starter problem

Anyone bought a 12V starter for a TO30 off this site? Has anyone had issues with them? Apparently they get them from TISCO which I'm assuming buys it from China. I bought one this past summer and I am having to hit it with a rubber mallet occasionally to get it to engage. This company is refusing to refund me my money so I'm curious if anyone else out there has had issues with these or not.

TO-20 starter problems below outline your possible solutions. Read starter brushes/holders

Shouldn't be a problem with brushes etc if new. But I bought a starter several years ago for my 4000 Ford and it never really turned like it should. I thought it was my battery ($100 +) bought a new battery and still same. After not being happy with the way it started I bought a starter from Sparex and it turned twice as fast as old. After this I learned that there was a batch of starters in the time I bought mine that were bad. They were Tisco. This may be your problem if your battery, cables etc are OK.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I do not blame the Chinese or any other country for making anything not quite right. I put the total blame on the person ordering the item from any other country or even the U.S.. If the person ordering anything does not follow through when they get the product they ordered and check it thoroughly for all spec's it is totally their fault at that point. If they check the items and find things wrong they have the option to send it back to the manufacturer and tell them to either fix them to correct specs or give my money back. Only after enough people that get inferior products force the seller to give them their money back and then that seller has to return to the person they bought it from will products made anywhere start to be made correctly. I will say I would like to see things made in the USA.

Well after nnalert becomes President we will get all USA. At least that is what he said. LOL Then the starter will last for 50 yrs like the original.

Especially going to be problematic if new. Old is worn and moves around. New is over sized and tend to stick especially if whacking makes it work...

Look at the starter motor teeth and examine them for burrs on the leading edge . There is sometimes a slight ridge left from the machining process that interferes with the engagement . A quick run over with a file will sort that out .Otherwise look at the starter motor body and how it sits in its alloy front mounting flange . This can be sitting cocked due to a poorly machined step in the flange which will also cause difficult engagement . Try loosening the mount bolts a little , just finger tight will do . If this improves the operation it will confirm the above .

All,
I'm battling a similar problem. Original starter died shortly after 12v conversion. Order a replacement from -bay. It died within a week. Ordered a 12v version from this site. It also died within a couple of weeks. Contacted this sites seller, and he said they would be sending me a replacement. Can't ask for anything better than that. Many thanks to James for excellent customer support! Took the original starter apart, and found the spade connector that attaches to one of the brushes had broken (mechanical failure). Will be getting a replacement connector for it in the near future. Took the new 6v starter I purchased ( that died) apart, and found the brushes installed crooked, and two of the brush holders hanging up. A little time at the lathe to clean up the commutator, a bit of flat filing to get the brushes back into at least serviceable shape, and a bit of tweaking of the brush holders, an extended run-in on the bench to make sure the brushes were properly seated, and back into the tractor it went. Seems to be working good now. However, when the new 12v starter arrives, I'll install it. Hopefully that will be the end my troubles.

Mitch