Ignition: Starter motor rebuild, the cost

[S_Ferrell]

Last night, the starter motor in my 62 Cruiser, 259v8, auto, gave up the ghost. My mech is pulling it and taking it to be rebuilt. I was wondering about cost. Did anyone else have a starter motor rebuilt? What was the cost in your area? I am in Cleveland Ohio.

[R1 3137]

I had one rebuilt in Reno, I'm in N Ore it was about 180 inc shipping.

[raoul5788]

Here in central CT I paid $160 for the starter in my '57 Packard wagon. That was four or five years ago.

[K-Hawk]

Check with some Studebaker Vendors, use our home page. You might be better off to purchase a completely rebuilt starter from someone who is familiar with Studebaker rebuilds.

[ivorydan]

Ask your mechanic. He'll tell you.
Dan

[RadioRoy]

Don't get your hopes too high.

In my experience, starter and generator rebuilds are a crap shoot from a reliability standpoint. Even though the units are fairly simple and very rugged, there seems to be a casual atmosphere of indifference, incompetence, and ignorance among the folks doing the rebuilding.

I got a chance to observe the shop and the process in person after hours at Gen-Star, who was a major rebuilder in Oakland back in the day. I was shocked and amazed that they had so much potential, yet knew so little about how to inspect the parts and do the job properly, and ended up putting out units of poor quality and reliability.

We built three starters for my 50 Commander that night. they were all standard big Delco starters. Upon final test, one would not turn at all, one was a dead short, and one worked. I've seen new bushings pressed into end caps that were too worn to hold them, brushes chipped and their holders bent from forcing the brush ends over the commutator, a general mislabeling and misunderstanding of the differences between armatures.

I'm sure that the process is under better control these days, now that the demand for these starters has fallen off considerably, and there is less money to be made in the business. And yes that is sarcasm.

Personally, I'd much rather get new bearings and bushings and do the job myself.

[Gold Hawk Doug]

I aquired a rebuild kit from Napa a few days ago for $26.80, and it was in stock!

Kit includes bushings, berrings, brushes, and a new bendix spring with gear drive.

As soon as I get back from vacation, I'll do the rebuild, and let you know how it went. (or didn't)

Doug

[ivorydan]

Doug, what's the No. on that $26.00 Napa puppy?
Dan

[rockne10]

If your shop is good they will do what's required. It may be just bearings; it may be just brushes. If there is a flat fee for a rebuild, they are charging you for everything and only doing what is necessary.

[raoul5788]

The $160 I mentioned included a complete rebuild, bearings, brushes, and armature.

[Gold Hawk Doug]

Well jeeze, ivorydan, I'm out in Colorado on vacation right now. Won't be back untill the 10th.

I'll have to call the ranch forman tomorrow, and see if he can find where I put the receipt, and get it.

All I did was call my local store and ask if they had a starter. (it never hurts to ask) Instead they came up with this kit. I looked in the box, and it looks like it will work, but I won't know 'tll I get back, sorry.

Heck you might try the same thing, and see what happens, it would probably be quicker.

Doug

[S_Ferrell]

Starter Motor, cost

I just got the car back. Battery recharge, oil change, starter rebuild and install, labor, tax=397.60

[jackb]

BAttery recharge should be around $15......Oil change..maybe $40. ...that leaves you with a $300.+ starter rebuild job: see above.....

[Hawklover]

If you are willing to ship.........triple A rating for AES auto electric in Oceanside, Long Island..............speak to Bruce.............they saved my arz so many times.........this is a shop out of the 50's...........in every way.............they had a case for my ALE ALT.....on the shelf as mine was cracked.........now where ya gonna find that???

[Son O Lark]

Hopefully they re-used the correct starter bolts. They are special.