Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => Tools and Lubricants => Topic started by: Bill B on February 11, 2024, 12:41:34 AM

Title: starter repair
Post by: Bill B on February 11, 2024, 12:41:34 AM
After 3 years the electric starter on the snow blower seized up. Last year it was giving me problems but was still working.  This year it was a goner.  Ordered a new starter $70 delivered in 3 days.  Slapped it in and we are back in business. With nothing to lose I tore the old starter down to see if it could be repaired. Nothing chanced nothing gained figured.  BTW most of my electric motor repairs end up in a shower of fireworks.

Started with a liberal dose of PB Blaster and was able to get it to move, but not actually run.  5 bolts and it was open.  Inside I found a mess of PB Blaster and rusted parts.  Used a wire wheel to clean up the armature and a Drexel wire wheel to clean up the field coil (?) inside.  Some contact cleaner freed the brushes up and degreased everything else.  The only bearing was ok, but some ReelX sure helped it.

Put everything back together, hoping I got the wires correctly installed and hit the "go" button and it works like it should.  No sparks or fireworks.

I wouldn't want to rely on this starter but as a backup I'll take it.

Lessons learned, it was broke and I couldn't make it worse.  Why not try to fix it.

Now....where's the snow 😁

Title: Re: starter repair
Post by: foakes on February 11, 2024, 01:15:20 AM
Good work, Bill —-

Last February 27, 28, and into March —- we had 5' of snow on the flats —- nearly twice that under the eaves.

Either we will get some more snow, or we won't —- but you are prepped!

Best, Fred
Title: Re: starter repair
Post by: MarkT on February 11, 2024, 01:59:36 AM
You didn't get snow from the last storm?
Title: Re: starter repair
Post by: Keta on February 11, 2024, 02:20:13 AM
My snow removal equipment is kick start, unfortunatly the wife does the kicking.
Title: Re: starter repair
Post by: thorhammer on February 11, 2024, 02:21:43 AM
Quote from: Keta on February 11, 2024, 02:20:13 AMMy snow removal equipment is kick start, unfortunatly the wife does the kicking.

That's funny right there.
Title: Re: starter repair
Post by: Bill B on February 11, 2024, 09:10:18 AM
Quote from: Keta on February 11, 2024, 02:20:13 AMMy snow removal equipment is kick start, unfortunatly the wife does the kicking.

Now that's funny.  Has she been talking to mine 🤣🤣🤣