40 year old Perkins Starter, rebuild just for maintenance?

[WestCoastMcgyver]

Starter has no known issues but as part of a preventative maintenance move would having it rebuilt be warranted? 40 year old 6354M with 5000hrs. I carry a spare alternator but a spare starter cost is very high and thought a rebuild would be more cost effective. Thoughts?

 

[Mako]

How about just buy a used or salvaged unit online? Install it to make sure it works and make sure you understand how to install it. Then remove it, oil it and stick it in the cabinet.

However, from a realistic point of view, depending on where you cruise you could get an annual subscription to TowBoatUS or similar. Consider that your backup, your get-home engine.

 

[PhilPB]

I had mine rebuilt, good as new, T6.354 engine. I don't remember the price but I think it was less than $200.

 

[tiltrider1]

I am a firm believer in if it ain’t broke don’t tinker with it. I think the idea of a used but tested spare is the safest route.

In Aviation we are required to overhaul engines on a fixed hourly schedule. More than once I removed a good working engine only to have it fail with in 4 hours of being freshly overhauled.

 

[jleonard]

Id get it rebuilt. Not expensive and will give you another 40 years without worry.