Replacing Bushings on Starter Rebuild?

awca12a

I am rebuilding a spare AutoLight starter for my 1929 Essex. While I know I can send it out to be rebuilt, I want to try it myself using my good one as a model.



The Macs Antique Auto Parts catalog has almost all the little parts I need to do the rebuild in the Model A section for 1928. I'll probably keep the old field coil because I have no way of knowing if the field coil they sell will work on mine.



The Mac's catalogue refers to two bushings and I have an old multi-car bushing set that contains some copper bushings referencing their use on the Essex & Hudson starters. What I can't figure out is how to remove the bushings from the old starter and how to install new ones. This starter is in brutal condition so I'm using all the available Mac's parts in the rebuild.



Does anyone know how to replace these bushings or have any kind of reference material that I can use in the rebuilding process?



Thank You,

David

Uncle Josh

What appears as a copper bushing is most likely 'Oilite', originally invented by Chrysler I believe. It is made of little bronze balls pressed into shape and 'sintered' in a furnace to weld them together. Then they are impregnated with oil. When friction warms the thing up it exudes oil which lubricates it. This is what they'll sell you for replacements, and can usually be found at a good hardware store.



I guess I'd get a small screwdriver between one side of the old bushing and the case and tap it with a hammer to collapse it inward where you can remove it with a needle-nose plier. Oilite tends to be brittle and will probably break up anyway.



Carefully tap the new one in using a piece of wood endwise with a hammer, or press it in with a c-clamp.

SuperDave

Good advice from Uncle Josh.

Also I've used sockets to push out the old ones. Usually you can find a socket in your tool box that has the correct outside diameter. I also have used threaded rod ,nuts and washers to make my own extractors.I've rebuilt many Model A Ford starters and don't recall having any problems..Unlike the Model "T" which is a bugger...

Some times , just getting started is the hardest!

Dave W(FL)