The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay why do stomp starters cost so much for rebuild?

I'm really curious why stomp starters cost so much more to rebuild than a regular solenoid starter? rebuilt starter for 68 chevy truck might be about 30 bucks or so, not so on rebuild quotes for 58 stomp starter! I know the "button" assembly itself is like $20, but what makes up the other difference that enables these guys to justify well over $100 for stomp starter rebuilds? I know someone will say BECAUSE THEY CAN, but I'm really curious why?

Is your truck a daily driver that just needs a working starter or are you restoring it for show?

My opinion: People think you have money if you're rebuilding an obsolete solenoid-less starter for some restoration project. Strictly as a general statement & not directed at you- that is more than likely a true assumption on their part.

My experience: My 55.2 12V Delco rebuild was about $55 total for all the parts; including the $17.95 starter switch and shipping. I paid an auto electric shop to clean, re-assemble, and test mine with the new parts. (I would rebuild it myself now that I understand the starter a lot better) I think my total core rebuild cost was around $87. That seems high to me now, but at the time I didn't trust I'd rebuild it right.

Where are you in AL?

Brad

No, I'm not do a resto and absolutely don't have bunch of money to invest. Just trying to get a 58 apache up and running so I can sell it and move on to my dream truck, my 53 Jimmy. I bought 5 in one shot, out of the woods on a moonshiner property, 2 were so bad cut them up, sold one 58 apache already, I had to buy them all to get the GMC. I got them very reasonable, but can't turn profit at paying shops well over hundred bucks for starter rebuilt. I just hated to poke solenoid starter on, because I wrestled the 235 and manual trans in alone and it was a serious fight, so kinda wanted to keep stomp switch. Honestly, I still don't see how they can charge so much.
I see you're in Hsv, I'm about 12 miles north in a little spot in the road called Hazel Green.

I drug the other 58 home, installed used tires, new water pump/fluids/tune up and got it running and so forth and made $300 for about 2 weeks worth of work. But, my goal was to buy the 5 and clear one for free.

The 6v starters are more "obsolete" but they are available in the $50-$60 range.

Maybe they were available for more years compared to the 55-2nd through 58/59 12v foot-actuated starter?

Good point on the availability, Tim; either way, the 12v starter's guts are still fairly simple. I have not broken down a 6v, however, so I do have limited experience.

Have you tried Action Auto Electric? Lefty? I found out they have pretty much a "$90 to rebuild any starter/generator" pricing policy. There's also another member a little north of you that has quite a handle on these starters (& Stovebolts in general); I may be sneaking my 12v generator up his way so I can have some supervision in putting new parts in it. Maybe he'll chime in with some advice.

I don't know the answer to your "why?" question.

Brad

Lefty, drop me a PM. I have several stomp starters on hand, 6 and 12 volt, or I can rebuild yours if you've got a core. I'm in Dellrose TN, about 25 miles from you.
Jerry

Jerry, thank you, let me drop it first and take it apart and see if I see something obvious. I did have to literally dig the truck out of dirt, it might be packed full of dirt, though I thought I cleaned it out (but now cannot remember). By the way, the first '58 Apace stomp starter was rebuilt by Action Auto, and it was all I could do to pay them and not come unglued. I figured it was MY fault for not asking first, but I had read all these tales of how much it cost to get stomp starters redone. If it were $90, I could have been chaffed. At $145, it was all I could do to not come unglued, but I know it was my fault for not asking prior. I really considered letting them keep the starter and walking out.

Stan's auto electric in Pulaski TN is an excellent source for parts and/or rebuilding service. I've been doing business with Stan for 30+ years, and he's always treated me right- - - -not cheap, but excellent quality work, priced reasonably.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I just cannot see how anyone can, in good conscious, charge someone more than $25 or so more that rebuilding regular starter. The only difference I can see is the starter button, which would run about that.

My stomp starter on my 58 235 had a longer starter drive than I could get at the local parts store. Found a starter shop about 45 minutes away and took them the old drive and they had one.

Said they had it on the shelf about ten years and were not planning to order another unless some on needed one.

You get what you pay for...good luck with that $25.00 rebuild. After over 25 years of just antique starter and generator restorations....NO late model stuff. I can tell you my time and knowledge is worth way more than $25.00. Lets take a look at parts cost for a 1107634 starter used on Chevy trucks from 1955-1961....this is the later model 12 volt version of the stomp starter. No shipping cost included of course and these are actual "WHOLESALE" prices...NOT retail.
$40.00 armature...on sale..good price this month.
$26.00 field coil set.
$10.00 standard starter drive, not the heavy duty version I always use
$ 8.00 switch, made in China...I don't use them....junk
$2.35 Comm-end bushing
$ .45 Drive end bushing.

These are just a few parts that may or may not need replacing in just a rebuild. Now try supplying all these parts that are made in the U.S.A. which is the only way to go as I won't use the foreign cheap junk that has the rebuilding market flooded. I can't see how anyone can, in good conscious, spend good money on foreign parts and install them in there Classic Chevy American Made Truck.....$25.00 isn't going very far.
Thats about all I have to say about that.

Kennethw, thank you for the education. This began with me asking why it costs so much to rebuilt a stomp starter over a "regular" starter, say comparing 1958 to 1968 starters on 12 volt trucks.
What my above quoted post was meant to question is, given I figure a good stomp button is around $25 with shipping, why don't stomp starters just cost whatever a regular solenoid starter would cost to rebuild PLUS $25.
I realize you cannot get a starter rebuilt for $25. So, in your opinion, to have my first '58 stomp starter have a new armature and stomp button installed and charged $145, I got a bargain? I'm asking seriously, because this post was all about me getting educated why it costs so much more to rebuild a stomp starter than a solenoid type starter. Not saying the oreilly rebuild starters are earth shattering, but I guess a rebuilt one for a '68 C-10 probably around $50-60 with core trade in?
Should it be considered routine a stomp starter should cost $150 or more to rebuild? Thank you for your thoughts and sharing, I'm really not a starter rebuilder and do not question anyone's experience, just wanted to learn. Lefty

Lefty,
Ok, so they replaced the armature with a new one and the switch that mounts on top?
Did they replace brushes and bushings as well? No starter drive, coils or the copper stud the switch mounts on top of?

If all they replaced was the armature and the switch then $145.00 was on the high side.

If you were in a situation where all the internal parts were replaced, armature, field coils, starter drive etc..then $145.00 would have been a great deal and more than likely under priced.

The cost factor when comparing the stomp starter to the later style with a solenoid mounted on them would be different. They used different armatures, coils and starter drives. Typically the parts and labor for your starter would more than likely be a little higher. The copper stud on your starter has to be soldered into the field coils, internal parts on your starter are typically a little higher. There is just a little more involved in your starter.
The earlier model 6 volt stomp starters are a different animal and can cost even more, even though its a stomp starter everything internally is different. Straight splined armature shaft as opposed to twisted splines, this means the starter drive has to have straight splines and not twisted. The armature body itself is more of a High torque style, larger diameter than the others, this means more copper, more material, more money. The brush holder is all made into the end cap with different springs, brush holders, brushes etc....the end cap itself becomes a separate rebuild.

Let me know what all they did to your starter and I will get back with you.

Sorry if I kind of unwound....guess I took the post wrong.
Ken