Starter just spins, not engaging the bendix drive, 12,6 V to the starter

[Andrik]

I have bought an Evinrude Ocean Pro 175 hp 1994 model that has not been in use for three years.

I have changed the starter, but it only spins, it will not engage the bendix drive. The large, lower toothwheel of the bendix drive did not move when I took out the starter, so I sprayed some WD40 on it (sprayed into the opening of the starter). I have later read that I should not use this kind of lubricant.

I have 12,6 V from the starter solenoid to the starter.

I have not mounted the controlboxwires. I know that the switch knot on the gir arm need to be pulled in for the motor to start, but I guess the starter will run independent of this?

Does anyone have a solution?

I am a afraid of breaking something if taking off the spinwheel covers, cant find a description of how to do this in the manual. Does anyone have a descrition?

 

[Fleetwin]

Remove the negative battery cable from the engine block and thoroughly clean the cable end and the where it mounts on the engine block.

 

[Andrik]

But is that necessary when I have 12,6 volts directly into the starter from the solenoid? Seems not to be a voltage problem?

 

[GA_Boater]

But is that necessary when I have 12,6 volts directly into the starter from the solenoid? Seems not to be a voltage problem?

Yes. You're right. It isn't a voltage problem. It is a current problem, the power behind the voltage.

I would suggest cleaning the battery posts and any cable connection between the battery and starter, including both sides of the solenoid,

You could try using a set of jumper cables from the battery directly to the starter to see if the starter engages by bypassing all the connections.

And :welcome: aboard.

 

[Fleetwin]

Yes. You're right. It isn't a voltage problem. It is a current problem, the power behind the voltage.

I would suggest cleaning the battery posts and any cable connection between the battery and starter, including both sides of the solenoid,

You could try using a set of jumper cables from the battery directly to the starter to see if the starter engages by bypassing all the connections.

And :welcome: aboard.

Yup, it's not the volts, it the AMPS behind it.

Besides, what I suggested costs a bit of time. 0$$

 

[oldboat1]

could check the voltage drop when the starter is engaged. But better to just use jumpers as suggested. If jumpers get it to work, it's probably neither the battery nor the bendix/starter, but a fault in the starter circuit somewhere.

If the starter is spinning fast but the bendix is not operating, think you have an issue with the starter (wasn't use of WD-40, btw). From your description, it sounds like the gear may not be working properly (had a prior issue). Try the jumpers first.

 

[Fed]

Forget electrical problems for now.
It has to be a mechanical problem if the starter motor is spinning but the large driven gear is not.
Check the BRP website for an exploded drawing of what you're dealing with.
Looks like the drive gear is secured to the armature shaft via 2 flats on the shaft.

 

[F_R]

All that talk about voltage and current is meaningless unless you tell us Where you are checking the voltage. If you have the red voltmeter on the cable post on the starter and the black lead on the starter housing, it is a valid reading. And if it is a valid 12.6 reading across the starter itself, and the starter isn't performing, there is something wrong with the starter.

 

[oldboat1]

Jumping is a shade tree bench test. Try it with your boat battery. If the starter doesn't function, pull up your car and jump it from the car battery. If the starter still doesn't function, assume the starter needs to be rebuilt or partially rebuilt. (Point is to insure you are supplying good current directly from a strong battery -- trying to determine if the starter is the problem.)

If the gear pops and turns the flywheel from your boat battery, assume both are good and you have a poor connection somewhere (bad connection, bad solenoid, bad key switch, etc. etc.). Proceed from there.

 

[Andrik]

I just tried with a jumper, but its the same, the starter will not engage the spin wheel. The starter is new. I think it is a mechanical problem, as Fed suggested. The starter does not have a bendix drive, but the starter is connected to a bendix drive via a larger tootwheel. Please see exploded drawing; http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...-problem-starting-1995-90hp-evinrude-outboard.


Has anyone taken off the two spin wheel covers with the optical sensors and everything? I am a afraid of breaking something if taking them off, cant find a description of how to do this in the manual. Does anyone have a describtion?

 

[jakedaawg]

Have you load tested the battery? Cleaned and tightened all terminal ends with a wire brush and a wrench? If not then do that first, no point in going further. If so, isolate battery cables (un hook both ends) and ohm test them. You should have a low ohm reading. Report back.

 

[Chris1956]

Will the bendix gear rise when you turn it with your fingers ? If not, it will never work when the starter spins. Is the starter spinning in the right direction?

 

[Andrik]

Have you load tested the battery? Cleaned and tightened all terminal ends with a wire brush and a wrench? If not then do that first, no point in going further. If so, isolate battery cables (un hook both ends) and ohm test them. You should have a low ohm reading. Report back.

The multimeter shows 0,3 on the starting cables I use as a jumper. The battery works very well on my 2,5 diesel car engine. As I test the starter with the starting cables, the battery poles are clean - can the problem be bad connections?

 

[Andrik]

Will the bendix gear rise when you turn it with your fingers ? If not, it will never work when the starter spins. Is the starter spinning in the right direction?

It is not possible to see the bendix drive without taking the flywheel covers off. Which direction shall the starter spin? I can take it off and check.

 

[AlTn]

the bendix would have to spin counterclockwise to turn the flywheel clockwise

 

[Fleetwin]

Did you check the connection? If not, why not. Takes 60 seconds.

You should be able to 'Walk" the gear up with your fingers, Opposite direction of starter rotation.

 

[jakedaawg]

Jumper cables will not necessarily give you a good enough connection. A known good battery with around 600 MCA should be in the boat to perform testing. It does sound like you are going to have to take your engine cIver off and see if the be fix slides on the shaft

 

[Fed]

When you replaced the starter did the new one come with a drive gear on it or did you use your old one?
I have to say I'm not familiar with these geared starters but they look simple enough.
If the starter is spinning but the large driven gear isn't then there has to be a catastrophic mechanical failure, a missing part or it hasn't been assembled properly.
Do you remember if the drive gear that fits to the starter shaft had flats in it's center hole to lock it to the shaft?
I'd pull the starter out and try to check from there rather that tearing the top off it.

 

[Andrik]

It spins clockwise... It is a new starter from DB Electrical. What should I do?

 

[Andrik]

Update;
1. It is impossible to "walk the gear up" with my fingers, seems like it is stuck with the lower shaft gear. The starter have flats to fit the starter shaft. I am sure the starter runs the larger shaft gear in the bendix. What about WD40?

2.And the new starter spins clockwise. Is it for sure that it should run counterclockwise? It is a new starter from DB electrical.

exploded view of the starter and bendix;
http://boatinfo.no/lib/evinrude/manuals/1992-2001johnsonevinrude.html#/254