The Ford Barn

LopezCarguy · 11-02-2014, 02:42 PM

Am rebuilding starter and find that two of the brushes are removable and two are soldered to field coils..does this mean I have to replace field coils in order to replace brushes?? Or is there a way to hook them to field coils that I'm missing?? Took three starters apart to make one good one and when I removed bendix spring pot metal parts fell out in pieces...never did find one in one piece..and schematic does not show this piece..

Rowdy · 11-02-2014, 02:47 PM

The old brushes soldered to the field coil will have to be unsoldered and new brushes soldered on. Best to let someone with a larger wattage soldering iron do this, so alot of heat can be applied quickly in a small area or you risk damaging the insulation on the field coils. Local sho runed my field coils by burning the insulation, then refused to pay to replace them. Will never take anything back to them. Rod

Purdy Swoft · 11-02-2014, 03:37 PM

Take a good look at the field coil brushes. The field coil brushes are made of brass-bronze. The bronze brushes usually can last over a life time. Compare the old brushes to the new ones, usually they won't be worn all that much. I would just cull any starter core with the field brushes worn past the point of reuse. I once ruined a perfectly good starter by trying to replace the field brushes and it turned out that the brushes that I was tring to replace showed little if any wear.. I just replace the ground brushes brush springs, front and rear bushings and other small parts in the brush end plate plus insulators and thrust washers. If it ain't broke don't try to fix it or it may end up broke. Out of three starter cores there should be at least one or more with usable field coils and field brushes. Model A starters are very robust .

Tom Wesenberg · 11-02-2014, 03:52 PM

I agree with Purdy. I find that you can wear out 2 sets of ground brushes by the time you wear out one set of field brushes. I've only had to replace 2 or 3 sets of field brushes, and when I do I use my Wen 250 watt soldering gun. As mentioned, you need a lot of heat fast to do a good job.

Remember the soldering tips that slip over the propane tip? That also works well.

Willie Krash · 11-02-2014, 09:13 PM

As I'm in the business (35 years), I'm amazed at Ford starters. 75 years later and the positive brushes are OK.
I look at this like getting a new roof. I'm in my 60's. You want the 30 year guarantee?
Nope. What ya got in the 15 year guarantee? A pail of black jack goes a long way...<grin>

Tom Wesenberg · 11-02-2014, 11:44 PM

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PM sent for some drive parts.

11-02-2014, 02:42 PM	#1
LopezCarguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Lopez Island, Wa. Posts: 276	starter rebuilding Am rebuilding starter and find that two of the brushes are removable and two are soldered to field coils..does this mean I have to replace field coils in order to replace brushes?? Or is there a way to hook them to field coils that I'm missing?? Took three starters apart to make one good one and when I removed bendix spring pot metal parts fell out in pieces...never did find one in one piece..and schematic does not show this piece.. __________________ The only thing worth learning is what you learn after you know it all !!

11-02-2014, 02:47 PM	#2
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: starter rebuilding The old brushes soldered to the field coil will have to be unsoldered and new brushes soldered on. Best to let someone with a larger wattage soldering iron do this, so alot of heat can be applied quickly in a small area or you risk damaging the insulation on the field coils. Local sho runed my field coils by burning the insulation, then refused to pay to replace them. Will never take anything back to them. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

11-02-2014, 03:37 PM	#3
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: starter rebuilding Take a good look at the field coil brushes. The field coil brushes are made of brass-bronze. The bronze brushes usually can last over a life time. Compare the old brushes to the new ones, usually they won't be worn all that much. I would just cull any starter core with the field brushes worn past the point of reuse. I once ruined a perfectly good starter by trying to replace the field brushes and it turned out that the brushes that I was tring to replace showed little if any wear.. I just replace the ground brushes brush springs, front and rear bushings and other small parts in the brush end plate plus insulators and thrust washers. If it ain't broke don't try to fix it or it may end up broke. Out of three starter cores there should be at least one or more with usable field coils and field brushes. Model A starters are very robust .

11-02-2014, 03:52 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: starter rebuilding I agree with Purdy. I find that you can wear out 2 sets of ground brushes by the time you wear out one set of field brushes. I've only had to replace 2 or 3 sets of field brushes, and when I do I use my Wen 250 watt soldering gun. As mentioned, you need a lot of heat fast to do a good job. Remember the soldering tips that slip over the propane tip? That also works well.

11-02-2014, 09:13 PM	#5
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: starter rebuilding As I'm in the business (35 years), I'm amazed at Ford starters. 75 years later and the positive brushes are OK. I look at this like getting a new roof. I'm in my 60's. You want the 30 year guarantee? Nope. What ya got in the 15 year guarantee? A pail of black jack goes a long way...<grin> __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

11-02-2014, 11:44 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: starter rebuilding Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) PM sent for some drive parts.