Starter problems

[dubge]

Hello all,
Before I start this I figured I would throw it out to see what my input would be. Keep in mind I am new to this, well with that said here is my problem. I was going to do a few things today, I started with lower end fluid change, then I was about to move on to the motor oil change, hooked up the muffs, went to start the engine and heard a clunk and now the starter just spins. I have never removed, replaced or done any time of starter work before even on a car.
Any tips or suggestions before I start to try and remove the starter?
Besides disconnecting the battery

thanks
Ray

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter problems

Any tips or suggestions before I start to try and remove the starter?

Ayuh,...........

You might tell Us what We're working on,......
Just to get the Juices flowin'.............

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

Ya that would help huh?
It is a 1985 mercruiser

 

[95yj]

Re: Starter problems

How about what engine is in it? And what boat the engine is in.

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

350 5.7L in a 25ft century

 

[95yj]

Re: Starter problems

If the starter just spins, it sounds like the solenoid is not pulling in the bendix to engage with the flywheel. Either that or you broke some teeth off the flywheel and there's nothing for the gear to grab. Rotate the motor by hand a little and try again and see what happens. If not, pull the starter and take a look at it. Hopefully there's plenty of room under there for you to pull it out.

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

well something broke for sure, there is a piece of metal (a little chunk) I can move around a little inside the housing the starter sits in. I hope it is the gear on top of the starter and not the fly wheel. Does the whole casing come off with the starter or does the starter pull out of there? Where would the bolts be?
Sorry for the stupid questions but I have not received my repair manual yet.
Oh and the starter was recently replaced this year or last year the latest by the prior owner.

thanks

 

[95yj]

Re: Starter problems

The starter bolts on a SBC are underneath it. There are two long bolts that go up from the bottom of the starter, through it and into the bottom rear of the block near where the flywheel housing bolts on. Remove the battery cables, then wires from the solenoid terminals then the two starter mounting bolts and pull the starter out of the motor.

Problem is, why did you break the starter gear or teeth off the flywheel. See if you can turn the motor over by hand. If you can't pull the plugs and see if there is water in any of the cylinders.

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

Ya the plugs were on the todo list today also and is there any special trick to getting THEM out? The exhaust bellows seem to be in the way (if I am naming the right part?)
To turn the motor over by hand how would I do that? Turn the flywheel? or is there another way?

Thank you for all the help

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter problems

To turn the motor over by hand how would I do that?

With a Socket,+ Ratchet on the Big Bolt in the Front of the Crankshaft,.......

After the Sparkplugs have been Removed.......

If things aren't turning by the time you get to about 50ft.lbs.......
Pull the Drive,...... Something is bound up......

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

Well it looks like it is going to start pouring any min so I have to wait until tomorrow to do anything else. If it matters I could turn the crank a little with the plugs in

Thanks

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

Ok I got the starter out today and the case around the aluminum top of the starter broke and was stopping it from going up into the flywheel. I pulled the piece out and checked the flywheel (no damage)
Also when removing the bolts to the starter one of them was not in very tight, could this cause the case to shift a little and to snap? Has anyone seen this before?
Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Starter problems

I would still try to rotate your engine by hand before putting on new starter to make sure it wasn't a locked up engine that broke your starter. Hopefully it won't be but good to check just in case.

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

I did that also, the engine still turns thankfully

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter problems

Also when removing the bolts to the starter one of them was not in very tight, could this cause the case to shift a little and to snap?

Ayuh,...........Sure Could........

 

[dubge]

Re: Starter problems

Well I picked up a new starter tonight and if I have enough time before my MRI tomorrow I will throw it in, if not it will have to wait until Friday. I will update when I get it in.
Thank you to everyone for the help, being new it is nice to hear some knowlagable voices

 

[95yj]

Re: Starter problems

Don't know if you had to give them your old starter as a core, but you could get the old one welded up and have a good spare.

The starter on my 5.7L was cracked by the mounting hole. It looked like someone torqued it down too tight. When I pulled the starter, a chunk fell off. Welding shop fixed it right up.

 

[shelikesit]

Re: Starter problems

it's nice to see you iboats guys playing the energizer bunny and keeping all these folkses vessels running. you've helped me enough thats for sure, and you havent seen my posts in a while either. thats for sure.

ya'll (bondo and the likes) showed me the only way to do it, right and once. you old timers are the best. we played about 15 miles offshore today without a glitch as it's been for almost a year now.

i personally "could not" have done it without your help.

sorry for the highjack on the post, but thanks for sticking around and doing what ya'll do...............