Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

[foreman33]

I have a 1989 Johnson 150GT, model # J150STLEM. When the boat sets for 2 weeks or so and I try and start it I have a very difficult time trying to start it. The last time out it took me nearly 20 minutes or so to get it running. The problem is that the bendix doesn't stay engaged long enough to start it. I held a plastic oar on the bendix to keep it engaged longer while my friend turned the key and it started in about 10 seconds. As soon as the engine attempts to start the bendix disengages. I put a complete new bendix on, gear,spring, spacer and nut. It still does the same thing. If only the bendix would stay engaged longer I wouldn't have any problem. Once the engines starts and run for a couple minutes, I can turn the key off and turn in back on and it fires right up. The only time I have this problem is when the boat sets for 2 weeks or so. I took the spring from the bendix and tried to start it today and it worked fine, but it only took about 10 seconds for the engine to start. Does anyone have any suggestions as how to solve this frustrating problem for me?????

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Have you tried lube on the bendix shaft? It also sounds as though the spring may be pulling the bendix down. Are you sure the spring and everything is installed correctly? Had to ask...

 

[foreman33]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Yes the shaft is well lubed and cleaned. I don't think that the spring can be installed incorectly. Both ends look the same. The bendix still disengages when the engine fired up today. So how important is this spring anyway??

 

[reneauew]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

I had the same problem with my '89 150XP. Mine turned out to be a bad main battery. It had a cell going bad and wouldn't keep the bendix engaged long enough to start the engine. Replaced battery and all is well. You need the bendix spring to disengage the starter when the motor fires, without it the starter gear could hang in the flywheel.

 

[byordy]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

I've had the same problem with my '79 Evinrude 175. In my case it's caused by the throttle not being advanced quite far enough. When the engine fires it turns fast enough to disengauge the bendix, but not fast enough to keep running. I have the dual lever controls so in my case I just advance the throttle a little more. At that point it will turn a few times, fire, and is running. The above post by BassBuff is also right on. If the starter doesn't turn the engine fast enough the engine can fire, kick the bendix out, and then die. <br />Bill.....

 

[foreman33]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

The battery in this boat is at least 3 years old. I have not replaced it yet but it seems to turn the motor over for ever. The next time I take it out which will be Monday I will connect one over my trolling motor batteries in parallel with it so that I have plenty of juice to see if the bendix stays in longer. This problem only happens when the boat sets for a couple of weeks. Is there a special technique on starting one of these engines when they set for a period of time? Push the accellerator full then back off to about 3/4 throttle turn the key and push it in and out about 10 times to force gas into the cylinders and then turn the key all the way to start the engine. This is the technique that I use when I start the engine. Is this the correct technique or are there better ways to start it??? I must be doing something wrong apparently because I have this problem. Once the motor runs for a couple of minutes, I can just touch the key and it fires immediately. Does anyone have any other ways to try and start one of these beast? By the way, the 6 or so times that I started the motor while it was in the yard with muffs on it the bendix has dropped out when the motor has started, and that is WITHOUT the spring in the bendix. Could I remove some of the coils on the spring and put it back in or should I just keep an eye on it when I start it???? Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your input.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Pump up the primer bulb until firm, raise the fast idle lever about one third of the way, hold key in for a count of 5 and continue to hold it in when cranking until it starts. You may have to bump the key in a couple times until it smooths out..

 

[foreman33]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

I always pump up the primer bulb before I attempt to start it up. What does holding the key in for a count of 5 do? Each time you pust the key in and out it injects gas into the motor. If you hold the key in, it only injects gas 1 time. You can hear the solenoid click each time that you pust the key in. I will give your method a try and see if that helps with starting this beast. I've been told by other people to bump the key 10 times then hold it in and turn it all the way to start it. Maybe that is the problem. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Does pushing the key in actively inject gas into the motor or does it just close the carbs? I'm pretty sure on mine it just chokes the carb. Just curious.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

forman,you can push that key in 5,000 times (random number) and nothing happens except a valve in the primer solenoid opens and shuts.That is the small click you hear.The motor has to be cranking for fuel to get into the engine.The primer works on 'impulse' of the pistons going up and down.Trust me on this...<br />DHP<br /><br />(okay,you could push the key in and pump the primer bulb)

