Talk me off the ledge

Those look like copper brushes . I've neither ever seen any of those nor all of that sandstorm you've got there in that starter

 

Think I’ll have to replace the brushes and the terminal bolts. Everything else I should be able to blow out with air. The manual says to avoid grease cutting solvents because of the armature and other bits have grease packed in sealed bearings? Something like that. ANOTHER thing I’ve never seen is a starter with this awesome “service band” or whatever it’s technical name is. Just a simple thin metal band that can be snapped off and removed for inspection and quick cleaning. Check out the dust caked up once the band was first removed

 

Grizz
did you ever expect this thread to span 2 years? Has to be 1 of the top treads on the forum

 

This is what happens, when Dr. Doghead keeps injecting it with formaldehyde

 

I think, they meant not to use solvents while the starter is still bolted onto the engine. If you have it apart, you could always pack the bushings with fresh grease

That was the last year for that starter. If those are indeed copper brushes, it's no wonder why they would have to often get serviced through external access. Even then, one can expect premature armature wear, since friction between similar metal types is at its highest.
Here's a chart of probably every Delco starter ever made. Show us which view applies, so that we could possibly match up a set of modern carbon brushes for it:

https://www.aspwholesale.com/unit-exploded-views.html

 

Bookmarked that. Got a couple Ford PMGR starters I'd like to redo.

 

Glad to see you're plugging along Wood. I hope you have some cardboard on top of the wagon to protect it from the drips coming from the truck...

 

2 years to tear down a starter

i did too. Probably where I’ll get the brushes and bolts from

yes sir! Under the motor AND the rear diff. Which will be getting a new seal shortly

 

How's the Pontiac doing? Why did you choose it over the Chrysler? I'm telling

 

Not good as that Pontiac!

 

I finally got back around to the pontiac. cleaned, polished and painted the starter. Replaced brushes and solenoid. Sure looks fancy but it still doesn’t work! The clutch and gear push out but no spin. If I give it a push it will spin verrrry slow. I took apart the new solenoid and it looks like it got burned on the bolts and contact disk(?)see pictures. Also there’s a lone wire that looks like it might have gotten soldered to the base? Not sure if it’s supposed to be there or not....any ideas???

 

I found the problem. The bolt connecting the solenoid to the starter has broken the solder connection.... I’ve not done a whole lot of soldering . What’s the best way to go about this?

 

You need a good heavy duty soldering iron to heat the entire thing up and flow new solder onto it. You can actually use a propane torch if you don't have an iron, but it's a very delicate operation to do so.

 

Find a soldering gun. You'll need rosin core solder, paste flux compatible with electricals (very low or no acid content), and isopropyl alcohol. Clean and pre-tin the gun's tip, clean the area with the alcohol (use an acid-swabbing brush or a Q-Tip), apply a bit of flux paste to the area, then, heat up the gun, apply it to the wire at the break, and apply solder right at the top so it flows a little bit. Don't apply too much, and only apply heat 2-4 seconds; the solder should flow and flatten out. If it 'beads up,' not enough heat was applied before applying the solder. Put a bit of flux on then reheat so it flows. After that's done, clean joint with alcohol to remove flux residue.