Starter gear not lifting

[jaymasta]

I have a 1994 60hp johnson, the problem started has slowly gotten worse. The gear on top of the starter would stop lifting over a few month period. Every now and then I would go to start the motor and the starter would spin but the gear wouldn't lift and engage the flywheel, it didn't seem like a big deal initially as I would just need to try a few times and it would go but it has slowly gotten worse over the last month or so. My last trip out it wouldn't work at all so I had to get someone to hold it engaged with the flywheel with a screwdriver and then it started fine. When it does engage it starts the engine with no problem at all its got lots of power. I can lift it by hand to engage the flywheel as well so I don't think it is a lubrication issue, I have done a search and from what I have found it seems that cleaning all my connections should help so I have started this, so far I have removed and cleaned battery terminals and connectors, ground at the engine, the positive at the engine, the power connector to the starter, and a few of the other smaller connectors around the starter motor. I am using my dremel with a wire wheel and it is doing a great job, with a bit of work the conectors are basically looking brand new. Should I be using dielectric grease on the conections? I haven't tried the motor yet as I need to move the boat around to get water to it and I wanted to try cleaning some more but just wanted to see if this is the right step or if my starter is probobly on the way out and I should be looking at replacing it? Is this a good thing to do periodically anyways? It seems that quite a few of the wires and conections have quite a bit of corosion and build up around them, I was thinking of just slowly going through every conector and cleaning it up a bit. This would be a lot of work though, is it worth the trouble?
Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: Starter gear not lifting

cleaning connections is a great idea and may fix your issues...die electric grease?? not sure never "had" to use it but Im mostly working with fresh water maybe in salt water applications a good idea??
Im assuming your battery is fully charged and reliable??
Wayne

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Starter gear not lifting

If you lift the bendix gear by hand, then the engine cranks over normnally when you turn the key to the start position, then obviously there is enough voltage being applied to the starter to turn (crank) the engine over.

Regardless of what you think about the bendix being okay, humor me and clean the bendix gear assembly of grease with WD40. Grease on a bendix gear collects grease, grease colects dirt, dirt creates friction and binding. Let me know what you find.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Starter gear not lifting

The bendix gear appeared clean when I pulled it up by hand (no lubricant at all and I thought it might need some) I will try using some WD-40 on it, do I just squirt it down the shaft? If I do that it won't get inside the motor part and damage anything will it? I think I will continue and clean and remove any corrosion from all the connections regardless.

 

[lindy46]

Re: Starter gear not lifting

I usually use a drop of three-in-one oil on it. Any light machine oil, like sewing machine oil, should be ok. Don't overdo it.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Starter gear not lifting

As Lindy states, just one drop will do it.

I use WD-40 or CRC-66 to clean the grease away, coupled with a proper size brush, and compressed air. The time involved, being so short, there is not much likelyhood that the solution would work its way into the electric starter.

Helps to have a rag surrounding the bendix to collect the grease and dirt when using the compressed air....... keep the powerhead as clean as possible.