starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

[GlasV162]

Hello all,

1990 Evinrude 90 hp E90TLESB

I just had a new starter put on. I think it's a Sierra brand. Anyway, the starter motor works, but when the gear on the starter pops up, it lines up with the teeth on the flywheel, but the teeth don't completely mesh together, causing a terrible grinding noise and poor cranking. Is there any way to adjust the starter so the gear meshes more closely with the teeth on the flywheel? Thanks.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

Normally, if you have the proper electric starter with the proper bendix gear, there is no problem.

However, if you're sure that the starter/bendix is correct, the angle of attack (as it is called) of the starter can be adjusted by using thin washers as shims between the starter housing bolt area and the powerhead.

Be careful not to overdo it! After each shim attempt, manually turn the starter armature and raise the bendix gear by hand to check the teeth engagement.

Also, check the undersides of the flywheel teeth. If they are worn bad at an angle, either the ring gear (if possible) or the flywheel will require replacing.

 

[GlasV162]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

Wouldn't adding a shim put the starter further away from the flywheel?
Thanks.

 

[GlasV162]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

Also, which part is the ring gear?
Thanks.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

The shim would be at the bottom starter bolt.

The ring gear is the gear attached to the flywheel.

 

[GlasV162]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

Thanks for the info.

 

[GlasV162]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

One more question. How likely is it for the teeth on the flywheel to wear out? I would think the gear on the starter gear would be, by design, made of a softer metal than the flywheel so it would wear out instead of the flywheel, making for an easier repair. Is this wishful thinking? Thanks.

 

[GlasV162]

Re: starter gear not meshing w/ flywheel teeth

Thought you'd get a kick out of this. It turns out the starter was defective. It was the right model # for my motor, but the mounting brackets were off by just enough to cause the problem. The shop (Nadeau's Marine, Litchfield, Maine) ordered another starter and installed it, and it works great. No charge to me, fully warranteed--even the labor to switch the starters was covered. Now that's great service!!