When you look it up, you will find the VW starter does not use a Bendix drive. The solenoid pulls the starter pinion out and engages the flywheel before the motor gets power from the solenoid contacts. 
Ford was probably amongst the last to use a Bendix drive. It is also common on lawn mowers and snow throwers and stuff like that. Our vans use what is more commonly known as the pre-engagement method. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendix_drive

Dennis
  

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Michael McSwain
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 9:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: no start?

There's still a ton of snow on the ground so I haven't been able to crawl under it yet, but I did do a little experiment. I used a long breaker bar to reach in and wiggle all of the wires on the starter and solenoid in hopes that this might produce a change in behavior and suggest that a corroded connection might be to blame. No change. Then I used the breaker bar to whack the starter several times. This produced a change in behavior.
It tried to start but didn't.  I was doing this solo so I couldn't hear what was going on very well, but this clearly points to a starter or solenoid issue rather than battery, wiring, or ignition switch. When the snow is gone I'll crawl under there with a volt meter and see what's getting power and what isnt. I'll also try bypassing the solenoid and see if I can get it started that way.  In the mean time I have to admit that I'll have to look up "bendix".

On Mon, Jan 25, 2016, 9:12 PM Ken <kdlewis@northstate.net> wrote:

> Michael,
>
> The Bendix might be binding if the bushing is worn out.
> Ken L.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On 
> Behalf Of Michael McSwain
> Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 4:04 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: [VANAGON] no start?
>
> So where would you start? The past couple of times I got in my van and 
> cranked it up, the engine would barely turn over, but after two or so 
> revolutions it started. Until it didn't. I have one of those cigarette 
> lighter volt meters and after sitting overnight it reads 12.6 volts. 
> When I turn the key to crank it, it doesn't drop below 11.5 volts or 
> so. I put a trickle charger on it just to be sure, but it still won't 
> start. Currently I hear no noise whatsoever when I turn the key except 
> for the fuel pump priming.  Before this started I regularly watched 
> the plugin volt meter and while running it stays at or over 13v. So 
> I'm pretty sure it's not the 1.5 year old battery or the age unknown 
> alternator.  I assume that's a safe assumption.  If you disagree I'm 
> all ears. So if it's not the battery, would a bad connection be the 
> next most likely place to look and if so where?  The only place I've 
> checked out so far is the actual battery which shows no signs of corrosion at all.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
>
>