Starter?

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338Edge
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Starter?

Post by 338Edge » Sat Jun 25, 2016 7:47 pm

Looks like my electric starter went out on my mule. Does anyone have a part number for one that I could pick up at a car parts store? My starter is old, like from the late 60's or early 70's old. So I may be able to find a part number under all the rust, but would rather know what everyone else is using.

Thanks!


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Re: Starter?

Post by Chuck W. » Sat Jun 25, 2016 8:23 pm

It's not something you are going to find at any parts store. The first starters were highly modified VW starters, different mounting plate and different drive gear. Newer starters are special gear-drive units built specifically for the mule. I'd suggest you contact John Emery for a new one, or try to find somebody to rebuild what you have.

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Re: Starter?

Post by muleman7 » Sun Jun 26, 2016 1:12 am

Replace or repair. The VW Starter is from an automatic transmission VW Bug. If it is a VW starter then the Mule Starter Gear was tack weleded to the VW Starter Gear.
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338Edge
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Re: Starter?

Post by 338Edge » Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:30 am

I'm not sure if this is a modified VW starter or not. It looks different from other starters that I've seen. Here are some pictures for you. I may try to clean off the rust and dirt and see if I can make any name or part number out. The only number I see so far, as seen below, I can not match to anything on the internet.

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I'll give John Emery a call on Monday too.

Warren Duchesne
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Re: Starter?

Post by Warren Duchesne » Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:34 am

The original starter was a prestolite not a modified VW starter .Thats a Ford starter. That's the first time I have seen a starter mod done with the original recoil starter head . I would like to see more pictures when you separate the starter from the recoil mechanism . Warren Duchesne

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Re: Starter?

Post by nickd » Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:51 am

That's the type starter Leonard Groves used to make. It utilizes the front end of the original pull starter. Set screws held the electric starter in place.
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Chuck W.
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Re: Starter?

Post by Chuck W. » Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:51 am

Actually, the Prestolite starter came later, it was part of the Army electrical kit. Leonard Grove built starters similar to the one you have using an Evinrude boat motor starter and the original mule recoil unit, if I remember correctly. I doubt you will find anyone who will rebuild the one you have unless you can find an old-school mom-and-pop rebuild shop. John Emery has reproduction Prestolite starters, expensive, but very nice.

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Re: Starter?

Post by major519 » Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:02 am

I would check into an old school electric automotive rebuild shop personally if you can find one.
My friend here in Canada thrives on the obsolete weird rebuild stuff for his business.
Often times it is the only way and surprisingly not super expensive when you consider what custom work is worth.
The trouble these days with buying rebuilds from an auto parts store is that they are cheaply done rebuilds which are pumped out in high volume vs the small repair shop where each piece gets precision detail.
Alternately as Chuck suggests, go with the new production product from JE
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Re: Starter?

Post by Chuck W. » Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:18 am


338Edge
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Re: Starter?

Post by 338Edge » Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:55 am

I just took the old pull starter housing off. It was press fitted with a couple of set screws that whomever built this (possibly Leonard Groves) had drilled and tapped into the housing. See pictures below.

I'm going to start searching for a replacement. And on Monday I'll see if I have any local rebuild shops around. My best option might be to call John Emery and order one of his new starters.

Regarding the new starter from John Emery. That gear looks a lot smaller than what I currently have. Do I need to modify or replace the gear on the starter that John sells?

Thanks everyone!!

Image

Image

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Re: Starter?

Post by Chuck W. » Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:17 am

No, the Prestolite starter uses a smaller gear because it does not mount in the center of the bell housing hole, but is offset closer to the flywheel. It will work just fine. BTW, the new starter will completely replace the old recoil unit.

Here's an old VW style starter mounted on my test stand:
Image

Here's one of JE's new gear-drive starters:
Image

Here's the Prestolite starter:
Image

All three mount directly to the bell housing and replace the recoil unit completely

338Edge
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Re: Starter?

Post by 338Edge » Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:36 am

Ok, thanks!

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Re: Starter?

Post by muleman7 » Mon Jun 27, 2016 3:00 am

The starter you have are the first type Tom Brice and I built prior to modifying the VW starter. It used a Ford long shaft
starter motor. Any starter shop should be able to rebuild. The weakness of this starter is the roll pin attaching the gear To the starter shaft and the roll pin of the starter gear bendix both of these will shear do to the torque of the motor. I suggest replacing with a new Prestolit starter it will give you the best service.
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Re: Starter?

Post by 338Edge » Mon Jun 27, 2016 1:46 pm

muleman7 wrote:The starter you have are the first type Tom Brice and I built prior to modifying the VW starter. It used a Ford long shaft
starter motor. Any starter shop should be able to rebuild. The weakness of this starter is the roll pin attaching the gear To the starter shaft and the roll pin of the starter gear bendix both of these will shear do to the torque of the motor. I suggest replacing with a new Prestolit starter it will give you the best service.
Well, that's an interesting piece of history on my mule. Did you sell a bunch of mules to farmers in Idaho back in the 70's? That's when my dad bought this mule. Not sure of exactly when.

I ended up buying ordering a gear-drive starter before I saw this post. Sounds like either starter would be a good choice.

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Re: Starter?

Post by muleman7 » Mon Jun 27, 2016 3:39 pm

Yes either one will give good service. I Started with Tom Brice in 1974 until I bought him out in the mid 80s when he moved back to Alaska.
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