Been trying to sort starter issues swopped solenoid for known good one and still only engaging but not spinning every time. Even when straight off fully charged battery with jump leads. So is there a reasonable price upgrade instead of Chinese copies. Heard Jetta tdi fit with fettling and also powerlite high output but price puts me off. Will eventually be used in subaru conversion so do want to buy twice. This one has bosch numbers but not sure on its origin. Thanks Sent from my SM-A127F using Tapatalk
Have you changed the bush? if going Subi you should get a hi-torque one. Wasp or IMI. Personally I like the IMI
Check the big wire from the battery. Try to pull the crimp terminal off the end of the wire. I discovered how bad my wiring was when I unbolted the starter and dropped it, and it pulled the corroded battery wire out of the crimp on the starter. Solenoid pull in is a 2 stage process- step 1 is engage , two coils should be in circuit, one returned to earth, the other one is returned to the positive terminal of the motor. When the solenoid fully pulls in it makes the connection to the motor with a big copper bar between the studs, which also shorts out one of the solenoid windings ( the heavy duty one) . If the motor is itself a bit dodgy (brushes e.g.) then the solenoid does not pull in, it just clicks .. If the battery wiring or battery is bad then the motor wont start running even if the solenoid engages. Check the wiring. While testing just borrow a complete starter, until you are sure you have it all working. Then you can start spending on a new starter to suit the Subaru. If your wiring (or battery) is bad a hi torque starter wont help..
I use PowerLite starters on my 3.9l V8 MGB and the 2.3l Type 4 in the bus and have never had a problem. IMI, Wosp and PowerLite are all based on the Denso motor/gear with an adapter and there is probably no significant difference between them apart from the sticker. PowerLite are usually cheaper. PowerLite RAC423 or Wosp LMS 479 (from September 1975). IMI don’t seem to be readily available in the UK or Europe – although I haven’t looked very hard.
I never upgraded my starter motor and ran a Subaru with if for 6 or 7 years. Didn’t someone on here discover the Bosch starter serial number matched that for one used in marine applications and they were the same unit, only cheaper? Edit: Had a search, page 2 of this thread about 2/3rds if the way down. https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/repro-bay-starter.65204/page-2#post-1197831
Sorry on vehicle all rewired anyway but I am currently testing on bench. Swapped solenoids and they both work on either starter. So must be faulty internally, been on my list for maybe 5 years Sent from my SM-A127F using Tapatalk
The starter doesn't spin on the bench I believe (but never tried first hand) as the spindle isn't supported like it is in the bellhousing correct me if I'm miss-informed
For the stock starter without a bearing supporting the pinion end : It will try to spin on the bench to a very high speed as it is a series wound motor not under load, and as it does that , it will hammer the rotor against the stator and begin destroying it. Series wound motors have maximum torque when stalled : no back EMF from the rotor, maximum current through the field windings. And if there were no losses or residual magnetization of the stator, they would run at infinite speed drawing no current and providing no torque at the other end of the range.
