I flew helicopters during Vietnam...when we newbies we're learning about
helicopters the instructors described the 'sprag' clutch...after that my
nickname was clutch...
Pat Spragge

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 9, 2015, at 6:20 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
wrote:
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprag_clutch
>
> Here is a link with information on the sprag clutch. Check out the link
for information on a Bendix drive. The VW starter does not use a Bendix.
Ford was probably among the last to use Bendix drives for starters. The
giveaway detail is the use of a starter solenoid mounted somewhere on the
firewall or fender. Bendix starter drives are also common on small engines
like snow blowers and stuff as they are very simple.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Don Hanson
> Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 9:07 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Since we've been talking starters recently on Vanagon
list.....
>
> OK, I didn't know that starters had slipper-clutches.... It must be that,
or something to do with the Bendix (do they still call em that?) spring.
> I'll give that a good cleaning soon, when I send off my cherished 5sp for
a long overdue rebuild.  Thanks everyone.
> On Dec 9, 2015 3:06 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > When the starter cranks the engine a typical cranking speed is around
> > 70 rpm. For the brief moment after the engine starts, you release the
> > key, and the solenoid-starter gear retracts and clears the flywheel
> > gear the starter gear gets overdriven by the engine at many times the
> > cranking speed. So that the starter gear does not get broken off or
> > the motor destroyed from centrifugal forces there is a one-way clutch
> > driving the starter gear. If this assembly is dry, corroded, or
> > otherwise messed up you may get that awful noise.  When it really goes
> > bad it could seize or fail to turn the engine during cranking. When
> > you turn the key and the starter turns fast without the engine this is
usually the problem.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf Of Don Hanson
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 10:26 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Since we've been talking starters recently on Vanagon
list.....
> >
> > I have a starter mystery sound that's been happening since I swapped
> > in my ABA block hybrid inline VW motor about 3yrs ago...I didn't
> > change any of the wiring from the original 1.8 liter rabbit/Jetta/fox
> > motor  and that one didn't make this odd noise sometimes when the
> > motor is started...84 van, 93 ABA jetta block with 92 digifant 8 valve
> > head and 5sp manual transmission....mounted using vanagon diesel
stuff....
> >
> >    Here's the story...when I release the ignition switch after the
> > motor catches and the starter has done it's job....it does seem to
> > crank over completely normally...it lets out this strange kinda
> > honking squelch noise...lasts about 1/4 second and nothing else
> > happens...the van runs normally and the next time I start it, it may
> > again emit the weird noise ....but sometimes it doesn't make that
> > noise...."Honking Squelch" is the best I can do for a
> > description....It sounds similar to what a ping pong ball does when
> > you push it down onto the pingpong table with your paddle......
> >
> >    First time I fired it up after my swap, I thought..."crap, I did
> > something wrong with the starter...gotta remove the motor and see what
> > that is."....Well, I also forgot the pilot bearing, so I had the motor
> > out again in a couple of days to install that and a new output shaft
> > seal....and I could not find any fault with the starter......So I
> > re-installed it all and again, I still get that strange squelching
> > binding honking noise, sometimes.....
> >
> >    I figured, at the time of the second install, with the noise
> > unchanged........."OK, I am off to the desert anyhow,  for 2
> > months....If that starter breaks, I will just bump start till I  get
> > another one and stick that in........but it's been starting just fine,
> > other than the weird noise, for over 3yrs now.....
> >
> >    I thought...."Worn bushing" or something, but I expected that I'd
> > have problems, PDQ....when a starter makes a noise like that, it can't
> > be right...
> >
> >    Anyone care to make a guess as to what might be causing that noise?
I
> > am just curious now....it has not affected the starting of the van now
> > for about 65k miles, but it's still there......It is a "Wrong"
> > sound....It sounds like it shouldn't be there, like it must be hurting
> > something.....but nothing dire has happened...it just keeps honking
> > along, starting every time but perhaps 50% of starts I have come with
> > a post script.....that honk after I let loose of the key and the
> > starter stops cranking.....with it's frequent sonic comment after a van
start.........
> >    Don Hanson
> >