that's great John, that you made your starter work much better just with
taking it apart, cleaning things up etc, and putting it back together.

that's interesting about the Bendix.
You cleaned it internally ? ..
in my experience. ..
when a bendix doesn't work ..
which is usually it 'misses' ...like starter goes but it doesn't turn the
engine over..
replacing the bendix is the real fix.
I just did one on an otherwise good diesel vanagon starter..
and that starter sounds new now..
like noticeably less flywheel ring gear/bendix noise.
The part was inexpensive too....like $ 27 from a local electrical rebuilder.
Lot less than a new rebuilt Bosch starter, that's for sure.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Felder" <dieseldoofus@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 4:22 PM
Subject: Re: Starter Woes - '88GL

> John - in my opinion at least, the use of a relay just masks the real
> problem(s).  But, you may have a relay problem.  Scott's write-up on using
> the remote starter is a good tip, and you could bypass the relay as part
> of
> that.  When I had starter problems, I pulled it and thoroughly cleaned all
> the moving parts in the bendix, greased everything up and oiled bearings,
> etc., and polished the rotor contacts.  I did not need to replace the
> brushes as they were not worn that badly.  the real problem seemed to be
> old, caked grease in the bendix.
>
> It has been working extremely well for the year or so since I did that.
> YMMV
>
>
>
> --
> Alan Felder
> Austin TX
> 82 Diesel Westy
>
> On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 4:45 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>
>>  Thanks. I already have the relays.
>>
>>
>>