Starter not in contact

[Fullspectrum]

Ran my motor all week and I had no problems. Today, I started the boat at the lake and the motor did not fire up. Got home and this is what I found. The starter is not in contact with the flywheel when I turn the key. It will still spin. It seems to be stuck down and I can't seem to raise it up to make contact with the flywheel. What's wrong and what can be done, thanks!

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Starter not in contact

make sure your battery is at correct voltage
but is probaly in the drive system. you can get some of the parts ,
make sure your getting full voltage to your starter before you go to repairing.
good luck bennyb

 

[F_R]

Re: Starter not in contact

full, what you are seeing in the picture is the way it should look. The gear (called a "bendix") should rest down where it is. It should instantly come flying up and engeage the flywheel when you turn the key to start. It operates entirely on inertia. OK, so you say it doesn't come flying up when you turn the key? That's because the starter is sluggish in beginning to spin. (remember inertia?). The starter is sluggish to spin because of a dead or very discharged battery. Or, because of dirty, loose, or corroded battery cables and connections. Or, because the starter is shot.

Always check the simple things first. That would be remove and clean the cables and battery terminals shiny bright clean. And while you have them disconnected, take the battery by your auto parts store and have it load tested. Many stores will do that for free.

And forget the bendix. That is a symptom, not the cause.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Starter not in contact

also put a COUPLE of drops of sewing machine oil on the shaft, and work the gear up and down by turning it.

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

 

[Fullspectrum]

Re: Starter not in contact

I got it to work now. Funny...I took a flat head screw driver and pushed the coil you see on the shaft up against the nut and with my other hand, spun the starter gear up until it connected with the flywheel. It started right up. I shut her down and she keeps firing right up time after time like nothing happened. ???!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Starter not in contact

looking at the rust on the teeth, 3 or 4 drops of light oil will make life much easier.

 

[Fullspectrum]

Re: Starter not in contact

Strange...the starter gear would not pop up to connect with the flywheel when I turned the key...instead it would sit below and spin. I eventually got it to work on my own, but thanks for the helpful tips. Learned a few helpful tips and next time I'll know what to do. Thanks!

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Starter not in contact

Have that battery load tested as already stated, and ensure that ALL connections are polished to a SHINE then re tightened. The battery will need to be fully charged (12.65 Volts) before they can load test it. Also look for corroded or damaged wire, it will crunch when flexed.

I personally would get out my multi meter and drop test the entire starting circuit to ensure that there were no faulty components to it. You would not want to be stuck out on the water one day.