merc 5.7 starter question

[sandwichestime]

i did a full tune up to my 1988 renken 2000 spitfire with a GM crate engine (thanks bondo) and when i went to fire it up the first time all it would do was turn over. i continued to check the engine for spark and realized it had none from the ignition coil. this i later found out was due to the shift interupt switch, but after all the hours of cranking the engine i fried the starter.<br /><br />what would happen is the starter would just whine like the bendex (sp?) was stripped or the spring was bad and not contacting the flywheel. but when i pulled the starter off the bendex would come up as it should.<br /><br />i took the starter to a local starter rebuilder, when i found a piece of good news: the starter was under warranty. so much for all the hard times that my friends said would come with owning a boat i thought. apparantly the gearing inside the starter had stripped, as it was a plastic piece. i took the newly rebuilt starter home this evening and replaced it onto my engine. well, the engine fired right up so i shut it down and jumped down to get the hose, when i tried to start it again, i got the dreaded whine again. <br /><br />my question is: should i chalk this up to another bad plastic internal gear, no matter what the odds of this happening are? (it WAS a used part.) or is there something else going on more serious? <br /><br />any help is appreciated.

 

[achris]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Why was a USED part put in a warranty repair? Back to the shop that did the repair and ask for a NEW gear!<br /><br />Chris............

 

[Bondo]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

I Think I'd hook up the hose,+ do All My tuning,+ such with the starter that's On it........<br />Grind that pc. of plastic up Real Good.......<br /><br />Then go back,+ Have it Fixed, Right........ <br /><br />After All,.... Ya Gotta Make Sure that the starter Is No Good........................

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

What achris said. Something in your post worried me a bit "it fired right up, so I jumped down to get the hose". Anytime you plan on starting the engine...the hose should already be attached and water flowing. I learned this the hard way a few years ago, this is not a car, the damage doesn't come from heat build up in the engine, it happens to an unlubricated and un-cooled impellor rotating very fast against metal (your raw water pump) just a few seconds without water can damage it.

 

[sandwichestime]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Originally posted by waterone1:<br /> What achris said. Something in your post worried me a bit "it fired right up, so I jumped down to get the hose". Anytime you plan on starting the engine...the hose should already be attached and water flowing. I learned this the hard way a few years ago, this is not a car, the damage doesn't come from heat build up in the engine, it happens to an unlubricated and un-cooled impellor rotating very fast against metal (your raw water pump) just a few seconds without water can damage it.

yeah, NOT a good idea. but to be honest with you, i didnt expect it to work, as i had racked my brain on this boat for a full day. the problem now is the guy said he's out of parts for this starter and now i have to wait until thursday <br /><br />i am going to ask if there is a higher grade starter available, as i dont know what i would have done if that thing had started up a couple more times and i took it to the water...

 

[achris]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Just cranking with a dry impeller in a dry housing can cause damage. Even when just doing a compression test I have the water running. Cheaper than replacing an impeller, or worse.<br /><br />Chris.........

 

[cc lancer]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Any possibility the timing is advanced to much since this is a new engine?

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Going back to the original question, I'm kind of puzzled by this. I guess this is one of the newer gear reduction starters ? I have changed a few of these but have never had one apart. From what I have seen, most starters that have been over-used without enough cool down time have had motor problems (shorted windings, etc), yet he had a gear break ? Even though the replacement gear was used...it broke ? Are these gears warping from heat ? The teeth getting damaged from a missalignment inside the starter ? Or is there a hidden defect in the engine causing these starter gears to break from some unusual load....like timing too far advanced ? Just kind of scratching my head on this ?

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Gee, guess someone else beat me to the punch while I was typing.

 

[sandwichestime]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

we checked and changed the timing when we got it, and set it for 8 degrees. now, im not a mechanic, and maybe i need to change that because it was WAY off. the motor seemed to run smoother when we changed it, but maybe we advanced it too much?

 

[Don S]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Ok, lets start from the beginning, and at this point I don't care if the impeller caught fire it was so hot. That is another problem and won't cause starting problems.<br />1. The thing damaged the starter, and under warrenty a plastic piece was replace with a used one????? What plastic piece. There are no plastic gears in starters. <br />2. "with a GM crate engine" Who's crate engine, Merc, Volvo, Marine Power, other??????<br />3. Did you check the teeth on the ring gear on the flywheel?<br />4. You mentioned you changed the timing to 8°. With a new engine you probably have an EST type distributor, correct? Did you put it in base timing to set the timing?

 

[sandwichestime]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> Ok, lets start from the beginning, and at this point I don't care if the impeller caught fire it was so hot. That is another problem and won't cause starting problems.<br />1. The thing damaged the starter, and under warrenty a plastic piece was replace with a used one????? What plastic piece. There are no plastic gears in starters. <br />2. "with a GM crate engine" Who's crate engine, Merc, Volvo, Marine Power, other??????<br />3. Did you check the teeth on the ring gear on the flywheel?<br />4. You mentioned you changed the timing to 8°. With a new engine you probably have an EST type distributor, correct? Did you put it in base timing to set the timing?

1. really, i dont know, im just relaying information from the starter rebuilder. ive never opened one up, so all the guys could be snickering in th ebackground while he's saying that and i wouldnt know the difference<br />2. its a mercruiser. and when i say "new" realize that this is a 1988 renken, and the motor is suppose to be in the 1995-2000 year range. i suppose "newer" is the proper nomenclature.<br />3. again, im not a mechanic, but i did reach in and feel the teeth on the flywheel while turning it by hand to assure that the engine was not locked up, or the flywheel stripped. seemed good to me.<br />4. yeah i changed the base of the distributor to set the timing

 

[achris]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Mr S,<br /><br />"Base mode" is used to set the timing. You must put the ESD system into "Base mode" before moving the distributor.<br /><br />Chris..........<br /><br />and nobody is snickering in the background. We are trying to help you, but need more info (and correct info) than you are giving us.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: merc 5.7 starter question

Gee Don, All I was trying to do was disscourage a bad practice (starting an engine without water). I don't think anyone tried to say that water had anything to do with the starter problem.