1994 Force 70 Hp starter wont engage flywheel

[ssmith6]

Well guys I am stumped and this looked like a place full of informational users that might be able to help me for tomorrow. First let me tell you what happened this weekend. My cousin bought a boat from a man last year. The boat/motor is 15 years old and the water impeller was starting to go out so I told him i could help him change it....I went though all the steps and got it put back together fine. The water impeller had never been changed. So we go put it in the water. It pees like never before. The gear linkage was a little funky with forward gear so i adjusted the nut on the linkage on the lower unit and got it squared away. We got in a bad storm in the middle of the lake today and we boogied back to the dock. when we get to the dock i bump it into neutral.

Here is were it gets funky....When put into forward it only idles up....doesnt engage. Reverse works fine. So i back it in to the dock. The lock nut had come loose in the chop on the way back to the dock. Well i get that squared away and tried to crank it and now the started spins freely but will not engage the flywheel. Any tips? He also replaced all the battery connections this weekend. Any advise would be gladly appreciated so i can get it running for him tomorrow.

Thanks guys!!!!
Steven

[chitownborn]

take some wd 40 and spray the starter bendix, it sometimes gets gunked up not allowing it to travel up to engage the flywheel hope this helps it cured mine good luck don

[john from md]

It sounds like the Bendix is not spinning up. Put a couple of drops of oil at the top of the Bendix where it meets the shaft and work it back and forth by hand to loosen it up. 10 to 1 the grease on the shaft gear got sticky due to age and kept the Bendix from spinning up to the flywheel.

John

[ssmith6]

thanks i will try that....any other ideas?

[chitownborn]

nope that should take care of it