Re: 115 hp mariner (early 80's) starter bendix shaft not engaging
Junk can build up in the starter making it bind and not spin freely and as fast as it should. I just took mine apart and it was loaded with magnet and pitted armature material. I filed the pitting off the armature and cleaned all the crap off the magnets, then lubed it all with PB Blaster. I had to even use the plastic insert and bushings from my smaller 40 HP starter as on of the brush leads disintigrated. I made my speacial tool out of a peice of plastic to hold the brushes in place while I reinserted the armature and case at which point the speacil tool slides nicely right out of the unit allowing it to all fall into place for bolting. It went from a steady turn when starting to a winding spin like a brand new stater should. I can send a pic of the tool I make for this job if you would like. It can be cut from an antifreeze bottle or something flat and plastic its basically a big O with a small U cut in it the size of the armature shaft end. Works like a charm every time
