I posted a similar question a little while ago, but not this specific.....

I need to replace/rebuild my starter, I am doing the labor of removing and
replacing it myself. My local (auto) mechanic that I have known for a while
said he will rebuild or get me a rebuilt starter, is there any difference
then a major price savings of having my local mechanic do it compared to a
boat marina? Are there any things that you need to do in order to "marine"
the starter?

Thanks for any info.

-Matt

"Matt" wrote in message
...
I posted a similar question a little while ago, but not this specific.....

I need to replace/rebuild my starter, I am doing the labor of removing and
replacing it myself. My local (auto) mechanic that I have known for a
while
said he will rebuild or get me a rebuilt starter, is there any difference
then a major price savings of having my local mechanic do it compared to a
boat marina? Are there any things that you need to do in order to
"marine"
the starter?

Thanks for any info.

-Matt

Matt: around here the automotive electric shops rebuild marine starters.
As others have mentioned, the marine version is indeed different but our
local shops are quite familiar with this and rebuild and/or marinize
starters all the time . You might check around - a rebuilt will be a lot
less than a new OEM type marine starter. I had a marinized GM engine (which
most mercruisers are?) in a previous boat and my mechanic recommended that I
get the old one rebuilt rather than buy new - something about shims needed
to fit a starter onto a GM block and it being easier to reuse a previously
fitted/shimmed one rather than starting with new. My local shop was able
to turn it around quite quickly (as I recall, 24 hours or so), assuming
they're not backed up. Turns out, the starter that was in the boat when I
bought it (used) was an automotive starter - I didn't know that. But the
shop was able to rebuild it and marinize it for what I thought was a
reasonable price.

If the automotive mechanic can tolerate working on the engine (clearances,
etc), my guess would be that the installation is similar. Good luck

DJ

Thanks for the info.... I plan i reinstalling the starter myself. I called
up a shop on the internet and they gave me a quote for a new MES starter
from $99-$149. I was questioning the price only because i have had quotes
ranging in the $250's... But from what a few were sayin on the post there a
reputable brand. I just have to make sure i get the right one

As for the shimes I'm really not familiar with that, only that my local
mechanic told me when i said i was doing it myself, "be careful when you
remove it cause of the shimes". I didn't notice any... we'll see..

THanks again for the info! !

"DJ" wrote in message
...
"Matt" wrote in message
...
I posted a similar question a little while ago, but not this
specific.....

I need to replace/rebuild my starter, I am doing the labor of removing
and
replacing it myself. My local (auto) mechanic that I have known for a
while
said he will rebuild or get me a rebuilt starter, is there any
difference
then a major price savings of having my local mechanic do it compared to
a
boat marina? Are there any things that you need to do in order to
"marine"
the starter?

Thanks for any info.

-Matt

Matt: around here the automotive electric shops rebuild marine starters.
As others have mentioned, the marine version is indeed different but our
local shops are quite familiar with this and rebuild and/or marinize
starters all the time . You might check around - a rebuilt will be a lot
less than a new OEM type marine starter. I had a marinized GM engine
(which
most mercruisers are?) in a previous boat and my mechanic recommended that
I
get the old one rebuilt rather than buy new - something about shims needed
to fit a starter onto a GM block and it being easier to reuse a previously
fitted/shimmed one rather than starting with new. My local shop was able
to turn it around quite quickly (as I recall, 24 hours or so), assuming
they're not backed up. Turns out, the starter that was in the boat when I
bought it (used) was an automotive starter - I didn't know that. But the
shop was able to rebuild it and marinize it for what I thought was a
reasonable price.

If the automotive mechanic can tolerate working on the engine (clearances,
etc), my guess would be that the installation is similar. Good luck

DJ

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the info.... I plan i reinstalling the starter myself. I
called
up a shop on the internet and they gave me a quote for a new MES starter
from $99-$149. I was questioning the price only because i have had quotes
ranging in the $250's... But from what a few were sayin on the post there
a
reputable brand. I just have to make sure i get the right one


As for the shimes I'm really not familiar with that, only that my local
mechanic told me when i said i was doing it myself, "be careful when you
remove it cause of the shimes". I didn't notice any... we'll see..

THanks again for the info! !

Hope it helps... Not to harp, I'd still recommend at least seeing if a local
shop can rebuild your old one for the two reasons you mention above. Might
be quicker, cheaper and easier. I've never heard anything bad about a
rebuilt starter, but I'm no mechanic. Have fun - I've only watched the guy
putting in my starter (so theoretically I could do it myself sometime if
need be) and it looked like "a lot of fun" if you get my drift. So, have
fun and hope you get back on the water soon. That seems to always be my
main motivating factor (which, being a non mechanic, can - can? make that
DOES cost a few extra bucks)

By the way, the $250 sounds like a "normal" marine gouge price to me -
that's about what a local marine dealer quoted me for the part and I ended
up getting mine rebuilt (including shiney new black paint) quickly, for less
than half that and no shimming issues.

DJ

"DJ" wrote in message
...
"Matt" wrote in message
...
I posted a similar question a little while ago, but not this
specific.....

I need to replace/rebuild my starter, I am doing the labor of removing
and
replacing it myself. My local (auto) mechanic that I have known for a
while
said he will rebuild or get me a rebuilt starter, is there any
difference
then a major price savings of having my local mechanic do it compared
to
a
boat marina? Are there any things that you need to do in order to
"marine"
the starter?

Thanks for any info.

-Matt

Matt: around here the automotive electric shops rebuild marine
starters.
As others have mentioned, the marine version is indeed different but our
local shops are quite familiar with this and rebuild and/or marinize
starters all the time . You might check around - a rebuilt will be a
lot
less than a new OEM type marine starter. I had a marinized GM engine
(which
most mercruisers are?) in a previous boat and my mechanic recommended
that
I
get the old one rebuilt rather than buy new - something about shims
needed
to fit a starter onto a GM block and it being easier to reuse a
previously
fitted/shimmed one rather than starting with new. My local shop was
able
to turn it around quite quickly (as I recall, 24 hours or so), assuming
they're not backed up. Turns out, the starter that was in the boat when
I
bought it (used) was an automotive starter - I didn't know that. But
the
shop was able to rebuild it and marinize it for what I thought was a
reasonable price.

If the automotive mechanic can tolerate working on the engine
(clearances,
etc), my guess would be that the installation is similar. Good luck

DJ

I had to replace one starter on the Queen a few years ago (Chrysler 318).
Quoted price for a new unit through the marina was about $275, through WM or
B/US about $240. I removed it myself and took it to a local shop that does
starter and alternator repair for a lot of local truck firms and marinas.
Full rebuild, marinized, was $160. I re-installed it myself. No problems
since. Check out the local rebuilds.

Regards,

John Gaquin
Brefnie Queen
1974 Luhrs 32

Well at www.ebasicpower.com they have a brand new MES starter for $149
MES-5399M I think i'm going to go with that one. Cause my starter is
SHOT...


"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...
I had to replace one starter on the Queen a few years ago (Chrysler 318).
Quoted price for a new unit through the marina was about $275, through WM
or
B/US about $240. I removed it myself and took it to a local shop that
does
starter and alternator repair for a lot of local truck firms and marinas.
Full rebuild, marinized, was $160. I re-installed it myself. No problems
since. Check out the local rebuilds.

Regards,

John Gaquin
Brefnie Queen
1974 Luhrs 32