GoWesty announced a new gear reduction starter: http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23526 Stick shift model coming soon, they say. We use gear reduction starters on light planes for exactly the same reasons. They're superior in every way. I installed one of these on my last two planes: http://www.bandc.biz/lycomingstarter12v122ringgearteethstcpma-1.aspx I'll never go back to the horrible direct-drive starters that are stock on aircraft engines and still retained by many aircraft owners. So I've long wanted to put a gear reduction starter on my stick shift '84 Westy. Its high-compression GoWesty engine barely turns over, even with a recently rebuilt starter. It always starts, but it sounds terrible and worries me every time. (It's a strong incentive to keep the engine well-tuned, so it'll fire reliably while barely turning over.) I looked at the adapter offered by Westy Ventures: http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html I never took the plunge, because I was intimidated by the task of finding the right starter to use with the adapter and getting it installed. I'd be curious to hear what Karl Mullendore has to say about GoWesty's new starter. Other options? |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.