Venom brand starters

I've actually used about 8-10 of these on various customer skis over the last couple years without any issues. I had a need for another one so I opened it up to show you guys the guts.

Most importantly the rear section with 4 brushes. MANY of the cheap knockoffs only have 2 brushes. They work for a little while then crap out because they only have HALF the starting power they need.......they just burn up.

The armature looks just as beefy as the Mitsuba units, but these have a snap ring holding the thrust washers in place where the Mitsuba units have a built in raised boss right on the shaft. You can also see the magnets aren't shielded with a tin sleeve as the Mitsuba units but I don't think that amounts to a hill of beans.

The front cap still has a thrust washer setup though not quite as sophisticated as the Mitsuba. And they DO have a needle bearing inside where some of the cheapy knockoffs only have a bushing.

Anyway, they have been a decent option for me as far as new starters go.

Side note for 440/550 owners. The Venom HD starter version for the 550 (they also offer standard version) appears to be a direct copy of the old Goki starters. I've put a couple on and it's night and day difference on a high compression 550.

I pulled my old Goki off my 550 when I sold the engine, I still have it here, those Gokis starters were the bomb.