Here's the setup: 1986 2.8L v6, 1970 5 rib tranny, 12v automatic starter (I think), Hecker Machine adapter with 12v flywheel.

Issue: When the starter is installed (no nose support shaft to fit a bearing in the tranny), and the switch turned to start, the solenoid kicks the starter gear out and spins, but it never touches the flywheel. Now I have pulled the starter out and measured the out stroke of the gear with power applied and compared it to the depth of the flywheel ring gear and it should engage it by about 5/16-3/8". The starter gear just doesnt seem to come out far enough when the starter is installed in the tranny.

I have been told that its possible that I have a 6 rib (091) bell housing installed on the 5 rib (002) tranny which would not allow the starter to reach far enough. As well as the starter solenoid isnt strong enough and the starter gear is sticking.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

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Off-roading is NOT a spectator sport

If you can't buy it....Make it

You know, water and electricity dont mix (from a nurse at a hospital)

Two turtles don't make a rabbit

i didnt think they made a 5-rib in 1970,u probaly need the longer starter,, 6-rib i think

i had the same problem ,,,,,, try a 6 rib starter and i found the stock one could barly turn my motor .... but that might have been my wiring routing

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new to the buggy world so any help would be great

Since I started this post, I have found out that the only year the 5 rib was made was in 1975, after that they made the 6 rib. Any confirmation on this? Thus it is seeming more than likely that I will need the 6 rib starter that you both recommend. And Longer is the length of throw on the starter gear, correct? Not the starter body, cause the one I have is about 8 1/2" long.

Thanks

_________________
Off-roading is NOT a spectator sport

If you can't buy it....Make it

You know, water and electricity dont mix (from a nurse at a hospital)

Two turtles don't make a rabbit

Yes the starter on a 6 rib is longer to engage the flywheel. You could swap out the bell housing for a 3 rib(shorter/thinner) and use your starter. When you bolted on your adapter plate did the instruction tell you to cut anything off of the input shaft?? Pics help. Thanks Dave T

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RAJAY + SAND = FUN!!! Can we put a turbo on that??*** Hey look in here for more junk.*** http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o157 ... ndoffroad/

I still have the 3 rib that I pulled from the buggy when I upgraded to the 5 rib. So the 3 rib and the 5 rib bell housings are the same? If the 3 and 5 rib bell housings are the same other than depth, which I will measure tonight, seems that the swapping of them is the least expensive of the ordeal. Nothing in the kit's instructions said anything about cutting anything off. So nothing has been modified in that respect. I will try to post some pics up tonight, or tomorrow at the latest.

I also have a starter from a 78 transporter with 2.0L coming from Advance Auto Parts in the morning so I can measure it and compare it with the other one I have.

Thanks again.

_________________
Off-roading is NOT a spectator sport

If you can't buy it....Make it

You know, water and electricity dont mix (from a nurse at a hospital)

Two turtles don't make a rabbit

Not sure why but when I use a Subaru adapter I never have to modify the input shaft..,,I think in my case with the suby flywheel it is offset enough to clear. If you feel like taking the engine off you can swap the 3 rib bell housing and use the old starter. That's what I did. It may be easier to go ahead and get a 6 rib starter..

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If your clutch ain't slippin,, you probably got it adjusted right!!!!!

There are three 3 rib bellhousings
Early '68
Later '68 to '71 with the Beetle style engine
'72 and '73 with the pancake style engine
5 rib came in '74 and '75, same as late 3 rib bellhousing wise and also had the pancake engine.
One style 6 rib bellhousing, again with the pancake engine.
All 3 and 5 rib take the same starters.
SR 15 Bosch manual style.
SR 17 for the automatic style.
091 6 rib takes a SR 87 starter.
Gear is about a half inch longer on those

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Gary

Turbo VW Sand Racer
Polaris Ranger



"If you don't run into the Devil every once in awhile, you must be going in the same direction!"

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Thanks to all of you for the great info. It is alive and breathing. No efi pump yet, but with a little fuel down the tbi it'll run. I ended up using a starter for a 75 transporter. A bit shorter starter than the other one, but it works. The bell housing that I have is the exact same length that the 3 rib is. All of the measurements in the starter area are the same. The 6 rib starter was way too long, almost a 1/2". I believe the solenoid on the other start I originally had was a bit on the weak side.

Thanks again.

_________________
Off-roading is NOT a spectator sport

If you can't buy it....Make it

You know, water and electricity dont mix (from a nurse at a hospital)

Two turtles don't make a rabbit