[Snotrocket]

So when I bought my tractor the starter was kind of dodgy so I replaced it. I bought it off ebay because it seemed like the best deal. $60 shipped to my door. This was back in May of 2010.

About a week ago the starter went out on me. Wouldn't even spin. I took it apart thinking I could make 1 good one out of 2 bad ones but the old one was completely worn out and the "new" one had a giant crack on one of the magnets.

So last week I ordered another starter from the same guy. I had already called them to start the return process on the original one I bought (pain in the ass).

Today I went out to fire it up to clear the big storm and this was only the 2nd time starting it since putting the new starter on. I hit the key and noticed a spark down where the starter was. I looked closer and the starter was literally hanging by it's power cable!!!!!!!!!

At first I thought the bolts had somehow come loose even though I used lock washers and some weak lock tite on them but as soon as I whipped out my flashlight I saw the real problem.

That is the top of the starter that has the mounting plate built into it. In the pic it looks like metal but it's seriously the cheapest metal I've ever held in my life. My watch weighs more than that plate does. No lie.

So I took the end off the original starter I had (which is steel) and mounted it back on the end of the new starter I had to get me through today.

I'm giving myself 24 hours to cool off before I contact the seller so my email isn't full of expletives.

So if you guys had to buy a good quality starter for an Onan B43 where would you buy one?

 

[Hydriv]

If I could find a long-established auto electric rebuilder, then I'd take my old starter in to him and let him refurbish it back to original.

The price of new starter from Onan will leave you...............................breathless.

 

[Snotrocket]

There's a local guy here who does just starters. Maybe I'll take the 2 shit ones I have to him and see what he can do.


I'm pretty good at swapping them out now though.... :lol:

 

[drhulv]

I'm sure I replaced my defective starter with the same unit you got. Wow, that's not good. I'm worried now! I wondered about the quailty too, knowing what the ONAN unit cost, along with a quote from NAPA. ONAN unit was approx 5 times the cost of the one we got, NAPA 4 times the cost.

I justified the cheaper unit by thinking I could go through several of them before justifying the purchase of a more expensive one. Then I found out what a PITA it is to replace a starter and hoped I would not have to do that again.

I kept my old one so sounds like I should plan to have it rebuilt and set it on a shelf as my replacement.

 

[Snotrocket]

I'm sure the 5 degree temperature in my shop didn't help it, but I seriously started it twice before that plate snapped in half.

 

[CASE 220/4]

I would be so friggen pissed if that happen to me. I have no patience for shit like that and if I were you, I woul dbe screaming on the phone with the assholes that sold you junk. Im sure the yelling and screaming wont get you anything but it may just relieve a little stress.

I would be looking for a shop that can rebuild the stock one. Should I cash in my kids college fund to buy a spare now. What is the damage on a new one or a decent rebuilt unit from NAPA?

 

[Snotrocket]

That end plate is so deceiving. You would never know how cheap it is when it's attached to the starter because of how much the overall unit weighs.

My wife picked it up off the counter and was shocked at how light it was. It's almost like it's made out of sand held together by glue.


@Brad- If I remember correctly the starter from Napa is north of $200.

 

[drhulv]

From what I can remember, NAPA approx $240, ONAN $300 - $320. Something like that.

 

[gator_rider2]

Tomorrow you call this link for good starter Neal Eubank been rebuilding starter over 40 years at 9 a.m. there in central time zone. I've used this source over 40 years Heavy equipment, agriculture and automotive. This give right name but address US Highway 82 E not W west. De Kalb Tx.

http://www.processregister.com/Eubanks_ ... 201966.htm

 

[Snotrocket]

There's a similar shop around here Gator. I called him when my last one broke but he was backed up 2 weeks. I'll see what the ebay guy does to rectify the situation and go from there.

 

[CASE 220/4]

I wonder if Advance Auto has a starter in their database that would cross reference with the stock one? I get 15% off all products I buy from there.

Does anyone have the NAPA part number off hand? Advances website wont search unless I put a Make in and there is ummmmmm... no Case

 

[Snotrocket]

Search for Onan. :thumbsup:

 

[CASE 220/4]

Search for Onan. :thumbsup:

Negative pal. Napas site isnt even listing a starter and Advance does not even know the word Onan. Napa does list a lot of other things though. Im going to call those places tomorrow and see if I can track down some numbers.

 

[Bill.H]

I don't have an Onan, but if I did and I had a problem the first thing I'd do would be to PM Boomer :wink:

 

[CASE 220/4]

I don't have an Onan, but if I did and I had a problem the first thing I'd do would be to PM Boomer :wink:

I would too but I dont think Boomer can deliver a starter to one of us on a Saturday morning.

 

[Rob_P]

Search for Onan. :thumbsup:

Negative pal. Napas site isnt even listing a starter and Advance does not even know the word Onan. Napa does list a lot of other things though. Im going to call those places tomorrow and see if I can track down some numbers.

Brad, go to the NAPA website, select "Catalog Search", under "Part Number Search" select "interchange" and type 1910933 in the box. You should get a few. Nothing in stock local to me, YMMV.
Rob

 

[kkettelhut]

There's a local guy here who does just starters. Maybe I'll take the 2 shit ones I have to him and see what he can do.

I dropped my trucks alternator with a fellow in Portland today, He had quite the collection of starters and parts, I asked him about the starter generators and he was "I can do em all" He is next to Paul White Tile on Allen Ave, same parking lot. let you know how I make out as a reference once my work is done. :fingerscrossed:

 

[Snotrocket]

There is a guy local to me that does good work but he's always 2 weeks behind. I'm waiting to hear back from the ebay seller before I do anything.

I sent him a picture of that end piece that broke today. I'm just hoping he doesn't want the starter back that I've patched together or I won't be able to remove snow.

 

[Hydriv]

If the castings are that flimsy, then you can be sure that this won't be the first time he got that complaint.

If he wants his starter back, then tell him that he has to wait until mid-March because right now, you can't be without a starter motor. After all, he's sold you two pieces of junk and you spent a lot of time in a cold garage two change them. If he doesn't understand that logic, then he's not very bright.

What's really annoying here is this. He is the one who specs what he buys. SPEC SOMETHING BETTER, THAT WILL GIVE DECENT SERVICE, YOU IDIOT. Charge $99.00 for it instead of $60.00. People will pay that price to get a decent unit and look at all the bad will and aggravation you will eliminate by upping the quality.

 

[Snotrocket]

I'm pretty sure the end of this "new" one I received is different from the first one I bought from him. He's changing the specs but in the wrong direction.

I can almost guarantee he's going to want me to remove the starter and ship it back to him on my dime as an opening offer.

I haven't left him feedback yet either....