The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 235 Starter?

I just put a battery in my 51, first time powere has been in it in over 25 years. I got my gauges moveing, running lights, no head lights but after the fact I looked at those wires and found them needing replacement. I did all this to see if the motor would even turn over, however I got nothing out of the starter.

My question is, What are the steeps need to rebuild the starter, or can that evevn be done?

First I would pull the starter and attach it to a good battery and see if it spins without being in the car. You will have to manually operate the foot switch. You did try to turn the engine over by hand, right?

Sure it can be rebuilt but first remove the starter switch from the top of the starter. Make sure the contacts aren't dirty or burnt to the point of not making contact. Also pull the spark plugs and try to turn the engine over manually to rule out the possibility of a frozen engine. Another step is to check the ground strap from the battery to make sure it's clean on both ends. Good luck.

Alright i got the starter out, and the switch on top off. It looks likr the little brass plates inside are fairly worn. I also was ablr to turn the motor over, which i'm very happy about. now my question is where might i be able to find a new switch for the starter, or would it better if I were just to buy a new starter?

Getting closer to get this bolt rolling!!!

Is this the part you are referring to? It is available from most vendors. NAPA and Advance Auto and maybe AutoZone.

great, thanks TC, i'll head over to NAPA tomorrow.

They sell regularly on eBay for around $10. Good Luck.

On a motor that has been setting for 25 years could have some stuck valves. Might be a good idea to pop the tappit cover off and check the valve train for movement while turning over slowly by hand, also you probly have a tank full of bad gas.

10-4 Todd, my brother told me the same thing, and it's good that he has the experience on the 235. I was supprised that there was still "fluid" in the carb when i took it off, so that told me that the tank has got to be the same way, I dont think they had 'Stabil' back then, so that's going to be my next step after I get the wiring down.

once again thanks the help all!

Definitely drain your gas out of the tank. It's going to be the most foul, rotten stuff you'll ever smell, and it won't work in your engine. If you need to start a bonfire, on the other hand...

Clean the carb, and rebuild it. You'll be glad you did.

And strictly speaking, you don't need a starter so long as you you have your arms and a crank.

The stuff I drained out of the 38 after it sat in the tank for over 20 years smelled like the devil's armpit. I used it to kill grass in the driveway & the whole property smelled like that for a week.