removing starter motor

[rainman]

Literally a bad start to this morning as I had MOT booked and the van wouldn't start. Starter had been playing up for a while and would respond to a few taps with a metal bar but not cooperating today. In a panic, I phoned GSF and arranged to take my starter in to exchange for a new one but I just couldn't figure out how to get the bugger off. Anyway, I cleaned up the connections and that seems to have sorted the problem so probably a good thing that I couldn't remove it.

But I'm intrigued as to how you're supposed to remove them. Haynes says to undo the two retaining nuts but I just couldn't locate a second nut. The one on the bottom is plain to see and easy to get at but I was rooting around for ages trying to find the corresponding one on the other side. Although I hope I won't have to remove my starter now, I'd still love to know how it's done.

E D I T: 2L '83 Air-cooled manual

[Rozzo]

its in the engine bay below the pipes at the front of the airfilter. its 17mm spanner size and is on the end of a bolt which is self locking against the starter motor directly opposite the 15mm nut you took off

[CovKid]

Like the beetle except a bug is worse cos you need thin arms to get behind the fan housing - then the ruddy nut drops into a recess in the tinware...

[rainman]

its in the engine bay below the pipes at the front of the airfilter. its 17mm spanner size and is on the end of a bolt which is self locking against the starter motor directly opposite the 15mm nut you took off

Ah right, you mean I should go at it from above rather than below? I fumbled around underneath but couldn't feel anything you could get a spanner on.

[CovKid]

Yup exactly right.

[rainman]

Ok thanks, I'll have another look tomorrow.