1990 Force- need help!

[hippie2]

I have a 1990 Force outboard, 35hp, and need advice on how to replace the drive pinion gear atop the starter motor. I took the top nut, spring retainer and spring off but the gear is threaded on the shaft. I can turn it, however, the base of the gear will not pass the flywheel teeth. How is the suggested method; do I take the flywheel off or do I loosen the starter brackets just enough that the gear clears the flywheel? I only need about 1/16" movement to get by. Please post any suggestions. Thank you, Bob

 

[Chadomosis]

Not sure how much different a 50hp is from a 35, but I removed the starter on mine to get that off. Wasn't too horribly difficult.

 

[jerryjerry05]

No Title

Pull the starter.
​While it's off, replace or clean the brushes.
The crud or brush poop settles to the bottom.See pics.
It can short and burn up the motor.
New brushes can be bought here( I think) depending on the style.

Why are you replacing?

 

[hippie2]

Thank you both for the fast responses. The reason I am replacing the drive pinion gear is because the teeth are damaged and when I attempt to start the motor sometimes it will "jam" (the gear and the flywheel). I checked the starter solenoid and starter itself and both are working fine. I just needed to know the easiest method to remove the gear. Thanks to both of you, Bob

 

[Chadomosis]

"Jam" as in starter gear stays engaged with the flywheel while the motor is running? That happened with mine a while back and it was a simple matter of greasing up the starter shaft and make sure its moving free.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Just grease the worms on the shaft.
​Any grease up inside the Bendix will cause it to not work right.
There is a rubber hub kinda like a hub in the prop.
Oil or grease will kill it.

 

[Chadomosis]

No Title

Yup, In the grooves. Don't go slathering the whole starter like it's a turkey or anything. It should be pretty obvious when you get it apart.

 

[Jiggz]

If you dismount the starter from the engine, you can continue to remove the starter's pinion gear. In your original post it sounds like you are trying to remove the pinion gear while the starter is still mounted on the engine, hence it will not pass through the flywheel ring gear.

The pinion gear should not have any sideways play while on the starter shaft. If it does, then it needs to be replaced. There is a plastic or rubber insert inside the pinion gear and if it is worn out it tends to jam the pinion gear into the flywheel ring gear. Also light grease lube the shaft, pinion gear and flywheel ring gear teeth.