Electrical stuff seems to be of dubious quality regardless where it comes from. I once installed one of those Delco-Remy knock off alternators in my motorhome. Failed within 200 miles with the regulator deciding my electrical system needed 19 volts. Destroyed all 6 batteries. Got is home running the generator and letting the inverter/charger keep things running. The supplier warranted the alternator and the replacement has been fine since. These parts are all crap shots. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2018 7:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Replacing my cheap Chinese starter after one year

Buyer beware with these.

My Latrical new Chinese $75 diesel starter never worked quite right from day one. Early on it failed to retract the gear fully a few times, but that stopped. After 10,000 miles it occasionally bogs immediately, failing to turn over the engine at all, and now when it bogs the motor continues to spin (unengaged with the ring gear, fortunately) and does not stop with the ignition off!  I have to rap on the solenoid or remove the battery negative to get it to stop spinning.

It's not the ignition switch or a battery problem, there is a short in the solenoid. I have a Bosch rebuilt I'm installing now, and I know these are not without problems either. But, with the cheap Chinese starters you are getting what you pay for, but as they say, your results may vary.

Stuart