Little starting help

Hey everyone! First I want to thank DLVW3 for referring me to this site!
I have a Custom VW Trike. The engine is out of a 71 Beetle. It is a 1600 cc dual port. I received the trike as a gift from my father in law. When I picked the trike up, it was not running. I pulled the starter and took it to a local starter shop who verified it was good, so I had the battery checked and it checked out good. When putting the starter back in, I noticed the flywheel teeth were chewed up badly. I replaced the flywheel and starter (just in case). Once everything was back in place, I tried starting the engine again, and again, it wouldn't start. I can hear the starter engage, and the fan turns over once, then nothing; no click, to whizzing, nothing. I swapped the starter back but the same thing happens. I can turn the engine manually and it appears to turn as it should. After a manual turn, I try to start the engine and get the same results (one turn, then nothing). I am at a loss as to where to check next. Any ideas and thought would be great.

Here's a pic

check the points gap and condensor.

Ground strap/cable in good shape and connected super tight?

Check the valve adjustment also.

The starter gear and the flywheel must match. It's possible to make a 6v starter work on a 12 volt car as well as the other way around.

Make sure you have the correct starter (12v) and a new/correct brass bushing in the trany housing.

Make sure the the flywheel is a 200mm and not the 180mm from a 6v car.

also check the timing, might be way outa time.

Thanks for the info. I've been sick, so I haven't had time to do any testing. I'm feeling a bit better, so I'm going to play around today.

Ok, it looks like it was the starter bushing after all. I started looking into the paperwork and it appears to be a 61 engine, not a 71 and somewhere down the line they converted it to a 12volt system. Once I changed the bushing, I tried to start it, but got nothing, so I hooked jumper cables up. Once the cables connected up, the engine turned over and she cranked right up. Now I am thinking I need a new alternator.

Anyone local know where I can pick up one cheap?

Not sure how your trike is hooked up but a regular VW requires the dash warning light to function before the gen/alt will charge. If that bulb is burned out the alt won't work. Hate to see you swap a part like that out if all you need is a 99cent bulb.

I don't think it has that on there (at least not one that I have seen) but I'll check it out and see what find. I appreciate the heads up!

Yep, it's not required with a generator, but if you are using an alternator, that bulb is required. That bulb creates a very tiny draw which "activates" the alternator. Without that draw, the alternator just won't charge.

Did a little more digging around today and found the light you were talking about. It is on with no problems. I can get the trike cranked and remove the cables, and it stays running, but it eventually dies. I cranked it up and put it in gear and it died.

Guess I got some more tinkering to do.