An OM617 starter motor is for LIFE not just for Christmas! - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

funola · #16 02-10-2011, 08:18 AM

Hey Army excellent writeup and pics as usual! Where did you find that Bosch pdf? Great find. It has the performance specs for all Bosch starters which I have been looking for. Do you have a phototach? Now you need to check the no load rpm and current. I measured a spare starter given to me with a phototach before knowing how they are spec-ed and it turns out no load rpm is one of the specs! Mine is at the top of the range at 8500 rpm btw. Now I feel more confident not putting in a dud.

Bosch says to use a thin coat of oil on moving surfaces. Why did you choose to use grease? Hope you at least used a synthetic grease. I think the thicker grease may lower the starter's max rpm at extreme cold.

JHZR2 · #17 02-10-2011, 08:21 AM

Yeah I know that one... Those allen bolts scare me. Its one thing to have to deal with them on engine mounts, which are wear items... Another on the starter which is a HD thing that will be in place for 30 yrs before removal.

I think there is a special MB tool to do it too... The DIY shows a self made tool, but I wonder if the MB tool is better?

vstech · #18 02-10-2011, 08:30 AM

Very nicely done! thanks!
I've submitted it to be in the Wikki!

funola · #19 02-10-2011, 08:31 AM

Quote: "To remove the solenoid you in principle need to remove three 40mm M5 screws. Mine were stuck and needed to be drilled out."

This seems like a common problem which I have run across before on other Bosch starters. Small diameter long screws into aluminum is a PITA to get out. As I recall, I used an impact screwdriver (the one you hit with a hammer) + penetrating fluid and got them out slowly without breaking them.

Stretch · #20 02-10-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Hey Army excellent writeup and pics as usual! Where did you find that Bosch pdf? Great find. It has the performance specs for all Bosch starters which I have been looking for. Do you have a phototach? Now you need to check the no load rpm and current. I measured a spare starter given to me with a phototach before knowing how they are spec-ed and it turns out no load rpm is one of the specs! Mine is at the top of the range at 8500 rpm btw. Now I feel more confident not putting in a dud.

Bosch says to use a thin coat of oil on moving surfaces. Why did you choose to use grease? Hope you at least used a synthetic grease. I think the thicker grease may lower the starter's max rpm at extreme cold.

Yes - I had read that. I'm a fan of my really expensive Lithium EP2 grease that I use for wheel bearing etc etc etc - it is good for a temperature range of -30 to +130.

I'll keep an eye on it during use and see if I get any untoward effects.

I'm adding in a edit above to make sure others are aware of this too - thanks.

Stretch · #21 02-10-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Quote: "To remove the solenoid you in principle need to remove three 40mm M5 screws. Mine were stuck and needed to be drilled out."

This seems like a common problem which I have run across before on other Bosch starters. Small diameter long screws into aluminum is a PITA to get out. As I recall, I used an impact screwdriver (the one you hit with a hammer) + penetrating fluid and got them out slowly without breaking them.

Yeah the buggers were laughing at me - I'm not a fan of flat blade screw drivers and slotted heads - you only need to slip once and the driver rides up and burrs the screw into uselessness...

...I'm not very patient with these screws - may be I reached for the drill too soon!

Stretch · #22 02-10-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

Very nicely done! thanks!
I've submitted it to be in the Wikki!

Thank you very much I feel like I've arrived!

kerry · #23 02-10-2011, 10:05 AM

Wicked wiki.

Fulcrum525 · #24 02-10-2011, 10:36 AM

Your own photo approves of this post.

I have a 603 starter in my garage that went out a few years ago....I would imagine that the principles are basically the same as the 617 starter?

Thanks for the link as well.....now I want one of these
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starter_motor#Hydraulic_starter

vstech · #25 02-10-2011, 12:22 PM

agreed! that'd be cool!

(hold on, lemme go pump up my starter...)

engatwork · #26 02-10-2011, 12:29 PM

Good job - thanks for sharing.

Bill Wood · #27 02-10-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

Very nicely done! thanks!
I've submitted it to be in the Wikki!

Great writeup!

It's in the Wiki HERE

Thanks!

vstech · #28 02-10-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

Thank you very much I feel like I've arrived!

You have indeed!
and your entry is just wonderful.
I'd no idea how much better a MB starter was over the standard chebby unit. Very impressive.

funola · #29 02-12-2011, 12:00 PM

Army, I have copied below part of the Bosch pdf you've linked to. Of interest is the testing for shorts in the armature and field coils with a 110V and a 6V lamp. Did you do that to yours?

I am gonna to take my used spare starter apart and clean and lube per the Bosch pdf before installing it. I checked my records and the no lead rpm was 9000 rpm, not 8500. It'd be interesting to see what the new rpm will be after the clean and lube.

[IMG]

[/IMG]
[IMG]

[/IMG]

Stretch · #30 02-12-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Army, I have copied below part of the Bosch pdf you've linked to. Of interest is the testing for shorts in the armature and field coils with a 110V and a 6V lamp. Did you do that to yours?

I am gonna to take my used spare starter apart and clean and lube per the Bosch pdf before installing it. I checked my records and the no lead rpm was 9000 rpm, not 8500. It'd be interesting to see what the new rpm will be after the clean and lube.

I did no testing of the starter as I knew it was all working fine before I took it a part. My reason for performing this refresh was mainly to clean it up on the inside (I guessed there would be a lot of muck around the brushes there usually is) and make it pretty on the outside. I'm close to finishing an engine rebuild and I didn't fancy bolting the rusty old starter motor back on - I've put in a lot of effort cleaning up all of the aluminum parts and I've repainted the block...

If it doesn't work when I refit it, I'll follow the advice in the pdf about testing - though I'm not too keen on using AC current to test stuff - we have 220V over here!

I'll be very interested indeed to see if your starter performs better after the rebuild - you would hope so wouldn't you!