How much should a flathead starter rebuild cost?

x 2

 

So, according to your math, you're telling us to only expect 60 starts on one of your rebuilds? No wonder it's cheap.

 

I'd also add that if he replaced the armature that runs about 125 just for that one piece if you buy a good quality one. It dosen't sound like its to much depending on the amount and quality of the parts he used.

 

maybe he was planing on you helping him pay his mortgage this month...sounds a bit high to me

I have industrial starters re-built for that kinda money

 

What kinda gaurentee do you get for $211? The $35 SBC strarters at the blisterpack stores have a lifetime gaurentee, and you'll need it ..several times.

 

Weemark,
I would never suggest that anyone stiff a vendor, that would be a breach of contract, unethical, and bad kharma, too. The guy was given a price and the vendor decided to allegedly upgrade the job without authorization and jack up the price, holding the customer hostage. I respectfully disagree that its the customer's fault and perhaps I believe that the problems in America stem from vendor's misbehavior. If you treat your customer right, you'll get loyalty. Screw them and they'll buy foreign.

 

3/20/09 Very calmly ask him for a detailed break down of the bill. What was done, a list of parts replaced, etc and labor costs. Explain that you were surprised by the $211.

 

Mike51Merc read the thread again, he gave authorization.
Pay the man for his work and enjoy your one of a kind "high torque starter"

 

Another case of buyer "beware". I'm not coming down on either side of this conflict. I'm just saying, do your homework, try to find satisfied customers to reference and chec to see what similar jobs go for locally. After this, make an educated decission, and go for it. If this is the first time you've had a questionable experience with a parts house, supplier, independent shop, etc. consider yourself lucky. After doing this for over 50 years I still get it stuck to me (my evaluation) on occasion. I look at this way. This hobby isn't essential to my life in even the remotest sense, It's just that, a hobby. Get over it and get on with your life. A lesson learned is never a loss it you learned from it.

Frank

 

Why would a mechanic, and I think the people on this board are mechanics, want to sent a starter out for rebuild?

Take it apart and look at it, figure out what you need , and put it together again. Need help, go to google and look up "rebuilding starter motors"

And then you will never have to pay that much again!

traderjack

 

Working on 75 year old stuff is different than dropping in a set of brushes and bearings in a late model starter. I don't have a Megger to check the field and armature insulation. You can't tell just by looking if that's breaking down. I also don't have Glyptal to recoat the insulation. At $66 a can from Eastwood to use once in a blue moon, I know the spray bomb will be dead till the next time I use it, so I don't even bother. And I don't have a lathe to turn the armature. These old motors have seen so much action, if you just change the brushes, the worn commutator will slam eat them up if you don't face it off. When you don't have the tools, you don't have any choice but to pay a pro.

 

Sounds like the shop guy baffled you with "new speak" by throwing out the "high torque" phrase. Happens a lot around here too. Like others have said, I would be expecting a gear driven starter, if it is in fact, high torque...not some heavy duty truck stuff.
Probably the best thing to do, if you cannot reason with the person, would be to pay up and then if anyone mentions the shop, tell your story. Word of mouth is still the best advertising.

 

I'm not trying to be hostile here, but I still disagree. The authorization was defective, because he really didn't know what it meant, nor did he know the price. You really can't live entirely by "buyer beware" and say that since the buyer was a ****er he should pay. If you go into a shop and they say the rebuild is $100 or you can get the "special treatment" and you agree, what is to stop the vender from extorting $211, or $311, or $511 for the job. A contract is formed by a "meeting of the minds" on material terms. I'd say the contract failed because the essential information was missing. Another legal maxim is that when there is confusion regarding material terms, the party with the greater knowledge (usually the vendor) is the one who suffers for not sharing the greater knowledge.

 

Where does he say the rebuilder said he'd build it for $100.00? I read "I was foolish and didnt ask for a price when I dropped it off. He told me he was making it high torque, keep on 6 volt". And if he did build a "high torque" starter out of it, he had to replace the armature, field coils, or both. You can't compare that to an "Autozone rebuild".
If the guy has been in business for 30 years, he's probably not a thief. If it were me, I'd pay the guy, take it as a hard learned lesson and ask for a price up front next time.
Larry T

 

Looks like you learned a lesson - just ask what it will cost before you agree to the work. He may have replaced lots of parts and did a great job, you were just not prepared to pay that much. He should have told you the approximate cost anyway - both of you take a bit of blame on this one.

With that said, if he did a good job, you'll be running this starter for many years and never think about it again! There is nothing like the sound of a flathead starter ( I happen to like them on 12 volts, but that is just me!).

 

Did you get your original starter back? The 8BA starters have more torque than the earlier ones. You can tell the later starter by the longer case and shorter drive end plate.The early starters show about 1"+ of aluminum. The later starters show very little. Either way, it was too much.

 

Well, it looks real nice, painted and everything. Says he used high torque field coils. He reminds me of an old timey tinkerer, and I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. I like seeing parts that say "Made In USA."

 

I'm sure you'll get your money's worth out of that good looking starter. Again, it's VALUE, not cost, that counts. Enjoy.