Replace starter brushes?

[boltact270]

Hey guys,
Starter brushes are bad in my 1980 gs 850. I can get a set for about $30. Or a used one for $100. Someone told me to replace the whole thing once the brushes go out. What should I do? Thanks for any help.

[Baatfam]

Personally? I would just replace the brushes...there is not much else to go wrong....

I did that on my 1100E last fall and the starter works great...

Who's to say the used starter won't need brushes...

[tom203]

Personally? I would just replace the brushes...there is not much else to go wrong....

I did that on my 1100E last fall and the starter works great...

Who's to say the used starter won't need brushes...

Maybe, but sometimes the commutator gets pretty worn down. Use starters are less than $50 on ebay- yeah, you take a chance, but I doubt the starter is the reason most of these bikes get idled and then stripped for parts.

[hampshirehog]

I'd always replace the brushes first. The commutators normally only need a clean.