Lakota,
Im off from work next Thursday and Friday. I could ride down and help you. I am no mechanic but I can push, steer, or drive. Better yet I can help you stare at it.

 

Tacson you know I do a lot of that staring! My wife said I am trying to will it to look like what I want! Actually she is right! Thank you for the offer of help. I am actually taking vacation next week and will try to get the 53 body parts in primer before it gets to cold to paint. My brushes for the starter will be here in the morning and I hope that fixes the 54 so I can drive it out and get the shop ready to paint the 53. Your more than welcome to come have a cold one and watch paint dry!

 

my 6v generator was giving me fits awhile back. It looked like you described your starter inside, basically looked like a big lump of dirt and goo. I cleaned it all up, put in new brushes, shined up the contacts, etc and it still wouldn't generate. Took it to the local shop and they wound up re-cutting the contacts on the armature. That was all it took, undercutting the area between the armature contacts where the brushes ride. They also put in the new bearings from the rebuild kit I'd bought while they were at it. Took all of 20 minutes and $50. Now she generates like a dream. They even painted the case in the deal for free.

 

Whoo Hoo! Thanks guys! I bought some brushes for the starter yesterday and installed them and the beast started right up! I would never have thought it was brushes in the starter!
DumbLuck, after seeing the starter I think I'll do the same thing to my generator. Thanks again guys! FTE members are the best!