Starter Issues???

T

Tallahassee240Sundeck

New Member
Jul 31, 2007
207
Tallahassee, FL
Help!

Thought the starter died in the water yesterday... Turn the key and all I get is a spinning sound - bendix not engaging, so I think.

After a tow back to the marina, purchase a reman starter... Put it in this morning and same thing... just a spinning sound from the starter.

So, I pulled the new (reman) starter and checked and all the teeth on the flywheel (at least in the area that I could see and where the starter would contact) were okay.

Could the reman starter be bad? Did notice on the the original starter that the gears were all the way back into the housing and I could not get them to move outward. The reman starter gears are pushed forward a little and move in and out when I spin it with a screwdriver.

Thanks!

John
 
Okay, pulled the reman starter and tested it... When jumped from the car battery, the bendix engages if I jump from the large post with all the wires to the smaller post with the yellow and red wire.

If I jump the small post to the other large post on the solenoid, the starter just spins and the bendix does not engage.

Without jumping the smaller post (yellow and red wire post) to a larger post, the starter does not spin...

Could it have been a bad connection the first time I installed?
 
For caca and grins, I bench tested the old starter. Same scenario as with the new. So this is leading me to think it is something outside of the starter, but then again, its me and what do I know???

The old starter sounded like crap... so I am not overly concerned with the replacement.

Still need thoughts on this one...

Thanks
 
Were the 2 mounting bolts changed with the starter? You may want to look at them close. Even a slight bend not easily seen could keep it from engaging.
 
then again usually you'll get damaged teeth on the flywheel first
 
Update... I pulled the reman starter and had it checked at a local auto parts store, along with the original, both work although the original starter doesn't sound as nice.

So now I am at a loss... :smt017

Could it be the starter slave solenoid? I pulled and cleaned the connections this afternoon and that did not work.

I check the mounting bolts and they look straight. I checked the flywheel and it is not loose.

BTW, I think I can swap a starter in less than 15 minutes now - at least on my boat. :grin:

Thanks,

John
 
Trying to think - yes, something is burining...

Could it be the Neutral Safety Switch?

Here is what happens... now I am thinking out loud through the keyboard...

Both the original starter and reman starter tested fine at the auto parts store. When we turn the key, the starter spins, but does not engage - this is the case for both starters.

Would the slave solenoid or neutral safety switch allow the starter to spin but not engage? How can we test each of these?

THanks... need to stop for the night, get food, recharge...
 
Thanks all for the links and thoughts...

After concluding it was nothing electrical, testing equipment, etc... I spoke with a merc mechanic who came highly recommended and he seems to think it is the coupling on the flywheel... ugh...

Anywho, taking it in Friday for him to start pulling the motor. Guess since it is out, I will have him do a once over on it. Any suggestions on preventative maintenance since the motor will be out?

Again, thanks.

John
 
Tallahassee240Sundeck said:
Thanks all for the links and thoughts...

After concluding it was nothing electrical, testing equipment, etc... I spoke with a merc mechanic who came highly recommended and he seems to think it is the coupling on the flywheel... ugh...

Anywho, taking it in Friday for him to start pulling the motor. Guess since it is out, I will have him do a once over on it. Any suggestions on preventative maintenance since the motor will be out?

Again, thanks.

John
Click to expand...


John,

I'm not sure this makes sense to me. Please take a look at the following link which I believe to be accurate for your engine.

http://www.perfprotech.com/store/assembly/CRANKSHAFT AND FLYWHEEL,1939-180.aspx

As you can see from the drawing, your flywheel (like 99% of everyone elses) attaches directly to the crankshaft. The ring which sits on the outside edge of the flywheel engages the starter.

So, providing that the engine ground is solid and that the positive wire from the battery is sound, the starter will torque and send the starter gear into the flywheel spinning the engine.

It is that simple. A way to check this is to remove the starter and use a automotive jumper cable to simulate ground to the engine block. With the aid of an assistant, rotate the ignition key and watch the starter gear. If the starter torques and spins the starter gear forward at least the electrical circuit is working properly. If it doesn't, you probably have a bad ground/ or positive connection between the engine and the battery.

If the starter behaves properly then inspect the flywheel by looking in the starter hole. WITH THE IGNITION KEY OFF, try to move the flywheel with a screwdriver. If it moves freely, then your mechanic is correct and something internal is broken. If it doesn't, then there is an alignment problem with the starter or the bellhousing is loose/cracked.

-John
 
PlayDate said:
Tallahassee240Sundeck said:
Thanks all for the links and thoughts...

After concluding it was nothing electrical, testing equipment, etc... I spoke with a merc mechanic who came highly recommended and he seems to think it is the coupling on the flywheel... ugh...

Anywho, taking it in Friday for him to start pulling the motor. Guess since it is out, I will have him do a once over on it. Any suggestions on preventative maintenance since the motor will be out?

Again, thanks.

John
Click to expand...


John,

I'm not sure this makes sense to me. Please take a look at the following link which I believe to be accurate for your engine.

http://www.perfprotech.com/store/assembly/CRANKSHAFT AND FLYWHEEL,1939-180.aspx

As you can see from the drawing, your flywheel (like 99% of everyone elses) attaches directly to the crankshaft. The ring which sits on the outside edge of the flywheel engages the starter.

So, providing that the engine ground is solid and that the positive wire from the battery is sound, the starter will torque and send the starter gear into the flywheel spinning the engine.

It is that simple. A way to check this is to remove the starter and use a automotive jumper cable to simulate ground to the engine block. With the aid of an assistant, rotate the ignition key and watch the starter gear. If the starter torques and spins the starter gear forward at least the electrical circuit is working properly. If it doesn't, you probably have a bad ground/ or positive connection between the engine and the battery.

If the starter behaves properly then inspect the flywheel by looking in the starter hole. WITH THE IGNITION KEY OFF, try to move the flywheel with a screwdriver. If it moves freely, then your mechanic is correct and something internal is broken. If it doesn't, then there is an alignment problem with the starter or the bellhousing is loose/cracked.

-John
Click to expand...

John,

Thank you. I did check the starter as you suggested. I manually turned the engine and had my wife inspect the flywheel. It spun with the engine. Additionally, I checked the flywheel and it seemed pretty solid. I am/was thinking coupling as I thought that had something to do with the alignment, but the bellhousing sounds very feasable. Don't think it is the starter aligning improperly, unless something got torqued since the same thing happens with both the old and reman starter.

Since I have taken the three day internet course on troubleshooting starters and have not had a chance to research the workings of the coupling or bellhousing, I do not know what the coupling does - but then again, if the flywheel is attached directly to the crank, then what does it really do... research for another day as my brain is fried (got more sun on the bald head working on the boat than on the water).

The mechanic was going by my troubleshooting process- everything up to the starter works, etc... and might I add that all my electrical connection are very clean now :wink:

Flywheel or bellhousing are beyond my capabilities. He said he would inspect once he got the boat on Friday. Good to know your scenarios so I am not paying for extra services. Although this guy is highly recommended by my next door neighbor and long-time family friend who has had many boats... hopefully I won't be taken to the bank.

Thank you for your thoughts. I will keep everyone posted.

John
 
Did I hear you right, they are going to have to pull your engine? How long are you going to be without the boat?
 
wow .......sure wish this post would have been updated with the findings.

I know its an old post but Im having the same issues.

My sea water pump went up and now after getting a new sea water pump and new belt put on the starter just spins and the starter was put on in july of this year.

Unfortunately my starter isnt as easy to get to and the engine may have to be lifted to remove it.
 
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