>$250 for a new starter?

[Big All]

The starter for my mazda died over the past few days, it got weaker & weaker till no go.

Checked around the parts stores, everyone wanted >$250, one place wanted just over $400.

So today took mine apart and of course it was shorting itself out with grease & brush carbon. Wouldn't ya know it not one parts store in town stocked brushes for it.

A good cleaning & some fresh grease and I'm up and running, not sure how long it will last. 2 out of the 4 brushes were quite worn, gonna hafta keep an eye out for some big brushes that I can cut down to fit my starter. Is making brushes hard? I haven't played with much stuff that uses brushes yet.

Anywho the point of this story that fits on this board is...

Inside the Bosch starter for a 1989 to ?1994? mazda 3.0i were 6 * magnets that would be perfect for a induction conversion. I think they were 4" x 3/4" x 3/8" * and curved across the short dimensions.

The cage for looked easy enough to release them, didn't try though.

Once I got home, I was talking to my neighbor, turns out he had just tossed a starter from a 8 valve VW Jetta. I dove for it, ripped it apart and to my dismay it ain't a permanent magnet motor. Arrrrgh!

*(Guesstimation based on 8 hour old visual memory)

[Flux]

Make sure you find brushes suitable for a starter, they are a very low resistance grade with lots of copper component. Brushes for higher voltage electrical machines will not be suitable.

[hiker]

try a junk yard--a real junk yard..up here in anch. alaska the junk yards charge almost the price of new!!!i always have to drive to palmer [45 mile drive] to find a good deal on used parts..

[sh123469]

You mihgt try an electric motor shop where they rebuild  motors.  They should have brush material especially if they say they do starters and  alternators or can get it for you.

I know what you mean about junk yards.   Around here they are usually only 10 to 20 percent less than new.

[finnsawyer]

I'm not a fan of Bosch starters.  The one on my tractor spins rather than engages when it gets cold.  It seems to be a characteristic of the type as other people seem to have the same problem.  I took it apart once to try to fix it, but no go.

[ghurd]

Unusual Ford alternator. $80-100 at the junk yards, 30 day promise.  Parts store, lifetime, $56.  I don't even bother for most things.

G-

[merkurmaniac]

A great place to find these things is www.car-part.com

It list junkyards around the country and lists their prices.  Find the cheapest and order one up.. I have used them a lot.

RIchard

[ghurd]

Any more info on the starter?

I live in a GM town. Junk-yard starters, take them off yourself, are $20 most places.  That could be good.

G-