Club 80-90 Forums

hello
i have a t25 with a subaru EA82 engine fitted.
When we picked it up it had a starter motor problem which we tracked down to a sheered shaft where it goes into the bush in the bell housing.

being naive i replaced the bush and fitted a new t25 starter, it cured the problem and we had a few weeks of good starting.
but now it has done exactly the same thing again, so obviously we have a problem some where.

i think the starter is side loading when it engages the flywheel.
would fitting a type 2 starter cure the problem or what would.
help as i am out of my depth now.

thank you.
Tony.

Think this belongs in 'alternative engines'

Tony

we need to know how your engine is installed, it sounds like it's maybe installed using an adapter plate and theVW petrol bellhousing, if adapter plate who's plate and flywheel is it ? I've seen several adapter plate installations from a certain UK installer and the plate is not accurately made and the dowelling between the various elements, engine, plate and gearbox isn't robust enough which leads to allignment issues and thus issues like you are experiencing

It'salso possible that the flywheel isn't correctly installed or that it has started to work loose

the only plate and flywheel package I could recommend is that from Kennedy Enterprises in the states

I would use the RJES bellhousing as that is perfect and uses the subaru starter and the original subaru flywheel

i bought it with the engine installed.
looks to have the original vw bell housing, with a home made adapter ring.
so i am a bit stuck.

cheap borescope in through the starter motor hole to see what is going on or box out then if you are sure that the issue isn't with the starter motors themselves but the words 'home made adapter plate' doesn't inspire confidence, there's a reason that good conversions cost proper money and that's the cost of doing the product development and ironing out the bugs rather than using the customer as the r and d department
I take it the previous owner doesn't want to get involved ?

the previous owner has sadly passed away

oh well i will have to rip it all out and start again then.

sugar.

I think you can get "hi-torque" starter motors for the DG engines that don't use the bush?

Otherwise need to get engine and gearbox out of the van and check how things line up.