good starter no start

[ciera2150]

I have a starting stumper.. I have an 88 Mercruiser 4.3LX I replaced the starter and now the starter engages the fly wheel but the engine will not turn ? I tried a booster pac with full charge, to make sure the battery wasn't the issue, I turned the engine over by hand while watching the fly wheel turn to make sure that it wasn't seezed and now I'm out of answers does any one have anything I can try next...... I'm lost.

 

[Don S]

Re: good starter no start

Sure you have the right starter?
Could it be a remanned starter? It may need some shims between the starter and the block.
Might also remove the starter and see if there are any markes on the stater. Have seen some 3.0L starters (aftermarket) that the starter housing contacts the flywheel.

 

[ciera2150]

Re: good starter no start

I guess I don't know what you mean by shims, when I took the starter off there wasn't any thing in there but the starter...
I took the starter back off and you could see markes on the bendix gear from where it enguages the fly wheel....
you think that the fly wheel is jamming on the starter housing?

 

[Don S]

Re: good starter no start

You need some shims. Any auto parts store.
Here's an example of them

 

[ciera2150]

Re: good starter no start

thank you for your help I'll try that out today and let you know, thanks again.

 

[ciera2150]

Re: good starter no start

How many shims should I need I put about 1/4 of an inch in there and it is still doing it, I'm getting more shims, I was just wondering if it is normal to need this many?

 

[boatguya1]

Re: good starter no start

A 1/4 inch thick is a lot of shims. I'd guess the problem is something else. Maybe you got a bad new starter. Try bench testing it to see if it spins.

James

 

[Bondo]

Re: good starter no start

Ayuh,...

What exactly IS the starter doing,..??

It shouldn't take more than 1 shim,.. If any at All...

 

[ciera2150]

Re: good starter no start

I haven't got back to the boat in a while, I've been busy with work (that dreadful stuff), so I haven't added anymore shims. First the old starter would do nothing unless you hit it with a hammer then it would only turn slowly for a few turns then not at all.
So this spring I got a new starter and replaced the old one, now all I can get from it is one click (like the bendix is engaging) and then a noise that sounds like to me that the starter is trying to turn and getting no where.
so I put a wrench on the water pump pully and when I turn that a click comes from the starter (like the bendix springing back). My next thought was the battery, so I hooked my battery pac up and again the same noise, confused I removed the starter and tuned the pully again and watched the flywheel turn, thinking that I eliminated a seized motor. then I turned to this forum for help and was told about the shims. Now I'm at a loss again, Oh the bench test was good..