Starter

[Rinker85]

I've had a dead spot(s) in my starter for a long time. I want to replace it before I'm stuck at the dock. When I googled a new starter the prices were anywhere from $43.00 to $80.00. That seems really cheap. I think I paid about $160.00 20 years ago. Have marine starter prices gone down or am I not looking in the right place? What is a good brand name to get?

Thanks

 

[Maclin]

Yeah, seems low!

I apologize in advance if you have done some bonafide troubleshooting, but...

What do you mean by a couple of dead spots? What happens exactly, does the starter just spin and not move the engine? Or does it just click and can't move the engine?

If it just spins and does not move the engine, then it could be a weak Bendix solenoid and a new starter would remedy that. But that would not really fit your description. Now, the ring gear on the flywheel bolted to the engine may have some missing teeth in a couple of places, hence the "dead spot(s)" in your description. A new starter might help some since it will have a newer pinion gear, but that will wear out soon too as it finds those bad spots.

If it just clicks and cannot move the engine then you may have a hydrolock from water ingestion from exhaust manifolds or risers. If it just clicks be ready to take the plugs out one by one to see if any water comes out.

 

[Rinker85]

It just spins and does not move the engine. It's been so long since I replaced it. Now I'm wondering if I replaced it before for the same issue. Maybe the flywheel is missing teeth. But how would the flywheel get turned to where there are good teeth for the starter to catch if the starter isn't turning the flywheel?

 

[Maclin]

Are you saying that it eventually starts when you first get the spinning with no engine movement? That may indicate just a tired Bendix, so new starter may be a final remedy. If it was the flywheel then the engine would probably need to be moved by hand to get to some good teeth. Sometimes with a weak Bendix the pinion gears will wear down as they are not solidly engaged and the end wears some. In that case it could eventually start as the Bendix gets the pinion out there finally, but you would hear some kind of contact as the pinion rubs against the flywheel until it can muscle up and engage.

 

[Rinker85]

Are you saying that it eventually starts when you first get the spinning with no engine movement? That may indicate just a tired Bendix, so new starter may be a final remedy. If it was the flywheel then the engine would probably need to be moved by hand to get to some good teeth. Sometimes with a weak Bendix the pinion gears will wear down as they are not solidly engaged and the end wears some. In that case it could eventually start as the Bendix gets the pinion out there finally, but you would hear some kind of contact as the pinion rubs against the flywheel until it can muscle up and engage.

Yes it spins without engine movement. I sometimes have to turn the key 3 to 4 times.

 

[kenny nunez]

If you remove the starter then the mounting end of the starter is easy to remove to replace the drive. If you do this be sure that the drive is a NEW one and not a reman. Quite often rebuilt starters have rebuilt drives also which are not always the best. If you get another starter ask if the drive is a rebuilt. Or take your old starter to a small local rebuilder and you will get a better product.

 

[Maclin]

I agree with kenny nunez , if you have a local good rebuild shop they can help diagnose also, and you can watch them test it.