i took my starter apat cause it had a hard time turning over. i cleaned the commuator and greased the starter. but now i'm having trouble geting the bottom part with the brushes back onto the commuator.

You and everyone else without the special tool to hold the brushed in place during assy.

If it's really old, there may be holes in the end cap through which you can insert tootpicks to hold the brushes out during assy. Else you've got to play the pocket-screwdriver game, getting the armature down one brush at a time. If you have the drive assy (gear) off, put the armature into the brush plate (end cap) first, (and this is the tricky part due the the magnet's pull), put the arm. with end cap up through the field housing while holding the armature seated in the end cap.
Paul

i accidentaly broke the white plastic part that holds the brushes in. is there a replacement piece for this? or would it be better to buy a new starter?

Paul
I did the toothpick thing on a stuck wiper motor once, put it back on the auto still wouldn't work so i bought a new one $187 and installed it, as I was returning the old motor as a core, as i started to leave the counter i noticed the toothpicks still sticking in the brushes, a $187 lesson. Have a good one. Geo

how do you remove the pin that holds on the starter gear? is there a trick to it?

A. Depending upon the brand and particular starter motor, a brush holder may be available. However, it also may be like $50 or $60. Need engine numbers to tell you more.

B. If there's a pin, not a ring holding the pinion gear on, then it should be a B&S starter, and yes you can drive it out with a drift or pin punch of at least a slightly smaller diameter than that of the pin. Support the armature tip on a vise and hammer it through. Helps to have two people - or use your leg to hold up the far end. If you clamp it tight rather than support it, you may oval the shaft which won't help! Some older starters had a nice round metal gear carrier, that could be clamps safely.

i fixed it. i super glued the end cap that holds the bushes then poked toothpicks through the holes to hold in the brushes and reassembled and it works again. now i have to figure out why my engine is surging. i took apart and cleaned the carb. when i hold the throttle staedy the engine runs smooth but when i let go the governor let the idle down then idles up over and over.

When your engine is surging do you notice any gas being sprayed out the top of the carb? Check for an air leak between surfaces or some obstruction in the carb.

Did it surge before you took the carb. apart, or after?

Justin3. What does it mean if it is spitting gas out the carb?

Thanks

it didn't run until i cleaned the carb. if i removed the mixture screw and sprayed some 3-in-one down it the idle woul smooth out. 3-in-one is all i had. i made sure the gaskets were clean and weren't torn. when i turn the mixture screw nothin changes. i can take the screw out and nothing changes. i can hold the throttle and the motor runs smooth, but once i let go the gocernor revs up the idles down over and over.

Justin3. What does it mean if it is spitting gas out the carb?

Thanks

If there is gas being spat back out the carb while it is hunting then that could indicate improper intake valve clearance or a damaged intake valve. If the Intake valve does not seat correctly then fuel will be blown back out on the compression stroke.

Thanks Justin3.

i checked the valve clearance and it is good. i didn't see if any gas was spitting back out of the carb yet. i think i might have an air leak in a gasket. thinkin of buying a rebuild kit. i'm planning on selling this. how much do you think a murray riding mower with a good running engine, mower deck, and new belts would be worth. and i pulled the tranny and filled it with gear fluid.