I appreciate the feedback on my last post on getting a starter hooked up to my 1977 Johnson 50 hp engine. It's a rope start currently. I received a starter today with a 9 tooth bendix. The good news...the starter bolted right up. No ISSUES! The bad news..the bendix has 9 teeth, however my flywheels gear/tooth pattern won't match up. I am thinking it needs a 11 to 12 tooth bendix. My question is, can a starter rebuild shop hook me up with a different bendix that will simply slide on the starter shaft and match up to my flywheels teeth pattern? My second problem is the gear shifter cable is rright in the path of the location of the starter! I pulled the gear shifter cable and I think I can add a piece of 1/4" key stock ( about 2-3 inches long with a coupler added to connect the original shifter cable and the keystock. I think I can cover it with a pc of heavy fuel line or automotive hose to protect it from the elements. My may concern now is getting the bendix to match up. I know I was told to call a outboard starter manufacturer off this site, but the tech guys I spoke to were clueless on what I was needing. Not a whole lot of help there. Please let me know your thoughts on how I can switch outthe bendix with a tooth pattern that will match up to my flywheel. Thanks again!