Starter Generator/Brushes HELP!

[Jay Miller]

Just installed new brushes and cleaned up armature last week and it solved starting issue I was having. Ran fine daily for about a week. It wouldn't fire up yesterday, only heard solenoid clicking so thought that may be issue. I tapped on starter w hammer and it fired up but not smoothly/strong. Started up great w/o hammering about 5 times after this incident. Now same thing again so I took starter off to look at armature.(see pics) Brushes cracks and chipped. One broke off. (see pics) So, is starter bad? Brushes junk? (I bought them from local golf cart place) Before I invest in new starter, can it be cleaned up and used? This may be obvious but before I replace, I thought I'd ask the pros. THANKS

[CP241]

I'd say it's time for a new one. That commutator is wiped out.

Get an OEM one from david hicks at revolution golf cars. The $100 aftermarket ones will eat themselves alive in a month, if that long.

[Fairtax4me]

Was the commutator that badly worn before installing the new brushes?

New brushes need a good smooth surface in order to seat properly, otherwise they burn and chip apart.

The comms on these have a lot of copper, but that one looks like it's worn past the point of cutting it down. Would probably take a shop two hours to cut that one properly.

[Jay Miller]

I swapped a different starter generator off of a spare club car XRT but it had different motor. Kawasaki 450 I think. It works as far as power but spins backwards! Can I use good commutator off that one and put in housing from other one? What makes it spin a particular direction?

[Jay Miller]

So I read on another thread on BGW that all I needed to do was change the A1 A2 wire on the side of the starter generator and that's what I did and it worked! Man I love this site! Ya'll are the best!