Re: 1988 85hp Force Starter
That's a good description, and I now know the problem is the bendix...Provided that the starter is turning at a normal RPM, and not very slow, or the teeth of the flywheel gears or bendix gears are all intact,and not ground-off (rare).<br />The bendix is the assembly that moves-up to engage the gears of the flywheel.This assembly is not moving-up as it was designed to do, when the starter motor runs. If the motor is defective, and turns very sslowly, this assembly wont do diddly. It uses centrifugal force to function....Not enough, and it sits and spins.<br />The bendix is actually three or four parts in one assembly. <br />The Shaft (the drive shaft of the starter motor. This shaft has grooves in the form of two spirals, along it's length.<br />The cog, or cogs (these ride those spiral troughs in the shaft. Sometimes, they are an actual tab on the gear itself, and these may be broken, not allowing the gear to ride-up the shaft.<br />The Gear.<br />The spring( this is the optional piece...Most outboard motors do not need them, as the spring is there to disengage the bendix, or bring it back to a rest position. Since the shaft is vertical, gravity usually serves this function.<br /><br />I still think the problem is in this bendix, and not the starter motor itself. Can you move the bendix assembly up the shaft by turning it,and pulling upward? If not, it has siezed-up on the motor's shaft, and will need to be actually cleaned using WD40 as a cleaning agent...Use the entire can if need be. Grease or oil will not work for this. amnd this problem is not just a common one..On most outboards ever made, it is to be expected at some point, that this bedix assembly is going to do this. It can be attributed to the environment they opertate in.<br />If you can turn the bendix, but it does not ride-up the shaft, the bendix is defective, and will have to be replaced. In most cases, you may opt to replace the entire starter, if this is the case (cogs sheared off, or the grooves in the shaft are wallowed-out).<br /><br />However, if you can freely move this bendix,it rides-up the shaft effortlessly, and it is spotlessly cleaned using WD40 or other penetrating oil (Pblaster, Liquid Wrench,ect), then the motor will have to be pulled and rebuilt (or replaced)...Ither way, it's ka-ching $$ time.
