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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: theman53 on November 11, 2010, 04:55:49 pm

Title: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on November 11, 2010, 04:55:49 pm
Getting cold many threads of hard starting. First starter I put in I didn't use grease and it wore fast. Next I put way too much*not hard to do* and couldn't get the starter in and it was cold as could be outside.
The solution: self lubricating starter bushing.
This trick an old timer showed me that I am passing it along. Bushings made of bronze are semi permeable. Take your bushing in between thumb and index finger, lift index finger, hold bushing on with the other hand, fill the bushing with a good oil lubricant until a reverse meniscus is achieved, quickly smash your index finger down onto the oil meniscus = hydraulic pressure...this should make the bushing "sweat" for a split second then it will disappear. That is the oil going through the little holes all through the bronze to come out when needed. No more fighting grease and starters to get in the cold or worn too fast bushings from taking all the grease out to make it work.
Might upload pics if interest in seeing it ;)
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: rabbitman on November 11, 2010, 09:20:42 pm
You mean it'll push it all the way through and out the outside of the bushing :o. I new they were kinda porous but I didn't know the holes were that big :D. Maybe I'll try it next time. You use regular engine oil?
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on November 12, 2010, 03:41:45 am
I use lube it all. It is a moly lubricant and lasts longer than anything else I have used on door hinges, locks, sliders,etc.

I got some good pics I will post when I am done hunting today, but yepper it forces it to go through and stay inside the holes in the bushing. It is kind of amazing how much oil is lost in the process.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on November 12, 2010, 12:41:48 pm
The Lube
(http://a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/139/31e05a2726044fda96914e15db67bc64/l.jpg)
clean no oil
(http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/146/88e951bea1e0436b92549e6ef985db67/l.jpg)
Trying to get the pic full of oil before it runs out
(http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/131/fdf32cbd120340eaaf35d00a60ae91be/l.jpg)
This is cool I actually got a pic of the oil coming through, look close all that oil that is shimmery right in the center is coming through I didn't spill it:D you can really tell down by my thumb it looks bubbley.
(http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/140/38092650bc1441cb89575abe77b6c3af/l.jpg)

What is actually happening is the oil is being hydraulically pushed through the pores of the bronze/brass. Then is stays there so it is self lubing the rest of its life. No need to grease, but you still can if you want.

I should be a hand model ;D








Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: rabbitman on November 12, 2010, 05:21:21 pm
Diesel mechanics hands aren't supposed to be that clean :P
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: burn_your_money on November 13, 2010, 06:10:51 am
You were doing that in the kitchen? :o

That's a neat trick, I will have to try it next time
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on December 05, 2012, 06:32:28 am
I am bumping this and going to sticky it to the top. Seems we had some threads on starters lately and I think this is great. Some probably don't even lube the bushing and that is why the starter wears out. Or like me put too much grease in and the starter won't go into the hole.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on December 05, 2012, 08:06:47 am
Thanks for the bump! How about using grease instead of oil before squeeze?
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on December 05, 2012, 08:23:20 am
try it, I don't know how thick of lube you can go until it won't go through the pores of the alloy.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: RabbitJockey on December 05, 2012, 08:36:05 am
cool magic trick
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 05, 2012, 08:46:43 am
cool magic trick

and beautiful hands.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: RabbitJockey on December 05, 2012, 09:49:41 am
cool magic trick

and beautiful hands.

yeah really well groomed, he must moisturize, those cuticles are magnificent.  they really draw your attention in, so much that i almost missed the cocks on the rugs.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: 8v-of-fury on December 05, 2012, 09:52:35 am
cool magic trick

and beautiful hands.

yeah really well groomed, he must moisturize, those cuticles are magnificent.  they really draw your attention in, so much that i almost missed the cocks on the rugs.

oohh ahhhh
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: ORCoaster on December 05, 2012, 07:19:46 pm
Not a Hand Model, you would flip if you knew what they spend on their nails and such.  Probably a few cars worth of parts.  Thanks for the tip though. 
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: hillfolk'r on December 06, 2012, 07:54:12 pm
Yea oilite bushing,ask your oldtimer pal bout them :)
all metal is porous...well not all i guess but for what we are workin with

clean a con rod in a hot tank so its spotless,then take a can of oil with an inch or so of oil in it.
put the rod standing up and come back a few days later and the top of the rod wil be wet with oil.
oh feel free to use some linkite,or zmax as it is more commonly called.soak yer parts in it before assembly.feel free to stil use your normal assembly lubes also
get that dude an old guys rule tshirt at summit!
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: CrazyAndy on December 06, 2012, 07:55:51 pm
Diesel mechanics hands aren't supposed to be that clean :P

Case in point, the edges of my thumb and index fingers' first phalanges have near-permanent oil cracking in the print lines.  Hard to explain to prospective pick-ups. :P

I also like that trick;  I wonder if it would be easier to do with synthetic.  I'd go with linkite also, as Zmax sounds gimmicky.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: hillfolk'r on December 07, 2012, 07:31:55 pm
Linkite,lynkite whatever its called,thats the stuff used for aircraft,zmax is basically the same thing.its no problem using the aircraft stuff tho,try
aircraftspruce.com
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: rallydiesel on December 07, 2012, 08:37:38 pm
Or if you want a maintenance-free solution, get a new style starter that doesn't use a bushing.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: hillfolk'r on December 07, 2012, 08:52:19 pm
?? Please explain.?what replaces the bushing in the trans then?
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: rallydiesel on December 07, 2012, 09:08:00 pm
Nothing. The starter gear rod doesn't extend past the gear itself so there is no need for the bushing. Worked great on my 1.6td.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on December 08, 2012, 05:21:27 am
I have an auto TDI starter for this, but it cost a lot more money than a new bushing. Somewhere around 160.00 vs around 2.00. Plust once you do this with the bushing all the problems you once thought was your starter you now realize was a 2.00 bushing that wasn't lubed. Sometimes if you don't replace the bushing  then you do have a bad starter as well, but I have saved 2 starters since doing this trick.
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: hillfolk'r on December 28, 2012, 07:20:40 pm
Lol someone said they put too much lube in the hole and cant get it in? Um,heh heh thats kinda sounds like a personal problem that should be discussed elsewhere?
thanks for the tip on the" newer" starters.ill keep my eye out for one on the cheap......
on a lighter note i had a crazy idea for my 79
i wanna use a mk2 starter clocked 180 the other way so the solenoid is pointing down..no real reason other than maybe itll help clean up some wiring and give a more sanitary look,and to say i did
anyone done this?
it looks like it may work with some careful grinding on the starter and trans...
Title: Re: self lubricating starter bushing
Post by: theman53 on December 28, 2012, 07:29:20 pm
no like button for your comment.

Don't know if you could flip it, but you could probably run a remote seliniod just like the fords do...