Let's be polite and say that I have inherited two starter motors p/n 459 007. Now I don't really need a new one at the moment but I have checked them out against future needs. One spins up fairly smoothly and until something else happens I'm going to leave it alone until needed. The other turned over reluctantly so I took it apart, found some corrosion, cleaned the same. The earth side brush is gunked up and shorter than the positive pole brush. So I cleaned it and all the parts and put in a box until I can determine if I need it badly enough to warrant buying needed parts. Probably between $$50 USD.

But in the mean time how can I lube the two bearings? Is there a magical way other than smearing some grease into them? Suggestions as always appreciated.


best regards
J.Jefferies

I don't recall ever taking a starter motor apart, but my modus operandi for open bearings is to flush them out with brake cleaner (or whatever your favourite tipple may be), check for undue play and repack with LM3 grease or similar by use of the squashing thumb (and finger).

Those starter bearings are usually just plain bronze bushings that don't need any lubrication.  Grease just holds dirt and wears the bearing.  A dry lubricant like powdered graphite or molybdenum used sparingly is probably the best way to go if you really fell the need.  It's not like the motor runs more than a couple dozen revolutions each time the engine is started.

Point-Seven-five wrote:Those starter bearings are usually just plain bronze bushings that don't need any lubrication.  Grease just holds dirt and wears the bearing.  A dry lubricant like powdered graphite or molybdenum used sparingly is probably the best way to go if you really fell the need.  It's not like the motor runs more than a couple dozen revolutions each time the engine is started.

Not sure about the rear one. It may be bronze but the front bearing is ball bearings in a cage and I would suppose greased.