I'm rebuilding a Delco MT40 (24v) starter and there are three oilite bushings in the starter. There are three oil wicks specified in the parts diagram and there are provisions in the housings for the wicks. However, the bushings that I removed from my starter didn't have any holes to allow the oil to enter the bushing. Should there be holes in the bushings to allow the wicked oil to lubricate into the bushing or will the oil "seep" into the oilite bushing from the outside without a hole?
Normally those Oilite bushings are soaked in oil before installation. Oilite bushings are nothing more than a bunch of fused shavings so no those don't need to be drilled.
Are the wicks necessary with the oilite bushings? Were the wicks included in the original design of the starter because the original bushings were not oilite bushings?
Cotton will do the same thing for a wick, and the fact it is a MT40 it has the chance the bushings have already been changed once at least. And could have had solid bushings installed.