Have some starter issues on a '74 1300 beetle (new 1600). I have removed the starter and there is a lot of play in the shaft. I am about to dismantle it to get to the offending bushes. Two things.

Any advice on things to do or pitfalls to avoid in this seemingly simple procedure.

Second, is there an easy way to remove the bush in the gearbox while the engine is still attached? (Please someone answer yes)

Thanks in advance.

YES you screw a 10mm tap into the starter bush in threw the hole where the starter goes in(BEING CAREFUL NOT TO DROP IT) or you will be pulling the motor out to retreve the tap, then as you wind the tap in it will bottom out then continue turning the tap and it will pull the bush out. Then make sure you oil the new bush before fitting,now the way to do this is toput the bush on your thumb then fill the centre FULL off oil then push your index finger against the other end and apply some pressure, and because the bushs are pourus oil should ouse out threw the pours, if this does not happen on the first attempt repeat the procese to it does!!!!. Last of all carefully fit the new bush being carefull not to damage it as you fit it. Now this discription is if everything is all right for any more quiries give me a ring on 0411556744 Andrew

LittleRalph,

That's the story I've been told also, but it still sounds hard!

What I'll offer is, if you can get it to my place (Everton Hills) on the weekend, you can use my vehicle hoist, may be a bit easier???

Maybe Andrew will offer to show you how it's done?

Its a hell of a lot easier with the engine out. You tap it out, and tap in the new one, takes 5 mins. And u can do other stuff like check your release bearing, clutch, endplay and anything else while u have the engine out

sounds like fun, think i will be doing the same this weekend.

Well Che Castro , if you can get the motor out and in ,in under an hour be my guest but you can ask any VW mechanic and you will get a very similar method( AND NO I AM NOT A VW MECHANIC) but yes i am an enthuiust that does not spend money on an unnessasary engine extraction. Thank's for the offer of the hoist time old dubber but sorry i will be away, but Little Ralph i would take advantage of this offer as it will make it easier for the extraction and replacement of the bush.

Thanks for such quick help guys. I'd love to take up the offer of the hoist time but the weekend is pretty full. I'm trying to rearrange the schedule a little to fit in some time to scratch myself but it doesn't look promising. I have a set of ramps that provides just enough room for a good amount of arm movement.

I'll give the tap idea a run. Sounds pretty promising.

My first love, oops car, was a baja. I would have dropped the engine out of that one for this process but not with all the bodywork still attached. It's only been back in for about 15K since it grew up to a 1600.

I'll post back with success or otherwise in case someone picks up this thread some other time for info sake.

Hi

If you use a semi auto starter they are self supporting and dont need a bush, they also sound cool.

1302Steve

Hehe good suggestion steve

I'm an enthusiast too! It's not that hard to pull the engine, when i first did it, it took a couple of hours. I can do it a lot quicker than that now. It's a lot easier than you think, and may take less time than tapping a thread and pulling it out. I'm guessing it will be difficult to tap a good thread, and yank out the bushing from underneath with the engine in, there isn't much space to work in.

Just to keep you posted if you're following the thread.

Pulled out the started and stripped it down. The bushes weren't that bad after all. I still intend to replace but am tossing up the options.

I found that the brushes were bearly making contact with the commutator so replaced them. This has got me going again but the starter still turns over but slowly. This is how it was when it started dying. There are no obvious marks on the centre shaft or windings where there was contact made due to worn bushes.

My next investigation is the current being drawn and poor electrical connections. I'm just on the scrounge for an inductive ammeter that can give me the readings on current drawn during starting. Finding the time is more difficult than finding the tools at present so I'll just parking on hills in the mean time.

BTW where would I get a semi auto starter and how much would it be? (And how does it sound anyway?)

Hi

Try a wrecker for a semi auto starter, you have to pay around 50 - 150. They sound like an air starter in a semi, a bit quieter though and they turn the motor much faster.

1302Steve