Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
1978 vw starter problem
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 9:33 pm    Post subject: 1978 vw starter problem Reply with quote

HI replaced the starter in my 1978 vw bus.. When I turn key sounds like starter has power but won't engage to turn engine over.. Everything has power to it.. Any suggestion ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
busdaddy
Samba Member


Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51057
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
busdaddy is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome,
When you had the 2 side by side did you happen to compare the gears on them?, what was the number on the one you put in? SR87? or SR15?
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi.. The new one was the same as old.. Can't recall # on it. Brought old one in when got new one..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
aeromech
Samba Member


Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16922
Location: San Diego, California
aeromech is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds to me like your original problem wasn't a bad starter. So now you need to find the real problem. Might be a bad ground wire or a bad ignition switch. You need to work the problem.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 10:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's what I suspected. Either ignition switch or bad ground.. Problem came on all of a sudden. No problems prior.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Wildthings
Samba Member


Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50254

Wildthings is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 3:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So the starter sounds like it is spinning when you turn the key? or does it just make a big clunk? or does it not do anything at all?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 6:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The starter sounds like it's spinning. I hear a humming like sound. It's like the Bendix isn't engaging .
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Wildthings
Samba Member


Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50254

Wildthings is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stanncatt wrote:
The starter sounds like it's spinning. I hear a humming like sound. It's like the Bendix isn't engaging .


I would pull the starter and make sure that the drive is the same length as your original. Since you have the later 091 bellhousing you need the starter with the longer drive.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
busdaddy
Samba Member


Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51057
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
busdaddy is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

From another thread, look closely at the gears.

busdaddy wrote:
X2, I've always found the difference easy to spot,
SR87:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


SR15:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It was doing this with the old starter I replaced in it. The new starter looked exactly like original. I assumed it was the starter until installing new one and having same problem. So I'm guessing it might be something else. At the time this happened I was replacing the fan hub on end of crankshaft for fan and pully. Turned over fine then replaced it and this happened so I replaced starter. Could these two be related?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Tcash
Samba Member


Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Tcash is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stanncatt wrote:

At the time this happened I was replacing the fan hub on end of crankshaft for fan and pully. Turned over fine then replaced it and this happened so I replaced starter. Could these two be related?
I would not think so, unless your ground cable from the battery is connected to the fan housing. I would think because it happened all the sudden. It is a bad connection or dead battery.

HI replaced the starter in my 1978 vw bus.
Did you replace the starter bushing? You need to.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5526134#5526134

I hear a humming like sound.
Humming sound Starter is not turning. Whirling sound Starter is turning.
Time to disconnect and charge the battery and clean every cable connection and the ground strap on the front of the transmission between the trans and chassis (frame).

It's like the Bendix isn't engaging.
Bushing is bad. Or the teeth on the flywheel are ground down.
The engine comes to rest in the same few spots when you shut it off. So the starter bendix is always hitting in those same spots.
In order to inspect the flywheel starter teeth. Remove the starter and while someone is turning the engine over. Inspect the flywheel teeth with a flashlight.


Good luck
Tcash
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I guess it is a whirling sound not humming.. Did change bushing when replaced starter. Battery is about one year old..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
aeromech
Samba Member


Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16922
Location: San Diego, California
aeromech is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have you slid under and put a screw driver against the solenoid contacts to see if it spins correctly that way?
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
busdaddy
Samba Member


Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51057
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
busdaddy is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If we are discussing a fuel injected bus the humming/whirring could be the fuel pump, turn the key on and depress the flap down in the AFM through the rectangular hole beneath the airfilter and see if you hear the same noise.
If it is the the same sound starter is doing nothing at all and is likely fauly or jammed in the bushing.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
SGKent Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
SGKent is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you have a volt meter?

Is this a 4 speed manual or is it an automatic transmission bus?
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 11:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

4 speed manual.. it seems like everything working right just not engageing flywheel
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
SGKent Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
SGKent is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stanncatt wrote:
4 speed manual.. it seems like everything working right just not engageing flywheel


most likely you have the wrong starter. Go back where you got it and compare closely.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It may be A stupid question but how do I know what the right one is when I turned in the core of the other one. ? It's 78 four speed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
busdaddy
Samba Member


Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51057
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
busdaddy is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stanncatt wrote:
It may be A stupid question but how do I know what the right one is when I turned in the core of the other one. ? It's 78 four speed.

The gear has to look like this one, notice the smooth area on the side compared to the early one with the gold colored bendix in the lower pic I posted above:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Stanncatt
Samba Member


Joined: September 05, 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Minnesota
Stanncatt is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2015 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya I have the other one w the gold.. So that is problem I'm guessing ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.