maxstu wrote:Good reading and thanks. Yes lve read brushes act as earth. As does small end cap held by two screws.
Also all outer body connections must be free of corrosion too. In this case, front part, centre case and end case with small cap.
Those screws are screwed into the body on the solenoid, no ?.......... so body should be earth
maxstu wrote: Lastly the wire from solenoid to starter should be isolated by a rubber grommet in the casing? The one on this starter is a bit manky.
Manky wires are the common fault mode for slow starters as they cannot carry the current
Manky insulation = current can flow to the body of the starter instead of to the motor ? If so much sparkiness can ensue, as you are effectively creating a battery short ?
I think this is your problem