$100 junkyard starter or $60 ebay?

[jml74]

The starter on my GL1000 gave up and I can't resurrect it. I found a Caltrics on eBay for $60, or a junkyard 30 minutes away has one that they want $100 for (assumed OEM, but I guess not guaranteed until I lay eyes on it). I know the eBay models can have crappy planetary gears, so if I went with the $60 version I'd swap them out with the gears from my dead starter. Thoughts? I'm kind of leaning toward the junkyard model once it's verified functional. I know there are more expensive (and presumably better) starters on eBay, but I'm already at the upper limit of my budget.

[Whiskerfish]

Personally I would probably do the junkyard. Take the top off clean and re-grease the planetary and spray out the brushes area with a solvent and put it in.

[cfairweather]

Buying the new $60.00 eBay starter would be a total waste of money, as the gears will break. Complete junk. I agree with Whiskerfish. Buy the used starter and use moly grease on the gears.

[jml74]

I went with the junkyard model; it's in much better shape than my old one, except the boot on the power wire had deteriorated and the nut and stud are completely rusted and seized (which is probably why they gave me the wire with it).

[cfairweather]

Be very careful removing the nut. Always back it up using a very thin 10mm wrench on the base nut or you will damage the starter internally. It will twist the conductor inside.

[1983lux]

If you don't have a thin 10mm box wrench, can always use a grinder on a regular one to make it thin. I've got a special one i keep around for this purpose. Give it a good soak with penetrating fluid before you attempt it perhaps.