At  11/18/2006 10:23 AM, Rob wrote:
>'87 Vanagon starter-
>The drive pinion would not retract, I took the solenoid off and I can
>slide the drive pinion in and out with my hand. I'm thinking this is
>not right... Should the drive pinion spring back into the starter?

I had a starter problem and took it into NW Foreign parts in Lacey,
the bendix was not going back to it's resting position and a new one
was going to cost a lot. I went to Absolutely German (wrecking yard)
in Seattle and got a used one for around $50, I kept the 'bad' one to
check out later (my round2it file), it's worth the $5 core value.
That was a few months back, since then there have been occasional
minor problems, yesterday I had to push start it (I have a jumper
wire to bypass the ignition switch, it didn't help). It started
normally when I got home, be a drag if I had to push start it from
the middle of an intersection. It seems I'd found my round2it so I'm
working on the old starter.

I took the starter as far apart as I could, that snap ring on the
shaft that limits the bendix travel got me, I broke the tit off my
snapring pliers on it. Looking at what I could see and the picture in
the Bentley I think the solenoid is what pulls the bendix back to
it's resting position.
The solenoid wants to pop back to its resting position after I moved
it by hand so I lubed the shaft the bendix rides on and put it back
together. Sitting on the bench (back together) it's now sliding back
like it should.
I put it back in the van and tried it out, works like it should.

Rob

becida@comcast.net
Western Washington State, USA