West Bend starter motors

[jpatti75]

I have posted a couple times now trying to track down information on the starter for my 1956 West Bend 25HP motor.  It has a one year, 6 volt, positive ground American Bosch starter — SMB-6A-53.  I have searched high and low with the help of others, but am unable to find replacement brushes for that model starter (they are relatively small brushes), and I can’t find a rebuild shop that wants to touch it .

I believe West Bend went to a 12 volt set up in 1957, and the 25HP motor was replaced by a 30HP.  I am trying to determine if any of the West Bend 12 volt starters from 1957 to about 1962 on comparable HP motors could possibly mount/work as a replacement on my ‘56 25HP motor.  While I have reached out to known Elgin/West Bend experts in the club, even they don’t have information on the bigger HP West Bends …. most of the information is on the little green Elgins.

So, before I throw in the towel, has anyone out there ever tried swapping starter motors between various West Bend / Elgin years and willing to share their experience?  Is there anyone making custom starter brushes to help me salvage my current starter?

Thanks!
JP

[dave-bernard]

how about fitting larger brushes by filling them down.

[jpatti75]

Hi Dave,

 

I have tried that once, but ran into issues with the wires being too close to the edge of the brush.  These American Bosch brushes are much smaller than what I have seen on Prestolite and Delco-Remy starters of that period.  I have been trying to find something close that I can file down, but no luck yet … and getting dimensions of those I find online has been hit or miss.

JP

[davidk]

I have a 1957 Elgin 30 that had the SMB-6A-53 starter motor.  I got one run out of it before the push button starter on the front of the cowling loosened up and fell back onto the powerhead and shorted out, cooking the starter beyond repair.  I took it to an automotive starter repair shop and the guy tried finding a kit or a replacement but he came up dry.  He kept the starter to keep looking and couldn’t find one.  I got distracted and never went back for the carcass.  I’ve kept this photo on my desktop to rekindle my search from time to time.  I’ll be very interested in learning what you find out.

My main point here is that I think they continued with that starter in 1957.

https://www.aomci.org/forums/topic/removing-tiller-1957-elgin-30/

 

[jpatti75]

Thanks, David. Good to know it was still in use in ‘57.

By ‘58 the horsepower was upped again to 35, but perhaps there was also an e-start on a smaller HP motor in their line, too?  I have been searching for months and have had no luck finding any information.  Information on American Bosch in general is almost non-existent to include any cross reference to possible United Technologies replacements.  The lack of information is discouraging, but maybe I’ll stumble upon a solution at some point.

JP

 

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