TOPIC: I Need Starter for Mark 55E

I just about had this old Mark 55E running after it slept in the pole barn for many years. I replaced points/condensors/impeller etc. and then the starter died just as it was about to kick.

I tried tearing it apart to clean up the but I think the brushes are gone. I am having a really hard time finding a replacement. It is a strange beast where the bendix doesnt extend up to engage the flywheel but rather slings/swings sideways into it. Here are a few pics and I am hoping someone might have something for me.

Thanks,
Tim

That style starter is very hard to come by. Yours must be a 1955 MK55

You can replace it with a newer style starter, but you would also need the newer style flywheel.

My advice is to tear your starter apart and replace the brushes. Any starter/alt repair shop will have brushes for you. Take it in and show them the brushes, and they will find you some usually.

Starters are usually pretty easy to repair. But I have never worked on one exactly like yours before.

Conrad

You are correct Conrad...it is a 55 Mark 55E. And yes they are REALLY hard to come by. I am trying to find the time to get it down to Tim Calmes at Silver Lake who is sure he can round up some brushes at least and maybe even a starter. I just thought I would make things easier for him if I could find a starter.

I have it all torn apart(did it last summer) and may have a heck of time figuring out how to put it back together now.... I leave that up to the expert Tim.

Thanks for the idea about using a newer one with a different fly wheel.

Happy Easter.
Tim

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the later model starters will work, because the '55 block doesn't have the castings for the retaining bolts required by the later starters.
Thom

Tim should be able to fix you up with brushes. He has a GREAT inventory of NLA NOS besides all his used goodies.
T

Thom is correct the mount flange is different on that model

I think a guy could maybe fab up a plate to clamp the newer style starter into the blocks starter ring?

Thom your correct! I forgot Should be workable with a top plate like Michael mentioned.

Conrad

I'll see if a standard starter will fit the main hole for a starter and report back.
Hopefully I won't forget and will do it tomorrow.
I still need to check serial numbers on the early 1400 shorty too.
Sorry Conrad - I'll git-r-dun.
Thom