 

[Walker]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Gas only goes through the primer if its under pressure. If you squeeze the bulb up hard before pushing the key an amount of gas will be injected but once the pressure equalizes you can push the key til you turn blue and no more gas will be injected. Pushing the key in while cranking will inject gas in pulses like DHP described.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

The primer solenoid is nothing more than a valve. When there is pressure in the line from pumping the bulb (or with the motor running, from the fuel pump) and you push in the key (in the "On" position), the primer opens and releases the fuel into the carbs until the line pressure drops. No pressure, no fuel.<br /><br />Theoriticaly that ammount of fuel should not flood a cold motor. If you hold the key in (valve open) and pump the bulb (or the motor is running), fuel will continue to run in be enough to flood the motor.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Oops! Sorry Walker-- I type slow.

 

[foreman33]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Okay, thanks alot guys. I'm pretty sure it was a mechanic who told me to bump the key in to inject gas into the motor. Well I guess he was wrong. So I guess most of you will agree with Rick in the above post where he says to squeeze the bulb till hard, then hold the key in for a count of 5 and then continue to hold it in until it starts. It is supposed to be nice here tomorrow so I will put the muffs on and give it a try. Does anyone else have any comment on the bendix spring? Put it back in, remove some coils, or just leave it out and keep an eye on it when I start the motor. Why don't these things start like other vehicles? Cold or warm, hit the key and away it goes. Well my boat does it half the time. When the motor is warm all I have to do is just touch the key and it fires up immediately. <br />Thank you all again for your help.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Leave the Bendix spring in the starter. That's it's home.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[foreman33]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

I'll put the bendix spring back where it belongs. It doesn't seem to make any difference in or out as far as staying engaged. Maybe the brushes need replaced or something. I added my trolling motor battery in parallel with the starting battery and that didn't make any difference either. No one mentioned anything about the brushes. Could that be my problem??? Like I said before, the motor spins and runs but it just doesn't keep the bendix engaged. I took the boat out yesterday and run into another problem with the motor. The continous horn alarm which I will make a new post about this problem. Thank all of you again for the advise. If you get a chance check out my new post "Continous horn alarm." If it isn't one thing its another. Welcome to the world of Boating.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

It sounds to me like you have the same problem I have (only when cold - not when warm) - engine cranks well, fires once and disengages the starter. This can go on for a long time. I posted on this a couple of weeks ago and got similar advice to what you've had. You might search for my old thread and check it out.<br /><br />I've also been told and believe that the big, old, carbeurated 2 strokes can be a little finniky to start. I don't know the mechanics of "why", but it seems to be a common thing that people find the way to start their particular motor and it can be unique to each engine. Frankly, my old carbeurated pickup truck can be a little tricky to start when it's cold or unused for a while too. I think it's a carb. thing and probably not an issue with Fuel Injected outboards. I certainly can tell you that FI cars seem to start a lot easier and more reliably than carb. especially when cold.<br /><br />As someone wrote: pump the bulb hard, advance throttle or lift cold start lever. Turn key to on (not start) and push it in for at least 5 seconds, then start. "Bump" key as necessary to keep it running. For my motor, it seems I need to hold the key in for a good 8 or more seconds, not 5. That seemed to help quite a bit. Good luck and let us know if you come up with a solution.

 

[stairliftoheaven]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Foreman I know this may seem a bit dumb but have you cleaned and gapped your plugs? or tried new ones?

 

[foreman33]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Yes they are brand new Champion QL77JC4's gapped at .030. If I let it set for just a couple of days or just one day, it is too bad to start. Just when it set for a couple of weeks. Once it it running and I shut it down for an hour or so I can just touch the key and it fires right up. I also did a compression test on it today and the results are, 90,91,90,90,91,91 which is pretty good as far as being all the same.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Bendix won't stay engaged long enough to start motor.

Another common problem is bad cables or bad connections/ground. The bendix will jump up but not enough current is flowing to start the motor.