On 3/15/05 11:39, "Michael Knight" <vwdormer@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Reading the recent thread about the cables and such reminded me. I pulled
> the wires off the starter and cleaned them up really well and pulled the
> starter and did the same. This was all related to an occasional starting
> problem I was having. Every so often I was getting in and turning the key
> and nothing or turning the key holding and after 5-10 seconds she would
> crank. When I pulled the starter I found some narly looking teeth on the
> gear. Still funtional but definately not your ordinary wear and tear.
> Looking into the bellhousing from the starter hole I found 2 small ball
> bearings about 1/4" each. They were sitting just inside the lip where the
> starter goes. I tested the starter outside of the Van and all seemed well. I
> reinstalled everything and have had no problems since. But I am still
> wondering about the ball bearings I found. I can't help thinking that maybe
> they came from the catostophic destruction of the throwout bearing that the
> PO told me about. He said it was in pieces when he pulled the engine. Just a
> thought.
> 
> 
> 
> Michael Knight
> '77 Westy Deluxe, "el Verde"
> '85 Vanagon GL, nameless
> http://photos.yahoo.com/electrictrain@sbcglobal.net
> 
> 
Yes they could be left over.  He should have pulled the flywheel to check
for debris left over that could have gotten behind it.  I had a similar on a
bug years ago.  I actually fragged the bendix teeth on the starter.  Turns
out a piece was left inside that I missed.  It worked down between the
flywheel and the case after a couple days and locked up the engine when I
was trying to start.  I was all ready to tear that engine down because it
looked like a locked up engine and about died laughing when I saw what
caused it.
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jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
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