Yea, rebuilding is pretty cheap and provides good durability should you do it correctly. I got nearly all the moving parts (needle bearings, bushing, brushplate etc.) for like 120. Make sure you replace the seals for the case, dont reuse the old ones or it will leak. Considering that most OEM starters last like 13 years, consider sealing it with JB-weld, the next one I do I'm doing in that, as I'll probably not need to open it again (thats if I replace all moving parts).
John knows what to do, but if your not absolutely going to rebuild it, dont open it! JSS has the special gaskets required for the cases that has sqaures as a cross-section, rather then the circle for a cross-section of most gaskets and o-rings.
Like Matt said, paint it after all said and done, I also put a bunch of gasket sealer on the gaskets when I sealed it up, then painted it with Rustoleum to give it an even stronger seal. Works great! Has held up to rough starting for about a season.
When the starters (which are brushed motors) get old, the brushes are worn to the bone, mine wore worn to the point that two were completely gone, and the case was full of black brush dust (normal). I just cleaned it all up, sanded the commutater end (vertically not horizontally) and then put it back together. Depressing all four brushes at the same time to fit it on the commutater is a little challenging, you might need another person to help ya.
Bendixes cant be rebuilt by my understanding, but I wouldnt leave it laying around, I have an extra, and keep it submerged in motor oil.
