Starter problems

[JaydubyaSR190]

The boat: 1997 sea Ray 190 ; 4.3 v6
Starter has been making a clunk sound prior to engaging and starting the motor. Started the motor on a hose prior to leaving for the ramp. Got to the ramp and the starter would engage then disengage and spin. Trip ruined.

Removed starter and took for bench test which showed everything ok. Lubed the bendix and reinstalled, same thing. Slave solenoid is ok. Checked the fly wheel while the starter was removed, teeth look ok, teeth on bendix are ok.

Could the bendix be spun? Engages until put on a load then spins the shaft?

Could the battery be an issue? Not quite enough voltage to hold the bendix under pressure?

Any ideas/direction greatly appreciated.

 

[Bt Doctur]

could also be hydro-lock , if not hydro-lock then suspect a bad bendix

 

[thegotoguyr]

I think I would get a load test on the battery, but the clunk does lead one to think bendix, maybe low voltage draw once engaged is allowing it to kick out.

 

[JaydubyaSR190]

could also be hydro-lock , if not hydro-lock then suspect a bad bendix

Not familiar with hydro-lock?

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

Not familiar with hydro-lock?

Don't think it's hydro-lock since you were able to start it on the cuff. Hydro-lock occurs when water is able to get into the cylinders making the engine unable to turn because of the water blocking the pistons from moving in the cylinder. Hope that explains it at least somewhat. Battery is a place I would look, also check all connections from battery to starter, make sure all are clean.

 

[SloBurn]

Start simple, check your battery connections! Resistance at the connections will prevent correct amperage from reaching starter and Bendix. Also check starter electrical connections. Clean everything before replacing anything. I had a bad cable last year that I couldn't see-corrosion was down inside the ground cable, $8 fix!!

 

[CliffA]

Start simple, check your battery connections! Resistance at the connections will prevent correct amperage from reaching starter and Bendix. Also check starter electrical connections. Clean everything before replacing anything. I had a bad cable last year that I couldn't see-corrosion was down inside the ground cable, $8 fix!!

+1 on the hidden corrosion in the battery cable...i once replaced a starter on a car after checking things out....problem turned out to be corrosion under the outer coating on the positve battery cable.....

cliff

 

[JaydubyaSR190]

Hoping to have this issue licked!! Geeze!
So i've had the starter rebuilt, it was long overdue.
Long story short is the starter is reinstalled and I can get the motor started- gosh it runs good once it getes there. But I've still got this but clank sound while trying to start the motor. Sometimes it doesnt clank at all. Sometines it clanks and starts, sometimes it clanks once or twice and disengages. BUT when i remove the starter there are no marks on the bendix teeth or the flywheel? It sounds horrible and I'd rather figure it out before something is possibly dmaged. I wont have any confidence until at least i know what it is. ANY IDEAS?

Still gotta check the battery cable for interior corrosion, but dont think it would be related to the clank.