Date:         Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:10:08 -0400
Reply-To:     T Collins <tonycollin@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         T Collins <tonycollin@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Replacing Starter on 85 Vanagon - Jackstands or Ramps ?
Comments: To: Mark Carrig <stratmanx@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:  <1363785951.66689.YahooMailClassic@web122603.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 9:25 AM, Mark Carrig <stratmanx@yahoo.com> wrote:

> So I've got a Go Westy Whiz Bang Gear Reduction Starter, and thinking
> about the best way to replace it.
>
> Should I put the rear of the bus on jackstands and remove the right rear
> wheel ?
>
> Put the back end up on ramps ?
>

Just a quick note,

I replaced the starter on mine with just raising the Van up and propping
one side with a jack stand. Mine is a manual transmission, not sure about
yours. Also I know that replacing a "regular" starter conjures talks about
the starter bushing needing to be R/R too, I'm not sure that is the case
with the gear reduction starters.

 I mostly worked from the engine bay both when extracting and replacing the
starter. I did not take the axle off, or the wheel. Some people do. I did
however take the air box off and worked around the wires and cooling hoses
(not too much trouble there)

Correct me if I'm wrong but your starter is smaller than the regular
ones?....Oh one thing that I noticed in my replacement starter was that the
center post was much larger on the original starter than the replacement.
This is trouble at the time to put things back together as in mine the 12v
cable to the alternator had this huge brass lug on it and placed in the
shorter center post would not allow for the nut to fasten. Solution for me
was to use a dremel with a cutting blade and do away with  much of its
girth. Then I placed all of it back and presto. Do note the position of
your cables connections for when you place in the new starter.

Good luck. Not a hard job, just a bit of patience and standing with some
contortion included.

Tony