FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

What is the correct colour for a1956 Bosch Starter motor?

I believe it is Bosch blue, but there are a lot of black starter motors around. Whether or not the black starters are all reconditioned seems implausible. I've seen a lot of low mileage cars with either blue or black.
Ken

My car is pretty original , after I washed all the grime, oil and dust of my engine I found the starter motor to be bosch blue in colour. I purchased another grey motor complete and after a clean up the starter was bosch blue in colour. I don't know the answer but I'm leaving mine the colour I found them in.

Rod

Hmm.  FB/EKs certainly had Bosch blue four-brush starters and (if Bosch) voltage regulator covers.  FJs had orange 6-V two-brush starters, generators and voltage regulator covers.  I'm not so certain about FE/FC though, but my hunch is that the 12-V, two-brush Bosch starter would have been black, as were the FE/FC Bosch voltage regulator covers.  The paint colour would have been the way to tell a two-brush 12-V starter from its four-brush sibling in the field.

Of course, Rod, the only way to be sure is to pull the starter motor out, pop the commutator cover off, and see whether it's a two- or four-brush starter motor.  I think it would have been a common thing to replace a two-brush starter motor with a four-brush one.

Ken: Did four-brush starter motors find their way onto late production FCs, like paper-element air cleaners did?

Rob

My late 59 FC had an original 2 brush starter which was black along with the cover on the regulator. I fitted a 4 brush starter which was originally blue.  Another difference in the starters is in the end cap.  The black one has a very square end where the 4 brush cap is slightly rounded where the vertical meets the horizontal.

Keith

My late '59 sedan has a blue 4 brush starter which I thought was original (not so sure now). The regulator cover appears to have always been black.

Mine is an October 59 sedan with the paper air filter, perhaps there was a change in starter motors as well?

Mine has the paper air filter also

No evidence in the parts book that the 4 brush starter began in the FC although it is highly likely that very late FC's changed over before the new model came down the production line.

Ken

Found this image on Facebook, it seems to illustrate why both blue and black starters and generators are possible
(https://s8.postimg.org/ju42hu88x/image.jpg) ($2)

Ken

Did anyone notice the colour of the heads on those grey motors was a rust red like the starter motors?

Rod.