Starter Rebuild

[Matthew Jeschke]

I blew my transmission. I'm slowly removing everything so I can drop it out and rebuild it. In the process is damage the starter *ug* I've tore this little guy down before but never replaced the solenoid. Now I have to the solenoid broke trying to remove it.

Busted solinoid

Issue is I have no clue what size this socket is. I have down to an E6 and it's smaller. Additionally, there's little if any room to fit a socket. Anybody know how to get these pesky little fasteners off?

What size is that fastener??? I'm going to need to buy a tool for that...

 

[6speedblazer]

Same exact thing happened to me when I did the rear main seal on my Denali.

Honestly it's not worth rebuilding the older 1.4Kw units. I highly suggest upgrading to the newer ACdelco 2.0Kw units.

 

[OR VietVet]

Just replace the whole assembly, like @6speedblazer said.

The socket would be a female torx and likely like an E 5.5 or E5. The ends of the existing ones look screwed up. Whatever you put on there is just going to slip off when torque it.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Replace the entire starter. Your time is worth more than the time required to rebuild versus replace.

 

[mikez71]

An E5 socket fit my TYC solenoid bolts..
I just bought the 1.7kW TYC starter for $85 (looks to be the same as wai global or terrepower at $80)

I did purchase a Delco Gold starter for my gmt900 before... (Not sure if a 2.0kW or 1.7kW)
But it looked like any other generic starter, not like the photo on RA, and 2x the price...

I'm not sure if my brush/ripple pattern is good?
I thought a Remy starter I bought before had a smooth circle...
But the Remy starter would not bolt in because the spacing was off a tiny bit..

Remy 1.4kW starter I returned... (for 5.3 gmt900)

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

@mikez71 awesome thanks, an E5 socket.

Replace the entire starter. Your time is worth more than the time required to rebuild versus replace.

I rebuild the one you're seeing. If you ever rebuild one you'll never buy new again. It takes a matter of minutes. It's like making $100 / hr. I rebuilt about everything on my truck and story is quite similar. You can rebuild this stuff for like nickels on the dollar if even that much. Most of it isn't that complicated. I didn't replace the solenoid though, didn't have the socket.

 

[mikez71]

Apparently a rebuild kit is ~$50.

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If armature is bad, or plastic planetary outer gear is bad, it doesn't look like a kit would fix it..

My planetaries were extremely loose and rattling, so I guess the grease must have all dried up or worked it's way out.
Never disassembled it to take a look, I wish I had...

Here's a good video on rebuilding our starters..

Apparently you can use white lithium as dielectric grease.
As much as I enjoyed that video, I'd rather pay the extra $30 to save myself the time and labor..
(Until the replacement parts are too poor of quality that is..)

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

oh, I broke the solenoid. I just need to get it off and replace that. Thanks I needed an E5 socket wasn't sure what size that was.