Hey guys how do you know if your electric starter is shot to the curb. My Hobbico 90 starter spins but won't spin my OS 60FX, I can grab it with my hand and stop it. I hooked it up to my truck battery and could do the same thing.

Thanks,
Joel

If you can grab it with your hand and stop it, even when it's hooked up to a freshly charged battery, then it's shot.

Thats what I figured. Thanks Richard L.

Joel

I can always stop mine by grabing it with my hand and it will turn a 120 with ease. Even they don't feel as if they have much power when you grab them the still have plenty of power to starter most any engine.

Joel, does it get hot when you stop the business end? If not, ( and I’d bet not) chances are the commentator is covered in carbon. Take it apart and clean the carbon off the top and sides of the plates and it will come back to life. While you have it apart look at the windings for discoloration, if the windings are overheating or shorting the heat will burn the painted on di-electric coating. If that is evident it will not be long for this world.

Just incase you want to learn a little before you want to toss it.

Joe

Thanks Joe I'll try that. At the very best I might be able to buy myself some more time, at the worst I'll learn a little something about starters!!

Thanks,
Joel

I would also suggest having a good look at the switch contacts. If these have burned from sparking then they also can sap a lot of power.

Thats what I found was happening with my sullivan high-torque starter when it was doing similar.