rebuilding alternator/starter/generator shops

[Silver_civic]

Hello there and does anyone here on the board use a alternator and starter and generator man that rebuilds them the way they should be? I do, and his name is Charlie Smith, in Punxsutawney area. He owed my father some labor, so I found a civic like mine that was wrecked but complete and took the starter, alternator and took them to him. Engine and model of car was same as was the year; 2003. He only charged me 50$ for both to be COMPLETELY redone and tested. Took him a hr, and I watched. No wonder AA and autozone remans are [censored] these days! Now if my car breaks down on the road I can use my tester and if its one of those two; fix it easier.



Anyone have a man in their area that does this lost art?


adam

 

[JHZR2]

Some people still can. Here is a good DIY in fact:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=293895

Problem is I don't necessarily trust the monkeys at even small shops at this point... People loose more and more mechanical aperture as time goes along...

 

[Trav]

I did them for donkeys years until quality parts got scarce,lots of bad brushes,cheap Chinese,solenoids,drives,regulators etc.
I had a tiny armature and commutator lathe and growler and even a huge soldering ring for changing commutators.

To me its not worth doing anymore.The tools went to scrap with the Ammco brake disk and drum lathe and engine in the car cylinder boring bar.

 

[sciphi]

There are a few around me. One flat-out told me that I'd have better luck with getting a good alternator at the local parts stores because he could only source "Chinese-made trash" to rebuild things, and only replaced what was absolutely necessary. He was significantly cheaper than a reman unit's price, which is why I believe he's still open.

The parts-store alternators are a "pay your money and take your chances" thing since some of them don't work even out of the box.

 

[Silver_civic]

Thanks for the info guys and the man, Charlie Smith uses U.S.A. made guts and dont know where he gets his parts but never had a failure on any of my Honda's at all with his rebuilds.

 

[mechtech2]

The $50 price quoted is not realistic, because you also state that he owed your father.

Rebuild the alt and starter in an hour? No way you could clean and perform all the needed fixes in this time. Cut the armatures?
Pre bed the brushes? Change or lube all bearings?

But you could do a FEW things in a hour.

 

[Silver_civic]

No, he just rebuilt the starter in one hr. He does have a lot of equipment to do this stuff, and he was a EMC(SW) for the NAVY. He's one of the best I have seen, not doubting anything you said mechtech2. The 50$ also is realistic also, as my friend has a older gentleman in New Castle that re-does these things and is prompt and professional on them, says the guy charges 40$ for a starter, 55$ a alternator or generator.


adam vasbinder