76 bus, new starter noise

[cellobus1]

Hi, all, many questions these days.

Just recently, my (stock) starter has been making a strange new noise. It starts to crank normally, then about 4 or 5 revs in, it starts screeching and the speed of the starter motor decreases. It starts the car, but the noise just before it does sounds more like a motorcycle starter than a VW. Any idears?

Thanks,
Andy
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1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive

[Abscate]

I would get it out and bench test it pronto.

If it’s mucking up the flywheel or pilot, an early fix will be a lot cheaper
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[Tcash]

Starter

As posted, time for a new starter pinion shaft bushing.
Or a rebuilt starter and new bushing.

Good luck
Tcash

[SGKent]

new bushing - unless one has a spare bell housing, or starter jig one cannot bench test a bus starter. It needs the bushing in the bell housing to hold the armature centered.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[cellobus1]

I heard that you can't just hook a battery up to a loose starter, just didn't know why. New bushing seems to be a good idea anyway. This might be the original starter. Thanks, guys!
_________________
1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive

[cellobus1]

I finally got some time where my hands didn't have to be clean and got under the bus. I had suspected a loose, unlubricated bushing heated up and came loose, but this is what I found. The remaining screw seemed tight enough. Also including a picture of the pilot shaft for your amusement or scrutiny.

Thanks,

Andy

_________________
1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive

[Abscate]

Starter jig...wood with hole in it in vice lubricated by spit.

Good for up to e^pi seconds, shown by Goldbach in a recent paper
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[SGKent]

that broken bolt would let the armature move around. Might be able to pull the other one, take it to an electric shop and see if they have a matching one.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[cellobus1]

It wasn't broken it was just missing. I brought it to my friend Jim Keck today. He had such a bolt laying around in his shop. Screwed it in to the starter and he tried it out on a spare bellhousing he had. It seemed to work ok, but that was with no load. I may be able to install it tomorrow for the real test.
_________________
1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive

[cellobus1]

Okay, everything's back in and the problem seems to have gone away. The starter seems to spin faster now, too. If it comes back, then I'll have to rebuild my "old growth" starter.

Thanks for the help!

Andy
_________________
1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive

[SGKent]

that was it. The starter housing was twisting with one bolt gone.
_________________
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin