I greased my starter and now it just spins

[rkhanso]

1990 Johnson 90hp. Recently rebuilt. The previous owner replaced the starter with a rebuilt.<br /><br />I was having trouble with the starter gear (bendix?) or whatever it's called - the one that pops up - sticking occasionally. I greased it with some white lithium grease.<br /><br />The next time I took it to the lake, it'd pop up but then something in the starter motor would spin, but not turn the motor over. I had to use the pull start.<br /><br />I tried it occasionally over the weekend and I was able to use the starter a few times, but mostly had to use the pull start. I put a battery charger on the battery - it was fully charged. I tried my recently charged trolling motor battery, same situation. Sometimes, if I just shut off the motor it'd start again with the starter, but mostly not.<br /><br />It never had this problem before I greased the shaft on the starter, so I'm guessing it's a self-induced problem. But what's the solution? Do I need to take the starter off and clean it? Is there too much lube inside the starter? Is it shot and I need a new starter? <br /><br />I searched the forum and found many recommendations to grease the shaft so I thought it'd be OK.<br /><br />thanks for any help/opinions

 

[jfm1]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

sounds like a bad bendix

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

There's a rubber clutch in the bendix that should NOT be lubricated. Grease has likely seeped into the rubber clutch and it's now slipping. You can either disassemble it and clean it out, or replace it....<br /><br />- Scott

 

[rkhanso]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

How do I take the bendix off to clean the clutch? I looked at it and there's a top plastic cap over the spring but it looks like that won't come off (or do I need a special tool)?<br /><br />Can I buy this rubber clutch from any dealer? Or is there a cheap, online source?

 

[xltier]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

i did the same thing on my snowmobile starter cause it sounded terrible.no more noise,just dont work.i then sprayed a little brake cleaner in there and it came back working and sqaucking again.ill leave it alone now.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

move the upper part of the drive up and allow the metal drive disc to fall back down. use rubbing alcohol and q-tips to clean the oil/grease from the drive and driven surfaces. it will work again.

 

[rkhanso]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

I used some electrical cleaner on the drive part and it made it work just fine.<br /><br />BUT - now, it sometimes sticks up again. And when it sticks up, the starter stays engaged and I have to disconnect the battery, free the starter and try again.<br /><br />How do I correctly lubricate this thing? I'm thinking I need to find a happy medium - enough, but not too much lube. And, what do I use for lube? Where exactly do I lube it? <br /><br />Or are there other problems with my starter?

 

[fireman57]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

Lightly spray some very fine oil on it. WD40 works for a while but it is not a lubricant. Don't soak it , just a light spray.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

Are you're saying that the starter simply spins but the bendix gear doesn't raise to engage the flywheel teeth?<br /><br />If so, that's due to you greasing the bendix assembly. Grease collects dirt and that jams the bendix. Clean that grease off as good as possible and spray the bendix assembly with WD40.<br /><br />If the bendix gear jams in the flywheel even with the engine running, that's due to either too close a fit between the bendix gear and the flywheel teeth, or the starter solenoid is sticking.<br /><br />If the solenoid, replace it.<br /><br />If the clearance is at fault, install a thin shim between the upper bolt hole of the starter and the block to increase the clearance. DO NOT attempt to insert a thick washer as a shim, use only a thickness which is necessary.

 

[mark.aa]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

i think you have the same problem i had with my mercury sport jet starter.is the motor spinning as the bendix is enguaging the flywheel?(the bottom of bendix is spinning with the starter and top part with teeth is static in flywheel teeth)if so it is as sombody else says the lub has got into the bendix rubber and making it slip.i tryed carb cleaner in mine but gave up after limited use and started to slip again and had to be replaced,if the bendix is not rising wash of the grease with carb cleaner as the grease is too thick and stopping it from working.

 

[ToJo]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

As for removing the bendix, on those I have seen, you have to push the bendix inward toward the starter and compress a spring. You will then be able to remove a lock ring from the shaft, allowing the bendix to slide off the shaft.

 

[jtexas]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

I put a couple drops of 3in1 oil on my bendix shaft ever now & then, seems to work just fine...but somebody please speak up if it's not the right kind of oil.<br /><br />thanks,

 

[DJ]

Re: I greased my starter and now it just spins

3 in 1 will work.<br /><br />Also, be aware that low voltage can cause the bendix to not rise.<br /><br />Remove and clean the negative battery terminal on the engine block.