Evinrude 35 starter gear vibrating up to flywheel

[duurmeehr]

Ran my newly rebuilt 1980 Evinrude 35 this weekend. Weird thing happening. At one specific RPM, the bendix gear on the starter will occasionally "bounce" up and bump the flywheel teeth and make a buzzing sound when it bounces off. It's almost like a harmonic vibration causing it to go up. The spring between the gear and the end of the starter appears to be intact. The starter is NOT kicking it out. Anyone got any ideas on this? Can't leave it like that, it will eventually damage one or the other.

 

[F_R]

Re: Evinrude 35 starter gear vibrating up to flywheel

The "Anti-drift" spring above the gear is supposed to prevent that. So now the question becomes why isn't it doing it's job? I really don't know. Perhaps too much lateral bearing slop in the armature shaft, or too much up and down slop? Not likely the wrong spring, but I suppose anything is possible. Just guessing.

 

[likitvi]

Re: Evinrude 35 starter gear vibrating up to flywheel

My 1980 35hp does exactly the same. Feared for bad bearing problems first before realizing the cause for the sound every now and then. Haven't yet worked on that issue, but the spring on mine looks like renewing it could help.