rebuilt generators, altanators,starters

I have a question for all of the guys that are still running or trying to run origanal equipment on there rods.
Do you guys have a source for getting you're starters, generators, etc. rebuilt or replaced.
Reason for the question. A close friend of mine who is the third generation in a automotive electrical shop has found that the general public that is driving late model stuff. would rather go to the ( GINSU) parts house to buy there starter, altenators etc. then bring them to his shop. he can not compete with there prices.
Here is what he is thinking about. specializing in the old stuff. say from the 70's back. starters and generators. He rebuilt the starter and generator for my 57 ford. they both have worked great for me with out any problem. I would bet money that he can rebuild allmost any thing out there for less than we can buy new. and the quality of his work is out standing. when have you seen a rebuider that will remove the seals on a sealed bearing to put more grease in it.
So here is the big question of the day. Is there a market for this or not. Would you guys be willing to ship you're parts for a rebuild. or is he pissing in the wind with this idea.
Give me you're input or rants or even a line of bullshit. I will relay it to him.
p.s. I could probably get him to give a discount to the hamb members.

thanks in advance ,GOAT

 

I would think that there would be a market, but that it would be mostly a mail-order business.

 

I'm having trouble with the 12v gen in my car!
I wish your friend was closer, haha.
Finding a good shop around here has been tough.

Norton

 

I do my own. its really a simple thing...to me.

 

I had a guy in town rebuilt my generator and my starter. It wasn't cheap (at least, I didn't think so).

I think it would be a good business. I see a couple of guys that do that stuff at swap meets all the time.

 

IMHO- There'll always be a market for his service. Tell him to start out doing it on the side, out of his garage & then go full time when the amount of customers allow it.

That would be the safest & the cheapest way to start out. Once he gets his name around & he gets known for doing good work, then the customers will find him.

just my 2cents

 

Banger parts are a dime a dozen used. I just keap trying till one works, its always cheaper than rebuilding.

 

I get my starters, generators rebuilt locally, the guys do real good work and it is reasonable, around $45-50 per. Any auto-electrical shop can do these rebuilds.

 

MOst any mechanic can do them also. Simply need a lathe, couple of tools, and go to it.
Its already broke, so you can only make it better!


ozzie3

 

I can't speak for much in here, BUT, I DID have an old Harley. New starters were over $200 for them, and a person would be lucky to get about 200 starts from a starter on that era of bike (Shovel). I got mine rebuild for $75 3 years ago, and was money well spent, and it still works.

I PLAN to get my flathead stuff rebuild down the road.

 

I find some humor in that bike starters arent any different, now I know why I helped the guy I partnered with in college rebuild his "during class time"!!!!!
He thanked me for helping him, but not for my physical help. Everyone thought it belonged on a small car and no one bothered us. I didnt ask how he brought it in or out, but I dont think anyone cared anyway. ahhh good memories......

 

Sadly, your buddy is in a market that is being marginalized, much as the TV repair man was when they started using transistors instead of tubes.

There are a lot of outfits that are capable of doing the work, and he needs to find a niche market if that is the business he intends to stay in. I would think that doing work for the resto and rod market for high end stuff might work well and be a stable market. But its also a small market compared to late model stuff.

I think the industrial market would offer a larger customer base and better profit. There are millions of motors and other related equipment in industrial process, HVAC and commercial applications that ARE worth rebuilding when they go bad, and rewinding a 200HP motor is something not everybody can do.

 

I do it every day . You will never get rich but it pays the bills sometimes .

 

Definitely needs Internet advertising, since this is a mail-order niche market. Nowadays, unless there is only one man in the world providing the service, people won't even bother unless there is a web page to reference(I'm guilty).

 

I also need to add that these things are pretty heavy.
Seems doubtful that a lot of people would pay for shipping across the US to have a starter or Gen rebuilt.

Norton

 

I would if I couldn't find someone locally, and didn't have the time to drive back and forth dropping off and picking up the part, since I work from 6:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. More convenient dropping it off at the computerized postage label machine after hours at the post office. Even better if he had cores, and you could just buy outright. I prefer picking up a phone or clicking a mouse than dealing with Houston traffic. The days of finding really old parts in a junkyard are gone around here.

 

The fellow I take my stuff to knows that most people (non-rodders) dont know that the parts are rebuildable. They stroll to a parts counter and buy a new one thinking it's the only choice.

He makes his living doing city vehicles from busses, cop cars, snow plows and such. He has great deals worked out with them knowing that they don't care if the cases are repainted and such and it keeps the cost down for them.

 

Actually this is no longer an issue since the USPS started offering "Flat rate" boxes.
You can ship anything that fits in these boxes for less than $10 and starters/generators fit.
Some internet providers will offer you a free 1 page website included in their basic fee.
Spend a little money on "Google key words" to get people to your page. Won't be much of a investment to find out if there is a market for this service. Best of luck.

Terry

 

Thats pretty cool.
I live in Cunukistan and didn't know about that.
I wonder how many people do?
It would be wise of Goat's friend to let his customers know about it too.

Norton

 

Thanks for the input from everybody. I have been trying to call him this evening, no answer yet. To let him know what I have done to him. I think that the comments on internet are dead on. that would put him in the eyes of the people looking for that type of service. yes, he does have several cores and some stuff that is allready rebuilt. I don't know what all that he does have. If any of you are looking for something send me a p.m. and I will relay it to him. as for contacting him direct, I haven't told him that I posted this yet, so I don't want to give out his phone # at this time.
once again thanks for the input, Goat

 

my rebuilder of 25+ years shut his doors 6 months back and went to work at the competition because they offered him a good wage plus benefits. also to get rid of the competition. now i have to grease 2 more levels of palms to get the same product. sure sucks!