[Vwdiesel] starter lube

[James Hansen]

*Usually* it's not the starter motor, but the solenoid, providing the bendix
isn't just plain wore out.  The internals of the solenoid get rusty/dusty
and the return spring gets rusty and weaker, so it can't overcome the drag
very well that the moving portion of the solenoid places on the coil it runs
inside of.  Cleaning and wire brushing shiny usually fixes this, then so it
doesn't happen again, fixing the reason for what is usually a moisture leak,
and lubing it so it doesn't recurr. If dust gets in again, yeah, oil will
make it worse as it just provides the flypaper for the dust to stick to, but
without it, it's like a caliper bolt.  Nice dry shiny new grease free
caliper bolts work best, and without grease or antisneeze on them, they
rust... making them rusty and non-functioning after one Salty Saskatchewan
Winter.  I like to use a product called Fluid Film on stuff like a starter
solenoid.  It stays put, and is a way better oxidation barrier than
something like WD or other products.

Your aircraft buddy is right however... but I have yet to see silicone spray
do anything other than make the person feel good about spraying it on, it
sure doesn't do any lasting lube of metal to metal parts, and mostly just
makes it harder to get a good paint finish everywhere you haven't sprayed it
as well.  Silicone spray is banned from my shop btw.  It might keep water
away to the extent of preventing oxidation of the parts however.  Not a
whole lot of dust yearning to stick to oil on the inside of a starter bendix
where they drive planes these days... I have this image in my mind of a 150
hitched to a cultivator .....hmmm.....
-James



-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]On
Behalf Of Val Christian
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 3:47 AM
To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
Subject: [Vwdiesel] starter lube


This starter talk has me wondering about starter motor lube.
I have a noisy starter after start (while disengaging) on my
_diesel_ tractor.  I think it needs lube.

However, our aircraft mechanic insists that we _never_ use oil lube
on the bendix/pinion area.  Silicone spray only.  He says the oil
based stuff gums up and catches dirt, causing failures.

Anyone have any comments?  I'm just starting research on this one.

Val

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