Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelorgear

[Larson70]

1990 Mercury Outboard. When turning on, bendix gear lifts into flywheel (fully engaged) but doesnt spin the flywheel. It wines and the copper piece on top of the bendix gear and spring spins really fast and whines. What causes this issue? Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[1nebel0]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

Low battery voltage or bad battery cables...Lastly could be the starter itself but the try the first things stated....good luck

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

bad battery cables...

or dirty connections between battery and engine; not on the outside, on the inside where metal has to short out to metal. Take them ALL off, at the battery and at the engine and clean them up....nice and bright and tight. It takes 100 to 200 amps to turn most engines depending upon size and to get that from a 12v battery you can't have any dirty contacts including the crimp onto the cable which designates a bad cable.

Mark

 

[oldman570]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

If the starter is spinning and the bendix gear is not then I would take the starter off and take the bendix gear off the shaft and see if the gear is bad or the shaft is bad. Gears are fairly cheap, but the shaft will best be replace with a compleae starter.
Oldman570

 

[Larson70]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

The battery is brand new. Oldman570 i think your on the right track. I will take the gear off tomo and see what the diagnosis is. Much appreciation from everyone.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

The battery is brand new. Oldman570 i think your on the right track. I will take the gear off tomo and see what the diagnosis is. Much appreciation from everyone.

You stated that it engages! That takes minimal current....amps!!!!! That also means that your Bendix is working.....the job of the Bendix is to engage the flywheel, remain in contact with the flywheel while cranking pressure is against the teeth, and dislodge itself from the flywheel when the cranking force is removed........ Clean up your wiring as nebel and I said if you want to fix your problem. If that doesn't do it, then there is an outside possibility that the contacts inside your starting solenoid are pitted from a lot of use and it will require a replacement. However, a 1990 engine isn't that old and shouldn't need it unless it had a lot of use.

Mark

 

[hotrod53]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

As I read this "It wines and the copper piece on top of the bendix gear and spring spins really fast and whines"... it sure sounds like mechanical failure and not battery or wiring failure. He is saying that the gear is engaging and the shaft is spinning. If it were battery or wiring, the gear would engage and just sit there or spin and not come out fully to engage. I think he will find a failed gear or a bad shaft.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

As I read this "It wines and the copper piece on top of the bendix gear and spring spins really fast and whines"... it sure sounds like mechanical failure and not battery or wiring failure. He is saying that the gear is engaging and the shaft is spinning. If it were battery or wiring, the gear would engage and just sit there or spin and not come out fully to engage. I think he will find a failed gear or a bad shaft.

Yes sir. I missed that. So I guess after he puts on a new Bendix, he can clean up his wiring and he should be good to go.

Sorry for the "senior moment".

Mark

 

[Larson70]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

Next problem is that i cant get the bolt off the starter. Even with a wrench holding the shaft, when the bolt is turned the shaft goes with it. What to do?

 

[Blown Challenger]

Re: Bendix gear engages flywheel but shaft spins and whines without turning flyweelor

Not sure but the bolt might be reversed threads.