[chap52]

Anthony,
If it didn't pull apart far enough on removal for the brushes to slide off the shaft, your good. Test: if the pieces slide back together without a gap the brushes are still correctly seated.
No big deal if the come off and actually while you have it off I would check the brushes for wear. With a little wiggling and a long pick you can get them back in place. As I remember you can set the brushes behind the brush holders, slip the case together and move the brushes into their holders with a small screwdriver through the inspection hole.
Don't forget that little bracket piece between the starter and a pan bolt. Don't ask! Chap