Re: Do I have to remove the Flywheel?
More than likely you have worn brushes and or lots of black powder inbetween the brush and the armature. This causes the brush to not make proper contact. If you don't fix it soon you can destroy the armature by putting pits in it from the arcing brushes.<br /><br />You can replace the brushes AND brush springs. Emery the armature if very rough. If not rough, use an eraser to clean the armature, add new brushes.<br /><br />The proper way to check the starter is to put a meter on it. Ohms, negative to ground and positive to the hot terminal. Read resistance, then rotate the starter shaft a little and read again(you have to stop moving the starter to check the reading because you are generating voltage as you turn it). Do this until you make a 360 degree revolution. If you find that you have a open condition at any point in checking you will need to check the winding connections at the armature. Most are crimped and not soldered on. That crimp comes loose or corroded and loses the connection. This will cause an extra load on the starter and cause it to draw more current, eventually frying the windings.<br /><br />Usually you can have a starter shop rebuild it for about 90.00. That should include new bendix spring, brushes and spring and the soldering of the windings to the armature. If you have an open winding they can re-wind it. <br /><br />The key here is to solder the windings to the armature and take the starter apart once in awile and clean the brush contacts.
