Autolite Starter Repair Kit?

[Buccaneer]

Regarding a 1955 Auto-Lite Starter,
Model MAK 4033M 1K

The parts manual does not show brushes or bushings
as separate items or show it as a kit.
Is there a magic parts number for the brushes that
only repair shops knew of?

I know some parts dealers of old, sold the end plate with the
ground brushes already attached. (at least for automotive
starters)

I’m not interested in "buying" a different starter.
There’s absolutely no fun in that.

In searching old threads, it was mentioned it was
problematic un-soldering the "hot" brushes from
the fields. Back in Vo-Tech in the 70’s, the instructor
had us all make a carbon tipped soldering gun,
that worked slick for this purpose. Basically, it
was a chunk of broom stick with a piece of all thread
inserted through it. On one end a wire and alligator
clip was attached, on the other end, a nut with a set
screw was welded to the all thread. In that nut
was the carbon (which we removed from a D cell flash
light battery. You’d hook up the rig to a 12 volt battery,
(and a ground wire from the battery to the starter)
and that carbon would get "red hot" when touched
to the brush retainer, melting the solder in a couple
of seconds. I’ll have to look to see if I still have this tool.
Thanks!

Prepare to be boarded!

[ede]

Brush repair kit, p/n 277487 I have several. PM me if interested

[Buccaneer]

Ede,
Not sure if it matters, but I’ve seen some p/n 277487 brush sets
with the single wire, instead of the double braided wire brushes
like mine. Also confusing, is that some are showing a set as "two" brushes,
and mine takes four total.
My brushes are 5/8" wide and 1/4" thick.

I turned the armature, cleaned everything up, and it spins
great now, although I had it hooked up to 12 volts, so it should have!
The commutator was wore down, out of round, and dirty!
Not sure if the motor is a "keeper" yet, but now at least I have the
starter fixed so I can test compression, etc., easier.
By the looks of all the hammer marks on the starter,
someone should have done some maintenance on it
30 years ago!

I have a 1957 "Big Twin" 35 hp, 25930 model, with a starter.
I can’t get at it right now to read the starter number.
Any idea if it takes the same brushes?
Thanks.

---

Attachments:

Prepare to be boarded!

[ede]

Try this p/n 278244. The new brushes that I have are marked, IT MDO 12. These are with double braid wire and 5/8 by 1/4. Wire braid is of two as you describe. Wire length on one is 2 1/8 and the other is about 1 1/2. Some of my parts books list the AutoLite model number and some don’t. I can only go by parts book and what I see as I don’t know application

[Buccaneer]

quote ede:

Try this p/n 278244. The new brushes that I have are marked, IT MDO 12. These are with double braid wire and 5/8 by 1/4. Wire braid is of two as you describe. Wire length on one is 2 1/8 and the other is about 1 1/2. Some of my parts books list the AutoLite model number and some don’t. I can only go by parts book and what I see as I don’t know application

The pictures I see of p/n 27844 brushes look like mine.
Did 12 volt starters only have two brushes? I have four
brushes on my 6 volt, but I only see the said brushes
sold two at a time, one grounded, one shielded.

Prepare to be boarded!

[ede]

I will look again tomorrow in an older book

[Buccaneer]

This is the aforementioned homemade carbon soldering gun.
The "D" cell battery carbon is long gone, and
I borrowed the large alligator clip that hooked up
to a 12v battery, long ago.
For example, I stuck a rod in the unit where the carbon
would go.
I haven’t opened up a battery in 40 years, but guessing
that it may be more difficult now days, and not
sure the modern battery carbon (if they even have them)
would work. Presume a person could find something
suitable without dissceting a battery.

quote Buccaneer:

In searching old threads, it was mentioned it was
problematic un-soldering the “hot” brushes from
the fields. Back in Vo-Tech in the 70’s, the instructor
had us all make a carbon tipped soldering gun,
that worked slick for this purpose. Basically, it
was a chunk of broom stick with a piece of all thread
inserted through it. On one end a wire and alligator
clip was attached, on the other end, a nut with a set
screw was welded to the all thread. In that nut
was the carbon (which we removed from a D cell flash
light battery. You’d hook up the rig to a 12 volt battery,
(and a ground wire from the battery to the starter)
and that carbon would get “red hot” when touched
to the brush retainer, melting the solder in a couple
of seconds. I’ll have to look to see if I still have this tool.
Thanks!

---

Attachments:

Prepare to be boarded!

[ede]

My parts books show the starter minus the end plate with brush holders. Also no reference to brushes. Notation says to go to Auto Lite dealer for service. May need to find early Auto lite material for answer to question.

[Buccaneer]

quote ede:

My parts books show the starter minus the end plate with brush holders. Also no reference to brushes. Notation says to go to Auto Lite dealer for service. May need to find early Auto lite material for answer to question.

Thanks for looking Ede!

Prepare to be boarded!

[amuller]

Any decent welding shop should be able to sell you "carbons" in different diameters if you don’t feel like opening a battery. Something like this:

https://www.grainger.com/product/41R169 … Google+PLA

[Author]

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