TR2/3/3A Starter bushing.

[karls59tr]

Anyone know what symptoms would occur at starting if the starter bushing was worn out?

 

[TR3driver]

Slow cranking, worse when hot in my case. Seems like it would make a lot of noise, but I didn't hear any.

Eventually of course, it won't crank at all, but I didn't let it go that far.

 

[CJD]

Are we talking about the rear bronze amateur bushing, or the rubber pinion bushing in the early bullet nosed starter?

 

[TR3driver]

Good question. I was talking about either of the bushings that support the armature. The bonded rubber drive on the early starters is a different symptom entirely.

 

[karls59tr]

Are we talking about the rear bronze amateur bushing, or the rubber pinion bushing in the early bullet nosed starter?

In the later starter. Isn't there a bronze bushing somewhere near the front that wears out? Not really too familiar with the inner workings.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I 'discovered' that omitting the rear bushing altogether will result is very slow cranking.

 

[CJD]

I 'discovered' that omitting the rear bushing altogether will result is very slow cranking.

So I'm not the only one who's tried that?!

 

[TR3driver]

Yes, the armature is supported at both ends by Oilite bushings.
Either one can wear out, but the front one might wear faster. If either (or both) are worn badly enough, the armature starts rubbing on the pole pieces and the resulting friction robs power from the motor. There is a very strong attraction between the two while cranking, so it may rub while cranking even if it doesn't seem to rub just turning by hand.
The problem is quite obvious when you get it apart, though. Both armature and pole piece will be partially ground away.

The bushings aren't hard to replace; but ISTR availability was a problem. Last time I went through this, I had to buy some that weren't the right length from a different source, and cut them down. But that was a long time ago, so it's probably different today.

In the later starter. Isn't there a bronze bushing somewhere near the front that wears out? Not really too familiar with the inner workings.