Starter bush question

ratty 63 Custom Title Time!

1,083 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 8 Mar 2010, 10:13 pm

#766628

Hi Volks,

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to check the condition of the starter bush (in the bellhousing) in a Beetle without having to remove the engine?

I'm having all sorts of problems getting the starter in my '63 bug (Ratty) to spin the engine over fast enough to start....

R 🙂

40hp, 6V and ...er... slowly making improvements 😂

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Founding member of the Gold Coast Dub Club Inc. 🙂

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 8 Mar 2010, 10:41 pm

#766637

Short answer, pull the starter and have a look. You may need to clean it up a bit but you will usually see if the hole in the middle is worn out of round.

Best method is measure or check with a dummy shaft. Can be replaced with the right tools.

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 8 Mar 2010, 11:33 pm

#766643

Hi

They are pretty cheap to buy.

With engine in, find a suitable tap that will tap a thread in the bush and then just keep winding the tap in, when the tap bottoms out on the engine case it will push the bushing out.

The you need to find a suitable drift to knock the new one in with.

Steve

ratty 63 Custom Title Time!

1,083 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 10 Mar 2010, 12:50 pm

#766884

Hi all,

I did as you both suggested - I went and purchased a new bush from my local supplier, then managed to find a piece of rod at the local hardware that was a tight fit in the new bush. I used the rod to test the old bush - it was sooo loose that it rattled!

15 mins mucking about with a couple of taps (the first one I used wasn't quite big enough to have enough 'bite' in the old bush) and the old one was out, the new one installed, starter refitted and the battery re-connected.

Starter now spins the engine over easily and it now starts almost instantly every time... like it should!

Thanks for your help guys - much appreciated.

R 🙂

.... just realised that the starter began giving me grief at Valla in 08... no point in rushing into repairs is there? :o 😂

40hp, 6V and ...er... slowly making improvements 😂

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Founding member of the Gold Coast Dub Club Inc. 🙂