Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

[Pain'n'da'boat]

1981 90 hp Johnson outboard crossflow.

Took it fishing this weekend, never had problems with the starter before, go to start it and it made a wicked grinding sound, engine started. I killed the engine to pop off the engine cover and all the teeth on the starter gear are ground off nice and shiny..enough that I could not restart it at all...what could cause that to happen??

Do you think the starter solenoid got stuck engaging the starter gear to the flywheel and at too high of RPM's caused the starter gear to grind and strip out???

Any other idea's on what I should check before I just replace the starter? I don't want to burn up the new one so if there are any other things I should check out, please advise.

And iBoats has the cheapest starter ($20-$50 cheaper than anywhere else!!)

Awesome!

 

[Pain'n'da'boat]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

PLEASE HELP ME! You guys are some of the best boat knowers available to me and you give honest advise unlike my boat mechanic whom tries to sell me everything under the sun.

I have done a ton of work to her, am still learning, but I am lost as to what causes the "bendix?" to grind up against the flywheel...was it just the starter?

Info on motor:

117 psi on each and every cylinder
runs great 42 mph WOT @ 5500
idle smooth at 450 rpm

 

[hoytvectrix]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

I would assume that it is just the starter. If the selenoid went bad it wouldn't let any power go through to the starter.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

Could be the wrong starter pinion or that the starter drive has been greased, which would cause it to stick.

 

[Al-53]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

I would go along with Ezeke...the bendix stuck up do to splines gummed up..sine you have not had the problem before and it worked fine...

every year I clean the splines with something like Deep Creep and then oil it with a light oil like 3-1 or a light gun oil...just a drop or 2 is all....

a heavy oil will gum and trap grit also...

If the starter is good..just replace the bendix is all.....much cheaper....

Al

 

[Pain'n'da'boat]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

You guys are awesome! Thank you for your insightful advise!

The starter is pretty gummed up with grit and grime. I was unaware that you could purchase the bendix drive separately, I am trying to find it on iBoats but am having no luck...

My local boat mechanic says he has one for $53 but I know they have to be cheaper on here, if I can just find it...

 

[Pain'n'da'boat]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

http://www.iboats.com/Starter-Drive...0165618--**********.607039227--view_id.139139

how can I tell if this is the correct one? it doesn't specify year or horse power...are they universal for this motor?

 

[Pain'n'da'boat]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

sierra # 18-5679

This has to be the correct one:
http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...gd_poid=109399&gd_row=19&**********=607039227

noob here, letting my true colors shine

 

[Al-53]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

53$....wow is it gold....lol....check Iboats...if not here is a guy that has them...but Iboats should have them..its around 23 ..

http://www.springhillautoelectric.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=138


I get all my starter parts from him ...great guy...


under the bendix there should or may be a hex head...get a wrench on it and undo the top retainer nut...clean splines...light oil...reassemble..done..go boating...do not over oil it....1-2 drops does it..NO GREASE...

Al

 

[Pain'n'da'boat]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

Al, you sir are awesome. You made my not-so-great Monday a much better one! Thanks again, and again.

I did finally find it on iBoats, has it for $44....

I thought the boat was gonna sit for awhile, but now I can affordably fix it myself and get back out on the water in no time!

Any brand/type of oil that you have a preference to? Next year I will clean it up with Deep Creep and re-oil again, now that I know

WOOOOHOOOOO!

 

[Al-53]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

I have used 3-1 oil....and Remington gun oil(Rem Oil)....both are light oils...sewing machine oil works..and also OMC sells one also....

Don't use WD-40 it gums up and collects dirt...

Also CRC makes a spray marine lube...its very thin...says on it can be used on bendix drives...I never used it for that..just linkage parts....

Remember...just a few drops...don't saturate it

Good luck....happy boating....

Al

 

[Pain'n'da'boat]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

Ha, now I feel really dumb. We thought the starter was sticking about two months ago after it did a little spin without engaging to the flywheel and my step-dad, whom is a car mechanic, hosed it down with WD-40 and it started working just fine...it may have fixed the problem temporarily, but it didn't take long to start doing real damages....

You guys know your stuff, that's for sure

 

[Al-53]

Re: Why did my starter gear grind off and strip out on flywheel? 1981 90hp Johnson

hope you washed the wd-40 off...it will gum up in no time....clean it with some electrical cleaner now since you freed it up and use a light oil like 3-1...hope none ran down inside the starter thru the top bushing..or the carbon dust will cake up....

hope it all works out for you.....

Al