Hi Guys,

I've got a Powermaster 9400 starter I bought here from the classified section a couple years ago. I have a consistent problem with the brushes rusting etc, so I have to uninstall it, take it apart, and clean it all the time. Well, I'm tired of doing that. I've tried looking around but I'm not finding any rebuild kits for these starters. Does anyone know if there's a place to get things like replacement seals and brushes? Seems weird that an expensive starter like this wouldn't have more parts available for it other than pinion gears and solenoids. I can only assume that moisture is getting past one of the seals and pooling in the brush area. Or maybe it's the brush end of the starter that's leaking.

Or better yet, has anyone else had a problem like this? Do I just need to RTV the crap out of it?

Thanks!
Mike

 

I would contact them
https://www.powermastermotorsports.com/contact_a.html

 

I gave up on those starters. I just use an OEM mini starter on my BBC now. Still cranks over a high compression engine just fine.

 

I've thought about getting an OEM ministarter but my concern is whether or not it'll fit with my headers. If I could confirm whether or not it'd fit with the Hooker\Doug's longtubes without removing them (that side is a huge PITA to get in and out), that's probably what I'd do and save myself some headache.

 

I think the OEM mini starter fits behind my large tube headers better than the 9400. I still have to remove my front 2 tubes because one of the tubes runs directly under a starter bolt.

 

That might just be the route I go. Maybe I can snag one from the salvage yard for cheap to test fitment. I did send an email off to their customer support. We'll see if they get back to me at all.

 

I have that same model.... on a shelf. Sadly the Powermaster stuff is junk. Mine was getting weak and I took it apart and found pretty atrocious brush wear for being less than 2 years old. This is my second Powermaster starter- first one literally ate itself and was completely unrepairable. I've also gone through two of their alternators. Also complete crap.

I switched to a Meziere TS400DP. It's an ANIMAL. And I've switched to DC Power Engineering for my alternator needs.

GD

 

The brush wear on mine is pretty bad too, but I attribute that mostly to the channels that the brushes slide along getting rusty and not allowing the brushes to move properly. Or at least that's what I'd like to think.

 

The quality of their products is terrible. They are riding this "Made in USA" claim that speaks to many in our hot rod communities - but are using inferior Chinese sourced components and unskilled labor for the assembly.

The Meziere I switched to is an absolutely beautiful component. And it will start high compression engines of 700+ cubes. The thing cranks like it's high on PCP. Fitment was also superb.

GD

 

To be fair, though, the Meziere is about twice the price. The Powermaster is like $260 or somewhere around that .The Meziere is around $540

 

Yeah - but for twice the price, you get 10x the service life. I can't see the Powermaster 9400 lasting more than about 2 years in a daily driver. Mine lasted about that. Which is terrible for the price. That's about 1500 starts if using it twice a day. Say 2500 with start/stops other than work/home. If each start takes 3 seconds that's only about 125 minutes of operation total. So 2 hours of (extremely intermittent) run time before the brushes are shot. Seems like built in obsolescence to me.

Quality remains, long after the price is forgotten.

They are selling to the old codgers with hot-rods who want a "MADE IN USA" product.... they only take the car to shows. When it only has to start the car 25 times a year it will last the rest of their life.

GD

 

Makes me wonder how the Jegs\Summit mini-starters compare for their price. If I remember correctly, I think they're in the $120-$130 ballpark for their hitatchi style starters.

Still no response from Powermaster, although I'm not terribly surprised, I guess.