sky tec starter failure?

[avengingangel]

ok, this is a continuation of a thread i started titled full river battery. There was a few following it already, but i'll throw this question out to all since it's about the starter.
after checking wiring, battery and grounds. No parasite drag. Engine cranks extremely slow.
Metered the current draw of the starter installed. Showed 480 amp first try second 520. Also starter seemed to have a slight growl, kind of sounded power related.
Also after cranking, all connections are cool except the stud between the plunger and starter motor.
I've removed the starter and my ame wants me to have a closer look at.
Would it be the moter itself if the heat is coming from that area, what else?
Starter is a 149-12lsx about at most 3 yrs old. current draw for these starters look to be 160-280amp.

[bret]

If the rotor bushings are worn the rotor could be rubbing against the stator , there will be no drag until the magnetic forced pull on the rotor, take it apart and look.

[Ron Lee]

Call Sky Tec Monday.

This is a simple suggestion based upon my ignorance of how a starter can fail and the symptoms of various failure modes. Please report back with your solution so I can learn from this event.

[bret]

Also if you are pulling 520 amps you definitely do not have a wiring problem, got to be mechanical drag somewhere.

[avengingangel]

sounds good.
I'm going out in the shop now to dismantle.
i will also call sky tec tomorrow. I'll let yas know on what I find.
thanks guys

[Mike S]

Take a good look at the mounting face of the starter, there was an issue awhile back with a locating pin that was causing problems----up to actually cracking the housing.

[avengingangel]

well, end cap bushing has failed. probably pinion end too. So, I suppose there will also be damage at magnets and armature.

so, this whole problem has been starter and mechanical binding.
this has been an interesting cranking problem, if the previous thread "fullriver batteries" was followed. always handy info to know.

[avengingangel]

seems to be a few things wrong with this starter.
well, I think the starter is in very poor shape.
1. the brushes have slivers or chunks broke off them to the point i would estimate about 70% brush to commutator contact.
2. have found chunks of what are probably carbon but possibly magnet.
3.magnet placement. I'm no starter expert but this could be part of the design but I have never saw it before. my magnets are out of alignment, one magnet would be at least half an inch out. there's clips holding them in place. and it looks the clip has actually moved. Is there an adhesive that actually holds the magnet also? otherwise these things have migrated south on their own.
going to have a beer now and them clean the ends of the magnets because i think they may be chipped also.
i think this starter is what we call grenaded. any thoughts.

[avengingangel]

oh I forgot
the inside of the end cap is showing wear from contact with commutator. not surface but the end of comutator.

[Ron Lee]

At the risk of being redundant, a call to Sky Tec should reveal what they will do for you. Possibly full replacement under warranty or low cost replacement.

Then the question is what happened? Was it a starter issue so a replacement solves all problems? Or could something have happened that started the damage to the starter. Can't help with those questions.