281955435 was only used on the LT, so no use to anyone else. They are no longer available from VW either, so a parts request on BrickYard or FaceBooks' VoLT Swapmeet, or one of the other groups is the only way.
There were two used, so you will need to identify which you have; 1B1 or 35PDSIT, I think are the ones. https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/lt+lt+4x4/lt/1980-30/1/
Parts and probably advice too.
Ruddies-Berlin
http://www.carburettorspeciali…
These pages may help.http://www.lt-forum.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start:wichtige_daten:anlasser
https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/lt+lt+4x4/lt/1990-109/9/911-112000/
I bought a starter for mine, 1989 DW, a couple of years ago without issue.
It sounds like the control cables are not doing their job except there is no knob in a Series1 LT, just levers.
You are in the wrong place for Series2, post 97, vans, though it may be the same cause.