Rafael
GT Reference
A couple of weeks ago while starting my SP in my garage, the starter disengaged from the motor but did not stop spinning, so I turned the ignition off, but it kept spinning, whacked the starter with a dead blow hammer, nothing, and then had to disconnect the neg pole on the battery. Lucky I was in my garage. I ended up blowing out the windings and lube the bushings etc. BTW it's a Chinese knock off, didn't know when I bought it. Anyway it hasn't happened again since the cleaning.
I decided to look at an old, authentic, non-working Valeo I had shelved because of what I read about the permanent magnets and assumed that was the problem. Turns out it was fine after a good cleaning, so I ordered a rebuild kit (tune up +) from EME. The parts appear to be Chinese knock offs, no Valeo markings. Tried to rebuild it with out replacing the brush holder but broke it while lifting the brush springs. The brush holder gets brittle over time so it should be changed anyway. Also, the spring provided in the kit is not compatible with the original brush holder. So, don't order the basic kit from EME always order the "+" kit which includes the holder and a gasket.
The brush dust has no way out, so the rear cover should be opened every 4 years or so and blown out with compressed air.
My old Valeo is now on the shelf waiting for service when another one craps out. I think it'll be waiting a long time, the Valeos are pretty good starters; even the knock offs.
I found a web page with the rebuild instructions by googling "valeo rebuild" it's BMWs. http://www.largiader.com/tech/valeo/
I decided to look at an old, authentic, non-working Valeo I had shelved because of what I read about the permanent magnets and assumed that was the problem. Turns out it was fine after a good cleaning, so I ordered a rebuild kit (tune up +) from EME. The parts appear to be Chinese knock offs, no Valeo markings. Tried to rebuild it with out replacing the brush holder but broke it while lifting the brush springs. The brush holder gets brittle over time so it should be changed anyway. Also, the spring provided in the kit is not compatible with the original brush holder. So, don't order the basic kit from EME always order the "+" kit which includes the holder and a gasket.
The brush dust has no way out, so the rear cover should be opened every 4 years or so and blown out with compressed air.
My old Valeo is now on the shelf waiting for service when another one craps out. I think it'll be waiting a long time, the Valeos are pretty good starters; even the knock offs.
I found a web page with the rebuild instructions by googling "valeo rebuild" it's BMWs. http://www.largiader.com/tech/valeo/