll do 'em myself from now on. When this debacle is finally over, I'll have a good spare and NAPA will have theirs back. It's ironic; I did it this way to save some time on labor and will end up having changed the starter twice and rebuilt two starters. I was kinda amazed at how many cores I have accumulated over the years.

09-02-2021, 06:57 AM	#24
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA My take is different and I agree with 38coop. Think of the thousands of starters that get rebuilt or remanufactured. Sadly, you got a bad one. It happens in ever form of manufacturing. I would simply take it back, ask for a replacement and go from there. To say Napa is putting out crappy stuff is being too critical over getting one bad unit without letting them make it right. Napa is a good company and I'd be surprised if they don't exchange it.

09-02-2021, 07:01 AM	#25
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA I have no doubt I'll be able to get my money back, as I have all of the paperwork and am easily within their required time frame. I don't need another, and if I did, it wouldn't be from them. I want to emphasize the fact that there was a filled in Test Certificate that came in the box with the starter stating it was fine. That tells me that the quality control at the rebuilder they use sucks. It is my belief that something has changed at NAPA, and it's not for the better.

09-02-2021, 08:45 AM	#26
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,744	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) You have places you can go and buy flathead starters? You're lucky.

09-02-2021, 08:58 AM	#27
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,921	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Lots of starters for sale on Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...arter&_sacat=0

09-02-2021, 09:50 AM	#28
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,799	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA The hardest thing for me to get used to when trouble shooting something is that "NEW DOES NOT = GOOD". I believe there is NO QC on anything anymore as it is far cheaper to just give the poor customer another unit. Sad state of affairs but probably has to do with the "global economy" and manufacturing plants who knows where.

09-02-2021, 09:51 AM	#29
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA >>>I would simply take it back, ask for a replacement and go from there. To say Napa is putting out crappy stuff>>> I'd do the same. Sorta proves they sold me some crappy stuff. 8^)

09-02-2021, 10:35 AM	#31
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,789	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA I worked as the Parts Manager at the local Ford dealership in the mid 70's. We sourced a TON of Rebuilt Ford parts from the Ford rebuilder in Peoria, Illinois. I think they were called 'Universal' or something like that. Their parts came in a box marked 'Ford Rebuilt----' whatever it happened to be. We never ever had a single problem with anything we got from them. Water pumps, alternators, starters, fuel pumps you name it. They did engines and transmissions too. Excellent quality excellent work, our customers appreciated the prices. The parts were warrantied the same as the new parts were. Man I miss the 70's when you could still get good parts, unlike today. Today it's a crap shoot you have no idea what you are getting. And if it is coming from off-shore it will no doubt be garbage.

09-02-2021, 10:38 AM	#32
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,599	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Amen Jeff .....!!!

09-02-2021, 11:08 AM	#33
'36 5W Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Vancouver, Wa. Posts: 193	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Yep, it's a different world today. I would bet most, if not all of the parts house suppliers, sell cheaper, imported hard parts, especially starters and alternators. The cores are shipped over by the boat load, and come back full of Chinezium, but "at very competitive prices". Caveat-Emptor(sp?) applies here too. Read the fine print, ask the counter-guy if they are imported, and plan on spending almost twice the price for a QUALITY REMANUFACTURED part, preferably sourced in the U.S. You get what you pay for.....!!

09-02-2021, 11:08 AM	#34
'36 5W Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Vancouver, Wa. Posts: 193	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Re.. Last edited by '36 5W; 09-02-2021 at 11:13 AM. Reason: duplicate

09-02-2021, 11:12 AM	#35
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA You're probably right, but it's still a shame to see NAPA go down the same dusty trail as Autozone, O'Reilly's, Auto Value and the rest of the chains. We used to be able to depend on them as "for the pro's" and not just a place for a do-it-yourselfer to get cheap parts.

09-02-2021, 12:23 PM	#37
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Sorry to hear that about NAPA. If you folks lived in the Southeastern MA area I would recommend you call or visit Dennis at LH Boulanger in New Bedford MA. Small father & son automotive electric shop that rebuilds starters, solenoids, generators and alternators. They have been in business for years, and do a a lot of heavy equipment and marine as well as automotive. Another good old time rebuilding shop is Yankee Auto Electric in Pawtucket RI, (Near Providence), in business 55 years.

09-03-2021, 06:54 PM	#40
Crankster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 563	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA "Krylon rebuilds", eh? Always been a problem for DIYers. It's one reason shop fees & labor charges are what they are, they have to incorporate defective replacement parts into their business model or whatever. They probably aren't gonna come out ahead on that deal plus the customer is mad. One thing that would probably weed out a lot of bum starters is a current draw check but without some sort of test jig it would first have to be installed on the engine. One thing most people pick up on when they start to do their own repairs & rebuilds or machine work, not too many outfits have much attention to detail or excellence in their work. Or to be fair, not too many want to pay for it.

09-04-2021, 07:38 AM	#41
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,062	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA On a Starter Side Note: Awhile ago we were discussing rebuilt 12V Ford starters that could be used to switch/swap parts from a 6V unit to create a 12V starter. So, I bought the part number RAY 2449609 from NAPA, swapped in a good 6V armature, front bearing plate and bendix from a 6V starter and had a perfectly running 12V starter for roughly $75. I've used it on the stand a few times - works perfectly. Of course it was "Frankensteined" together by me - (built from 2 starters) - but for the price, it worked out well. Note: Make sure you have the right 6V donor starter before you head down this road - you need the one with the short front bearing plate (about 3/8" thick). IMG_9030.jpg

09-23-2021, 03:48 PM	#44
Cadillac_chris Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 14	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA Ya I always try t refurbish my original stuff and use oe or nos stuff

09-24-2021, 11:56 AM	#45
Cecil/WV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gerrardstown, WV Posts: 2,265	Re: Bad rebuilt starter from NAPA I worked at a machine shop for a local, independent parts store in the late '60s who bought rebuilt parts from a rebuilder in Baltimore and their rep told me that they actually tested rebuilds randomly as they went thru the process, as it was cheaper to replace a unit for the customer now and then, rather then testing every unit as it was built.

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