Starter spins but seems to stay engaged.

[Brock.Ward]

Ford Mercruiser 351 starter. I took it out again and tested it, spins like a top but the teeth dont seem to move up or down. Took at flat head to the top and am able to move the teeth gear down but it springs back up. Wouldn't it want to start down then spring up and grab flywheel? Why does it move down when you push it but stay engaged? Is this Normal? Any help would be appreciated. Trying to figure out why it wont spin flywheel....

 

[matth121]

if the gear is staying up- you have a bad solenoid. if this is a new starter then maybe the smoke got out as you mentioned in a previous post. I'd take it off and have it tested at the very least- you can test it yourself with jumper cables and a wire to jump from positive terminal to start terminal but that gear should not be out. The starter i just replaced had it's gear stuck in the out position. had been submerged, wasn't salvageable. new one works great

 

[MikDee]

It sounds to me like the wires are crossed? Or, it's the wrong rotation starter?

 

[NHGuy]

You can take it all apart and fix it. Probably. But if you just bought it take it back for a good one. The bendix spring is supposed to pull the drive gear back in when power is off, and the solenoid is supposed to pop the drive gear out when it IS powered. The solenoid is a fork on the end of an electromagnet.

 

[NHGuy]

I haven't ever had a reverse rotation starter in my hands. Do they pull the gear instead of pushing?

 

[matth121]

one of his previous posts stated he had wired it wrong and had smoke coming from the solenoid terminals- id say solenoid is shot