Bendix engages (most times) but wont turn flywheel

[scb2377]

Hi All, I have not started the motor for over a year... I have the boat up for slae, it's all clean and in nice shape...but it won't start!

When I try to start the motor, the starter will turn and the bendix will travel (not always, about one out of three tries only) all the way up and engage the flywheel... it does not however have the power to properly turn the wheel, it gives it like half a spin or so and nothing ... the starter just doesn't seem to have the power. I can turn the flywheel by hand, not easy but it turns. Either way, the bendix should always travel up (there is no rust or anything to slow it or stop it from traveling up, it moves freely by hand)

I checked cable and battery, cleaned them properly, I even attached the battery charger in start mode. Connection to solenoid is also clean...

What could it be? Is the starter weak and how do I fix that?

If I want to remove the starter, whats the easiest way? Remove the fly wheel to pull it up?

Thanks for your help. Chris

 

[JB]

Re: Bendix engages (most times) but wont turn flywheel

Go to the Top Secret file

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bendix engages (most times) but wont turn flywheel

it would help a lot to know what motor you are working on.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=250879

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680

 

[F_R]

Re: Bendix engages (most times) but wont turn flywheel

The bendix does not go up because it is an inertia device. The sudden high speed spinning of the starter is what flings it up. Your starter is not suddenly spinning fast enough. There is nothing wrong with the bendix.

So, next step is finding out why the starter is sluggish. ALWAYS begin with checking and cleaning the battery cables and connections. Don't assume, take them apart and clean them shiny bright. If that doesn't help, get out the multimeter and do some voltage drop tests. Don't know how to do a voltage drop test? Learn. Or get somebody to help. Cheaper than buying a starter that you might not need.

EDIT: You DO know for 100% sure that the battery is good (don't you?)

 

[scb2377]

Re: Bendix engages (most times) but wont turn flywheel

Hi All, thanks for you replies.

Motor is Johnson 90hp. The battery and connections were all clean and fine ...there were two problems for the starter being sluggish; corrosion inside, and the gears not moving.

So, I ended up taking the starter motor off, cleaning it really well. It had a lot of corrosion and stiff inside, so I used sandpaper and connector cleaner clean it nicely. The magnets still about 1/2" so left them in place. That was the fun part putting the starter motor all back together ...keeping the magnets down, i ended up using two knifes to hold two magnets each, put the top on and got the screws to catch and pulled the knives out.

The other thing is I did not really know how the gear on the Bendix work, just lubing the shaft is not enough. You need to lube behind the wheel also and make sure that it turns easily by hand...it was quite jammed up. Put it all back together and it worked. Sweet!

I have pictures of the job, if anyone that has similar problems needs help.

Thank you all.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bendix engages (most times) but wont turn flywheel

start a new thread, cleaning starter, could be great help for others.