MTFCA Forum

When rebuilding a starter W/O having a pole piece spreader available (as in the service book fig.466) to seat the starter field/pole pieces, any suggestions?

Make 2 hard wood wedges (like door stops) so they would stick out both side of the case, round over the flat side somewhat match the curve in the shoe. After you get the pole shoe screws in as tight as you can, drive them in to expand the shoes. While you can only do 2 shoes at a time, it would work. We used a setup like that for a while till we got the tool. Don't try and make the slope too steep.

I saw a guy doing this on the forum years ago and it works pretty good. Install the starter fields in the case and tighten them up snugly with a large screwdriver that fits the screws. Mount a piece of pipe in a vise horozontality. I can’t remember exactly what size but I’m thinking it’s 1 1/2” but not sure but use one that’s close to the ID of the fields.
Simply mount the case on the pipe and use a rubber or wooden mallet to firmly seat the fields as you tighten the field screws. I’ve used this method on my starters and it works fine. Pretty simple using items around the shop.

I use an inexpensive exhaust tail pipe expander

Second the exhaust pipe expander. Just replace the bolt. Dan

Thank you, gentlemen

I use two C clamps, one at each end of the pole pieces so there is room to get to the new screw. Cheap and effective.

An expandable mandrel works.