Ok new problem.The guy rebuilding the starter found a hairline crack in the back cap bushing/bearing and some of the material fell out. It appears to be babbit but I'm not sure. I looked in the vendors catalogs and can't find them any where. I took my end cap off my starter and the material looks the same although not cracked any advice on how to fix this problem short of buying a new starter. Will the bearing from a generator work? I need some advice fast. I was hoping to get this done by next week. HELP!

Read your e-mail - possible HELP! there.

John
Chaffins garage sell a neat kit that includes a 6201 1/2 id sealed bearing and spacer which goes over the end of the artamture shaft. This kit entirely replaces the babbitt bushing in the brushplate cap. Just remove the original babbitt bushing (you may have to drill small holes in it to get it out) and install the bearing, install the spacer and your done. If you get into trouble let me know I installed six of them yesterday.
Ron the Coilman

John
Here is a photo of the "Kit".

I buy 6201 1/2 id sealed bearings in bulk and make the spacers myself from bushing material cut to length. You can too. I do not suggest using standard 6201 generator bearing because you have to turn down the end of the armature and that is not required if you use the 1/2 id bearing.
Ron the Coilman

Ron,

Where might one find 6201 bearings with 1/2" ID?

Thanks,
Seth

Seth
These are commonly available from bearing supply houses. Just specify 6201 2RS 1/2 ID C3 grade and they will understand exactly what you want. 2RS is the shielding specification (double sealed) and C3 specifies "motor grade".
Just google "6201 ball bearing" and sort till you find 6201's with 2RS, 1/2 ID and C3.
Good luck
Ron the Coilman

Thanks Ron!

C3 designates class of fit - the radial clearance between the balls and the raceways. C3 is standard, C4 is more clearance, needed where press fits might take away all the running clearance.

Grade is determined by the ABEC number - any grade should be fine for the starter motor, I'd think.

I really wasn't asking in the interest of rebuilding starters - I believe I'd leave that up to the experts. My attempts at rebuilding the starter could be considered "high stakes poker".:-) I just wasn't aware that this oddball size existed. Thanks again!

Seth

Thanks to all for your help. This has become a labor of love and this afternoon the strater fired up. I can't wait to get this installed in my friends T model and get him back on the road again. All of you are the best. Thanks ever so much. John T