Whoops sent to soon without trimming the post sorry admins. I guess 
what I was looking for was a good reason not to replace the solenoid. I 
wanted a bit of feedback before buying the part listed on the Samba 
(solenoid and starter together that is either new or most likely 
rebuilt). Looking at Bentley's starter and electrical diagram renforces 
that there must be something mechanically that is also causing 
something electrical going on with the starter solenoid that is keeping 
the starter running constantly albeit, running very well. I think I'll 
go ahead and order the part off the Samba. I'll try to perform an 
autopsy on the solenoid assuming this fixes the problem since this is 
bound to happen to someone elses vanagon sometime in the future. My 
starter was rebuilt about 60K ago by a reputable rebuilder but I would 
assume that nothing was done with the solenoid. I'm not sure how much 
rebuilding can be done to a solenoid anyway. Thanks for the feedback.

David Clarkson
90 Westy w/ man. tranny-now at least starting to get somewhere in my 
diagnosis

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com>
To: David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@aol.com>
Cc: vanagon <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Sent: Mon, Dec 10, 2012 4:08 pm
Subject: Re: starter turns except when the battery is disconnected but 
does not turn engine-solenoid problem?

The ignition switch almost certainly has nothing to do with your 
problem.   It sounds like mostly a mechanical problem with the solenoid 
and/or the movement of the starter drive gear on the shaft.

Larry A.