Chinese Ebay Starter

[Rustle]

I'm working on getting a free 82 GL1100 running again and in trying to spend as little money as possible until I know the project is a keeper I bought the cheapest starter I could find on Ebay. The photos speak for themselves. I cranked on it for a bit, but nothing I would expect to cause this much carnage so quickly.

Does anyone have a suggestion on where to source the correct starter that won't burn up in two days? The one on Randakk's is like $240, but is this the same Chinese starter marked up?

[Rambozo]

Looks like a well used part.

[winguyjo]

do you have the old (oem) starter ? they usually respond very well to cleaning, new brushes and fresh grease.

[Maz]

If that starter was sold as 'New' I would claim my money back via ebay. It's a very used one.
Maz

[Manyakus]

I agree, you should file a complaint to Ebay if you bought this with the description NEW.
The cheapest thing you can do is buy new brushes and replace them in the OEM if you still have it.
Of course, don't forget to clean everything and apply grease.

[Rustle]

The OEM had several issues that I don't feel confident repairing after cleaning and going down that route initially.

I have filed a complaint with ebay so we'll see if anything comes of that.

[redbug]

D&B electrical, there in tn, have a starter for 117.00 new, used one while rebuilding the oem. The Oem is still on the shelf,just wear out this one,going on two years on the db statrer.

[OldguyGlen]

Just been through this same scenario myself. I did a quick refurbish on my oem starter over this past winter. Lasted only about 20 starts. Looked like the same commutator damage as yours. Look closely at your brushes. The ground side brush is well retracted in the holder, even though there is nothing holding it back. Mine was similar. Ground brush stuck, minimal contact, or even air gap to commutator results in massive arcing and quickly destroys commutator. I had a local starter/alternator shop clean up the commutator cheap ($10). I had to accept it on a "best effort, no guarantee". But it looked good. Got a new brush holder plate/brushes. I can't believe how smooth and fast it spins the motor now. But the shop guy says he can get me an OEM for $140. Guarantees it will have steel (not plastic) gears. That's where I'll go if the current rebuild fails to last long.

[Rustle]

I went the nuclear route and just got a Ricks Motorsports starter... Man what a difference. My old battery had a hard time turning the stock and chinese starters so much that I had to bring out my boat's battery to turn the bike over. Installed the Ricks and a new Relay and now the thing cranks like a new bike.

I should have just spent the $230 in the first place and saved myself a lot of hassle and troubleshooting.