1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

[dcpolasky]

Took boat out for first time, ran great. Gas/oil mix 50:1.

Second time connected cables for power lift, used power lift to lower boat. Left cable connected on battery end.

Boat ran fine but suddenly lost power and died. Tried to restart but after a few tries began making loud noise.

I opened cover and the flywheel is not spinning, but armature is spinning.

I want to make sure it is the starter before paying the money. Could the cables I connected be affecting things? By the time we got towed back to dock it was too late to mess with and had to come back to town.

Thanks for any help!
Chris

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

sounds like the bendix gear is hung up. try spraying lube on the shaft and free it up by hand or with a couple of screwdrivers. be genital! post back.

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

sounds like the bendix gear is hung up. try spraying lube on the shaft and free it up by hand or with a couple of screwdrivers. be genital! post back.

So spray lube on the #1 part on the diagram? or the threaded shaft of the armature (#2)? I really appreciate the help. I've never owned a nice boat before and I've never worked on one so I want to make sure I don't blow money and time finding a new starter. Thanks!

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Everything above part # 8. Don't go crazy with the lube. The bendix gear won't require a lot, just enough to free it up! Post back and let us know how you made out!

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Just to be sure, what specific kind of lube? WD40? I'm heading to lake in the morning and want to get what I need before I leave town. Thanks Monte1961!

 

[Will Bark]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

WD40 is fine to break it loose but I would also get some 3 in 1 machine oil to put on shaft after that. Don't go crazy with it .

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

WD40 is fine to break it loose but I would also get some 3 in 1 machine oil to put on shaft after that. Don't go crazy with it .

Thanks Will! I'll post an update when I get back Sunday night.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Be sure to clean it before lubing it. You don't want any gunk on the shaft it rides up and down on.

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Had wrong diagram/starter info earlier. I did all the above suggestions and the bendix gear once again spins and rises into position but once raised the gear stops and I hear a loud grinding noise. After turning key off the bendix gear does not lower. I took battery out and trickle charged it (10 amp setting) until registered as 100% charge. No improvement. Also cleaned all connections to and from battery and made sure all were snuggly mounted. Still no joy.

Tried to manually start with motor trimmed up as high as possible while still remaining submerged as I was informed this may help by lowering the water-resistance. No luck at all. Nearly pulled my arm out and almost fell out of boat. The motor will turn but the bendix just wont do it. Ordered new starter and expect it in by Tuesday. The kids were not impressed by their father's maritime mechanical performance.

I also removed the power cables that ran from battery for power lift. Must have been a coincidence that this problem started after the one and only time I've used it with this boat.

I'll post update after installing new starter.

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Welcome to iboats. And also welcome to the life of boating. Get used to it! You will never know when one of these motors is going to leave you on the water and the only way back is with a paddle. Just pray your up river when it happens. Good luck and post back if we need to try and make your day again!

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

We put in a new starter and VROOOOM!!! We stayed close to home, ran the boat for about 15 minutes, shut her down and when I turned the key the starter didn't rise up. The bendix froze in place. Tapped it a few times lightly with a wrench and it freed up and started first try. A local boat guy suggested putting washers as shims but that seems off to me. I'm thinking that the armature had never been lubricated as it was new out of box.

Should I apply a very light grease to the threaded section of the armature?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

You may be working on the wrong problem. Possible you have a bad starter solenoid. Over time the heavy duty contacts inside the solenoid can get burned. This can cause two things: 1. When activated, the solenoid may not pass full current through to the starter. The bendix may activate, but with less than full torque. It may not contact the flywheel. 2. It is possible that the contacts can stick closed, transferring some current constantly to the starter. It can cause the bendix to stick in the teeth of the flywheel. In this case the starter will get hot and will pull a lot of current out of the battery quickly.

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

I was afraid of that. Would that by chance explain the boat cutting out suddenly? That happened before each of the two times the boat would not start. I don't want to wreak the new starter. Could I check this by removing the cover, starting the motor and watching to see if the bendix drops back down after starting? If I start and restart, say 10 times and the bendix lowers each time would that be a fair method of testing?

I'm guessing that there is a better method, suggestions?

Thanks again!

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

I was afraid of that. Would that by chance explain the boat cutting out suddenly? That happened before each of the two times the boat would not start. I don't want to wreak the new starter. Could I check this by removing the cover, starting the motor and watching to see if the bendix drops back down after starting? If I start and restart, say 10 times and the bendix lowers each time would that be a fair method of testing?

I'm guessing that there is a better method, suggestions?

Thanks again!

Ok so heres where were at. Remove cowling cover. From (+) side of battery to starter solenoid, inspect any and all connections to make sure all is good. Now from the other side of solenoid to starter, do the same thing. Now when all done cleaning and inspecting, look on the solenoid for one or two little wire posts depending on your application. Now look for the post that has the symbol that looks like this (s). Clean this one also. If you have or can get a remote starter switch, hook it up to battery side of solenoid and to (s) wire post. Make sure key is off and in neutral. Now push remote starter button while watching starter bendix. Can repeat this 4 or 5 times to make sure it works properly. What happens? Does solenoid chatter? Bad battery or connection/s. Starter wont engage, release or disengage. Replace solenoid. Bendix gear gets hung up in flywheel? Adjust starter as necessary. Good luck and post back results.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Your suggested test is probably a good one. 10 quick starts won't heat the starter up much and may give you an indication of how the solenoid is transferring current to the starter. Each time the starter should thrust the bendix up to engage the flywheel-strongly and turn the flywheel smartly. After releasing the key, the benidix should immediately withdraw. If it stays up, it may be an indication that the solenoid is sticking in the closed (current transfer) position. I've seen engines run with the bendix in constant contact with the flywheel due to a stuck contact in the solenoid.

 

[dcpolasky]

Re: 1981 Evinrude 200 V6 Starter problem

Problem solved! Solenoid replaced and boat runs like a champ! Thanks everyone for the great help!