Bush and bells

[dadrathers]

I know there is a lot on the starter motor thread but has anybody been successful in replacing the starter motor WITHOUT replacing the copper bush in the bell housing that supports the starter motor shaft? The bush looks a pig to get out and put back!!

[rubjonny]

if it doesnt look damaged then it should be ok

[Ben Lessani]

Its pretty easy to remove - and that was the underlying problem of when I refurbed my starter. For about 5 minutes work and the cost of 20p - it definately isn't something I would bother skimping on!




Go and buy a pack of screw type stud extractors, stick it in the hole and gently twist. It will bite into the soft copper ring and you'll be able to just either drag it out, or turn the stud extractor far enough that the copper falls apart and subsequently falls out.

If I had a tap large enough, I would have used that to bite a thread into the copper and pull it out.

The fella in the starter shop was under the impression you could stick a screwdriver in there and flick it out - mine was way to tight for that.

Fitting it was easy, a long 13mm bolt, thread a nut and washer halfway up, slip the ring over the end then tap in with a hammer, wind the nut down a bit with each hit

[dadrathers]

What an absolutely cracking reply Ben - diagrams and everything - I have to try then. It looks Ok RubJ but it is not easy to tell - no doubt it has been wearing for 17 years.

Does the bush and shaft of the starter need a bit of grease when reassembling?

[nealey]

they should be a fairly tight fit, if they fall out with the starter check the hole where the bush sits isnt ovaled as it will just keep destroying bushes and starters

[DarnPB]

A worn bush will give the same symptoms as trying to start the engine with a flat battery. I tried 3 different starters once on one of my Audi's, before I realised what was wrong.

[Ben Lessani]

That's exactly what I thought was wrong with mine, I ditched a perfectly good battery because I thought it was to blame - well annoyed actually! Used to draw current like mad and make the wires hot to the touch, all because of the stupid bell housing bush!

Does the bush and shaft of the starter need a bit of grease when reassembling?

You're supposed to use a smidge, not sure whether its best using a conductive grease, like copper slip, or not.

I put copper slip on everything though

[dadrathers]

Thanks guys, especially Ben - I think I will try a bit of high melting point grease since its position so close to the engine must mean it will get pretty warm.

Cheers

[DarnPB]

Don't lather it with grease, if any at all. The bearing is phospher bronze and is self lubricating.