Is my starter bad?

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: Is my starter bad?

That is exactly what I was explaining to you also,,, jump directly to the starter ,, and if it's on a lift over salt water the cables go bad a lot faster than normal.So they probably are the issue,, if the starter turns properly jumping it,, start looking at the cables.

 

[trobinson017]

Re: Is my starter bad?

That is exactly what I was explaining to you also,,, jump directly to the starter ,, and if it's on a lift over salt water the cables go bad a lot faster than normal.So they probably are the issue,, if the starter turns properly jumping it,, start looking at the cables.

I did the jumper test using the battery in the boat. The starter acted the same as when trying to start using the ignition switch. This made me think the starter was definitely bad but the suggestion to use a vehicle battery makes sense as it's a known good battery. The battery in my boat is only 5 months old but I hear they can go bad in that short amount of time.

 

[trobinson017]

Re: Is my starter bad?

An update: I re-cleaned all the cable ends and used a dremel sanding bit to polish them shiny. I cleaned the battery posts and charged up the battery fully. Used a brand new set of jumper cables connecting one end to the battery, the other negative cable to the starter bracket. When I touched the positive cable to the starter positive post the starter spun rapidly. It did not raise up to engage the flywheel, just spun in place.

Did I do the test correctly? What does the result say about the starter; good or bad? Shouldn't it have engaged the flywheel?

Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is my starter bad?

bendix on the starter could be crudded up, or if you got the pos and neg backwards the starter would spin, but the bendix would not go up. the bendix works strickly on centrifical force of the spinning shaft. turn the starter gear with your fingers, one way it will not go up, the other way it should climb the shaft. a drop or 2 only of oil should free it up.

 

[trobinson017]

Re: Is my starter bad?

bendix on the starter could be crudded up, or if you got the pos and neg backwards the starter would spin, but the bendix would not go up. the bendix works strickly on centrifical force of the spinning shaft. turn the starter gear with your fingers, one way it will not go up, the other way it should climb the shaft. a drop or 2 only of oil should free it up.

I went back out and turned the starter gear by hand. Going counter-clockwise it wanted to rise up. Clockwise it didn't. I redid the test with jumper cables and the starter spins CCW but doesn't rise up. I lifted it by hand and put some oil in there and retried. Same thing. I then unhooked the jumpers and tried the ignition switch. The starter gear spun CCW and rose up to meet the flywheel. It couldn't turn the f.w. and when I stopped ignition it stuck there in the raised position. I dropped some more oil in and retried. Same thing; couldn't turn f.w. and stuck up. While it was stuck up I retried with jumpers. It stayed up but couldn't turn the f.w. Undid cables, pushed the starter gear back down and came to keyboard.

So what should I try next?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is my starter bad?

either the starter is weak or it is not getting enough power, check pos can ground connection on motor, also check the cables, if the have any swelling they do deteriorate from inside out, just a slight nick the insulation can cause that.

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[trobinson017]

Re: Is my starter bad?

I ran another ignition test after letting the oil I applied to the starter set for the afternoon. Made sure the battery was fully charged too. When I turned the key the starter rose up to engage the flywheel and tried, weakly, to turn it (same as when jumpered from battery directly to starter). I stopped and pushed the starter gear back down as it was stuck again. I turned the key again and this time, the starter gear engaged the flywheel but did not turn.....it seemed the post that the gear is on spun rapidly, but the little gear did not at all. I tried again, and same thing....the post that the gear is mounted on spun rapidly but the gear did not.

So did I break my starter doing these tests?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is my starter bad?

pull the starter, and have it check at a starter/alternator shop. sounds like the bendix needs to be replaced. that is the gear unit on top of the starter motor itself.

 

[trobinson017]

Re: Is my starter bad?

Final update: I had my batteries load tested at Autozone. Checked out fine. I took the starter to an alternator/starter shop. It was shot; the armature, the brushes and the bendix all needed replacement as did most of the smaller components (i.e. springs, et al). Basically, a complete rebuild. Cost $125. It looks good as new and when I put it back on the motor, primed the bulb, turned the key....VROOOM! She fired right up!

Thanks once again to everyone who replied to my original post with all the advice and education about the ignition/starter system. I know SO MUCH more now than I did then, and that's the extremely valuable part. I feel confident I'll be able to resolve any ignition issues with this new knowledge and with y'alls help.

iboats.com RULES!!!

 

[paul2112]

Re: Is my starter bad?

I had the same thing , just dirty contacts.. Before I cleaned everything I tried the jumper cable route, still turned over slowly.. Once I cleaned everything up(made all contacts nice and shinny) it turned over great...