so i put in a new starter today. a common easy thing to do. but when i pulled the old one out the gear and surrounding housing was covered in what i can only describe as black soot....odd...so....any ideas what could cause that? i have changed a starter or two in my life and have never seen anything like that before. BTW its a 86 gl d/r 5spd:confused:

Dust from the clutch disc most llikely. I've seen it a few times.

Dust from the clutch disc most llikely. I've seen it a few times.

 

Ditto. Its a fairly common occurance, Long as the new one works dont worry about it.

My first impression is +1 for clutch dust.

Or it could be slimy from oil mixing with clutch dust. The oil would come from the rear main seal.

Dust from the clutch disc most llikely. I've seen it a few times.

 

seen it as well

it wiped off fairly easy so I'm guessing that its just clutch dust and after 190,000 miles i guess it should have some clutch dust on it. come to think of it this is the first starter Ive changed on a manual.

Aww man, somehow Tinkerbell got into the bellhousing!

no amount of clapin bringen her back:lol: