I think the guy who started this thread (http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t27312.html) is a rebuilder, so you might want to send him a PM. Penetrant and patience is always a good idea. If the screw head is raised from the surface, as opposed to set into a recess, you might be able to grind or file off the head, finish the disassembly, and get a replacement screw from another unit.
One of the reasons I rarely tear down a starter or alternator is the lack of parts available on the retail market. A couple of years ago, I searched for a source for the contacts, and ended up going to my rebuilder and buying a set!
About the rebuilding business: it's a closed group. They have a newspaper their association publishes called the "exchange" run by an outfit in Kansas. I've written a couple of articles for them, mostly in answer to a very left-leaning columnist to discuss the changing economic climate for rebuilding. There has been an influx of inexpensive offshore auto parts that has made rebuilding a more difficult business in which to make any profit. Parts are sold by distributors who vette you as rebuilder and sell to you in quantity only. With the rise of the internet, you will no doubt see more parts available from individual rebuilders on ebay, but places like auto zone or pep boys just cant cover the variety of parts most of us would want to rebuild a unit.
I hope to get back to Calgary one day for the Stampede. I was there with the jet a few years back, but it was just an overnight in the winter.
One of the reasons I rarely tear down a starter or alternator is the lack of parts available on the retail market. A couple of years ago, I searched for a source for the contacts, and ended up going to my rebuilder and buying a set!
About the rebuilding business: it's a closed group. They have a newspaper their association publishes called the "exchange" run by an outfit in Kansas. I've written a couple of articles for them, mostly in answer to a very left-leaning columnist to discuss the changing economic climate for rebuilding. There has been an influx of inexpensive offshore auto parts that has made rebuilding a more difficult business in which to make any profit. Parts are sold by distributors who vette you as rebuilder and sell to you in quantity only. With the rise of the internet, you will no doubt see more parts available from individual rebuilders on ebay, but places like auto zone or pep boys just cant cover the variety of parts most of us would want to rebuild a unit.
I hope to get back to Calgary one day for the Stampede. I was there with the jet a few years back, but it was just an overnight in the winter.
