OK....I bench-tested starter. On the 2 or 3rd spin, the bearings (bushings) were obviously dry which is causing the "growling" noise, and preventing the starter from spinning freely & up to speed. Everything including brushes looked to be in very good shape, and there's no play in the bearings (bronze bushings).
My question is, can these be lubricated, or should I just replace them? I put a couple drops of 3&1 oil on them just to see if it'd help, reassembled the starter & energized it several times, and it worked fine. Don't they just give these bronze bushing an oil bath & install them? I'm not opposed to spending a few bucks for new bearings if needed, but at the same time don't want to replace them if it isn't required.
Thanks!
ST
My question is, can these be lubricated, or should I just replace them? I put a couple drops of 3&1 oil on them just to see if it'd help, reassembled the starter & energized it several times, and it worked fine. Don't they just give these bronze bushing an oil bath & install them? I'm not opposed to spending a few bucks for new bearings if needed, but at the same time don't want to replace them if it isn't required.
Thanks!
ST