Run away starter

[occarvers]

Out on the lake in my 84 Bayliner Volvo Penta AQ 120 270 leg and it seemed to come out of gear. I had just done some prop work and thought I might have lost the prop. I shut it down lifted the leg and the prop was still in place. Not sure what happened. When I went to restart the motor the starter would not shut off, I had to scramble to the back of the boat and pull the battery cable. After a couple of smacks with a hammer the starter seemed to be ok. As soon as I tried to get back on plane the starter engaged the flywheel. I had to have my son sit by the motor with a hammer and smack the starter every time it engaged the flywheel just to get back to the launch at idle speed. A ticking noise I haven't heard before has developed ( haven't been able to diagnose yet starter removed). I guess I have a few questions;
1. Why did it come out of gear in the first place? Have had the boat out several times and this is the first time this has happened.
2. Is the problem with the starter, the bendix, or the starter relay? I am taking the starter in today to get it checked / rebuilt.
3. Any ideas on the ticking sound, kind of sounds like lifter noise but did not have it prior to this starter incident.

 

[Don S]

Re: Run away starter

I would bet you have water in the bellows, water in the outdrive, water going through the bearing in the flywheel cover and the flywheel is splashing the water into and onto the starter bendix causing it to rust and stick.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Run away starter

My first guess also, time to pull upper box and have a look-see!

 

[occarvers]

Re: Run away starter

That could be it I replaced all the bellows before I splashed it earlier this summer. Both the exhaust and the drive bellows were shot. Replaced the water hose at the same time. Just got back from the starter shop, starter was full of rust! Not a good candidate for a rebuild. Starter shop looking for a new replacement. Bench tested ok but he pulled it apart and found the rust inside. All but one brush stuck in the brush plate. Not sure how it worked at all let alone run on! Thanks for the input.

 

[Don S]

Re: Run away starter

You don't have a choice now, you need to pull the engine to replace the bearings in the flywheel cover, BEFORE they lock up and destroy the housing.
Here is a thread you might want to read.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=265021

 

[occarvers]

Re: Run away starter

I also changed the u joints and checked the drive bearing when replacing the bellows. I cleaned the drive bearing out as best I could and re greased it. It was free spinning and did not show any signs of the race spinning in the housing. It does not make any other noises when the starter is not running on. You can feel some vibration in the floor when running but I don't think it is obsessive. I just got this boat in the spring and have been restoring it from the hull up. Got to love those little surprises, every time you think your done, surprise!! something else goes wrong. I would like to get the rest of the season out of this thing and then pull the motor. I can work on it all winter as it will fit in my barn.