When the brushes and commutator get bad enough, even the relay
can't help you.  The solenoid doesn't activate because its
ground path is thru the starter circuit.
  It might be worth calling around to see if you can get it
rebuilt.  I've had one done for $75 and another for $125 when
they had to replace the field coils.

Be sure your relay is activating.  If not, the problem may be
back at the ignition switch.

Larry A.

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 11:28:23 EDT
>From: Andy Morse <AudibleA@AOL.COM>
>Subject: New Starter time?
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>My 86 westy starter has been acting up, I did the whack it
with a hammer
>trick that worked well for a while as did on my 71, then I
installed a starter
>relay that worked about 10 times (a few times I would turn
the key and there
>would be a 2 second pause before it would turn over) and now
nothing but juice at
>the starter, whackings not even working (no jokes please) So
I'm figuring it's
>time to get a starter.
>
>Thanks, Andy