??? Starter Motor rebuild - help

[Mello]

Lately my starter will bind after a couple turns. I suspect the bendix is sticking some & not throwing complete for good engagement of the flywheel ring gear. Gonna pull it out and give it a good clean & rebuild. Search this site (plus google) & checked the FSM to see about recommended greases & what not. Service manual give details on cleaning but has no reference to any lube what so ever. Are our OEM DSM starters suppose to be assembled "dry"? Any recommendations on best grease if any. Thanks.

 

[DSMPT]

Where you may want to grease up in the starter is where the planet gears are (where 3 small gears are). Just wipe out old grease and put multi purpose high temp grease like lithium grease or so should be fine. Except silicone grease. You should avoid using silicone grease inside of starter where close to the motor brushes. That may shorten the life of brushes.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Put a small amount of grease on any bushing that has a rotating shaft in it.

 

[Mello]

Should I grease the shaft for the overrun clutch to slide back & forth on? Would you recommend using a dry film lubricant or doing this dry so dirt & cantainments don't gum things up over time? What about the planetary gears? Any idea of what Mitsubishi did? It's lasted 24 year less the sticking issue that recently started.

 

[motomattx]

Small amount of grease, very very small amount!

 

[DSMPT]

How I put grease when I have engine starters overhaul or repaired is to put proper amount of grease where the planetary gears are (and also the pinion gear if remove the bendix). and very slightly grease up all bushes and on the shaft where contact with metal and bushes. I use lithium, urea grease or some bearing grease. I just don't use any silicone based grease.
As for the planetary gears, I prefer to use urea grease or bearing grease because of the higher viscosity. Actually I have never cared that much about the type of greases for the starter. Even the last time when I did for my 1g , I just grabbed general bearing grease that was lying in the garage. It was about 5-6 years ago and it is still working well. I have been doing this way for almost 30 years for most of cars and motorcycles that I have / I used to have. So far I have never had any issues.