starter woes

So I went over the rebuild kit with my starter, but when I reassemble it, applying positive to the terminal and negative to the body, it doesn't crank. but sparks like a motherf**ker.

What did I do wrong when rebuilding my starter?

It's got new brushes, new o-rings, I sanded off all 30 years of grime around the post where brushes meet main.

I seem to be having trouble getting the starter to line up and come together solidly. behaves like something isn't lined up inside.

 

Nevermind, figured it out:

The housing was upside down, and I wasn't lining everything up, was rotating the brush plate just enough to where it was grounding against the chassis.

By reversing the housing with the magnets, and lining up the slots, it started cranking like hell.

Works like new!

Also: anyone who reads this, you need to apply the ground to the two holes in the base where the starter is bolted to the engine. that's where the ground goes.

 

Send that tip at the end to the SnoSherrif Admin dude to add to the XJ Tips at the top of the XJ Chat section.