SR13X or SR14X Starter

[DeVertible]

I am choosing to install a 1600 with 12 volt 200 mm flywheel in my 1965 Convertible while retaining the 6 volt electrical. I understand that the sr13x or sr14x will enable me to do that successfully. Any preference between the two Starters or unforeseen problems that I may be unaware? I know have to grind the transaxle and change the starter bushing. Beyond that ?????

[HRVW]

Has been decades since I've seen a SR13 or SR14X starter.

Since you want to go with a 6V system why not use a T2 1966 200mm 6V flywheel. They are out there and easy to use.

I used those in my early days when building 40HP big bore engines.

(VW mechanic/engine builder/parts house owner of 28yrs)

[DeVertible]

Good question. The Flywheel and clutch are balanced, resurfaced, new and installed. There are a couple of the starters I speak of available. Any idea which is the better choice? Thanks

[HRVW]

Those early 6V starters had a specific usage as I recall. Don't have my old catalog for reference anymore (gave it to my oldest son and it's probably in the trash by now (stupid me).

As I recall they had a longer housing for added torque etc.

Based upon my past experience would go the route I mentioned....besides they have a gear for the 6V ring gear and your wanting the 12V ring gear.

6V starter for 180mm flywheel= 109 teeth
12V starter for 200mm flywheel =130 teeth

The two do not intermesh.

[DeVertible]

My understanding is that these starters are an odd duck used in 66 ghias that are 6 volt with 130 tooth flywheel meshing gears. I am pretty sure of that.

[DeVertible]

My understanding is that these starters are an odd duck used in 66 ghias that are 6 volt with 130 tooth flywheel meshing gears. I am pretty sure of that.

[glutamodo]

Yes that's right. Karmann Ghia models got the bigger 130 tooth flywheel ahead of the other models, on 13th of November 1965.

If you correlate that against a Bosch catalog listing from Jan, 1971:

...it looks like they used the "automatic" self supporting starter for about 3-4 months, then the bushing-supported SR14X after that.

Although, it's hard to say why they did that, because in the Electrical section of Progressive Refinements, they say this:

Which would seem to indicate that the SR14X would have been able to be used immediately. I used to think that they used the SR13X while they made up their mind on how they'd set up the 12V starter bushing... but that last Progressive Refinements entry doesn't match that theory.

The VW Parts Book from the end of 1971 doesn't help much either, it only shows one Ghia starter after that Nov 65 change:

With the next Ghia listing coming for model year 1967:

And my Bosch parts book from 1971 cross reference chart doesn't include 141 part numbers.

So exactly why they had a 6V self supporting starter I don't know.

I do know that SR13s exist though, I own one, and they have the gear for the 130 tooth flywheel.

-Andy

[DeVertible]

Thanks Andy. One final confirmation and then I can draw closer here: Either the 13 or 14 will marry with the 130 tooth wheel and turn using 6 volts using the 12 volt bushing

[DeVertible]

Wait ! The 13 requires no bushing