I think I need to strip my starter and possibly replace the brushes.

Its the Valeo D6RA138 starter on a 3dr 52reg 1.6 Stilo dynamic

The car starts just fine in the morning and again in the afternoon but will not start when the car has recently been driven. (the battery is new by the way)

When not starting: When I turn the key I hear the fuel pump spin and all the usuals sounds and lights pop up on the dash but when I turn the key further to crank the engine over i just hear a click and it wont spin the flywheel round at all.

It will start eventually with the help of a gentle (sometimes violent) tap with a hammer whilst a mate turns it over.

My question is - As I have time to take it apart, clean, grease, replace brushes and reassemble etc... what are my chances of success?

Thanks

might as well try it, i done the same thing when i had my mk1 punto, but that was also crashing into the flywheel and chewed the gears away on the flywheel,

Sounds like the solenoid is sticking or not making contact, might not be the starter motor bushes.

Strip and clean them both, solenoid and starter motor.

Easy way to check the starter motor bushes are ok, short out the terminals on the top of the solenoid, this will send power direct to the starter motor and it should try to turn the engine, if it does your solenoid is the problem, if doesn't it's worn starter motor bushes causing the problem.

Thanks Shadyman, I'll try that first.

Contact cleaner on the brush rotar works wonders too.

The reason people tap the starter, is because the brushes are sticking or the solenoid,
Strip the starter,
make sure all the brushes are moving in and out on their springs smoothly and that there is plenty of brush left,
if they don't blast them clean with brake/clutch cleaner then add a little WD40,
blast out all the parts with Brake cleaner until the black stops coming,
The shiny round part on the end of the winding shaft (commutator) clean that with Vinegar DO NOT clean with sand paper, reason being the brushes and Commutator bed in together, by sanding it you remove the contact surface, I say vinegar because it cleans brass up amazingly,
remove the plunger from the solenoid clean all the inside out and smooth off any pitting and rust, do not grease the plunger because dust gets in and clogs it up faster, use Graphite powder or just leave it bare.
Also make sure there is no play in the shaft bearings because the pull of the winding's can make the armature touch the winding's and stop/slow the starter power. Finally I've had cases of the live strap from the solenoid to the winding's come loose making them intermittent, tighten or re-solder.

Sounds like with a bit of elbow grease on Saturday I can avoid buying a new starter.

Thanks!

I Will update post and let you all know how I get on

Sorted! and for the cost of 2 x 99p cans of brake cleaner - bargain!

Unbolted the the two bolts and the two electrical connections and it popped straight out
took it apart (but didn't go as far as to open up the bit with the magnet thing in it)

It was very dirty inside and the copper solenoid-ey thing was caked in a gooey muck!

Next:
Airbag light
Rear bushes

Thanks everyone!