they're all the same arent they? and they all work with the abd lump too dont they? fit straight on i assume...

just checkin my abd is going in tomorrow...

Your ABD may have the later flywheel design,which is unsuitable for the MK2F starter.

Changing the flywheel on the ABD for your 1.3 unit is your best option (new bolts,torque to 75 Newtons),as its lighter and thus will allow the engine to rev more freely.

To tell later fly's from early,their teeth are very close to the engine block. Whereas the earlier ring-gear is a good half inch away.

The 1994 starters are quite abit thinner. Later ones are noticably bigger.

basically, i put my ABD together before reading this today, and the mk3 polo gearbox and mk3 starter all bolted up fine... does this mean they're all compatible? or will my starter just spin when i try to start the car and not engage the fly?

No,as its not engaged until you turn the key.

That's when it'll all go wrong. Likely the starter's toothed wheel will hit the fly before the axle engages with the gearbox housing - causing the starter to not engage properly,axle to go off-centre,and possibly jam its coil pack in the starter body and jump teeth.

Its also likely the teeth are permanently engaged,if only by a few mm.

Should be fine, what flywheel are you using? If its just a mk3 one a mk3 starter should be okay. I had problems with my 1.6 but i was trying to use a mk4 starter with a mk3 gearbox and fly which didnt work but the mk3 starter has enough reach.

You could always trip the starter before you put it in to see if it spins the engine. Even with the engine in, its only 5 minute to get the starter off and out (I found this after doing it 4 times)

lol fair enough mateys, i just whipped the whole engine out and blasted the mk3 fly onto it as i'm using the mk3 starter and figured it cant hurt as it'll make it work for sure!

thanks for your help!