Just done my starter on my vn. Here's what you need to do if you still have the original starter motor on your car. Just so everyone knows none of the guides above will work if you still have the original starter motor on your car! Why? Because there is a bracket on the front of the starter motor that is bolted to the engine mount. So if you think you can just slip under the car and take 2 bolts out and slide it out id think again. Even if you remove the headers you still cant get to the bolt. Drop the steering rack? Still cant get to that bolt!
Please understand this process is for people that still have the original or an old bulky starter motor on there car.
So the best an easiest way to remove your starter motor is to remove your air compressor.
Follow these steps...
Take the belt of the air compressor and then remove the two bolts underneath that is holding your air compressor in place " If you start with the top bolts you will be holding up your compressor while you are undoing the bottom bolts so start with the bottom bolts first!" Then remove the 2 hoses bolted to the compresses and undue the 2 top bolts holding your air compressor in place, slide compressor out. You now have complete access to your starter motor and that bracket I was talking about. Remove bolt on the bracket and undue the wires on your stater motor. Now slip under the car and remove the two bolts holding the starter in place. Once you have done this you Just slide the whole starter motor straight out the front where your air compressor was. Now just do everything in reverse!! Its pretty simple if you know what to do.
I Will say this though! Go out and get your self a set of ratchet rings if you don't already have a set as they will make bolting the compressor on and off a breeze "13mm is the one you will need" You won't be able to get a socket and ratchet on the bottom bolts of the air compressor so it will take time with your normal ring set. Also when putting your air compressor back on make sure you slide the bottom bolts in first! Don't do them up just slide them in so they are there. If you forget you will have to take the whole compressor of again as you wont be able to get the bottom bolts in once its in position.
If you follow this guide and you have that 13mm ratchet ring you should be able to do it in a hour or quicker if you work fast. Let us if it works for you.
Also I bought a brand new after market
starter motor of eBay for $105 dollars delivered. If you do decide to buy one from eBay or any after market starter the original bolts will not fit. One is to long and the other is to short so you will need to go to your local nut and bolt shop and get the right size bolts. Take your new starter motor with you so you can get the right size the first time round.
OK hope that has helped some of you and like i said this is for people that still have the old big bulky type starters in there cars.
Cheers!!!
