Starter trouble on 1985 Evinrude 90 hp...

[Dave CFI]

Yesterday I was out boating and everything was going great. I had started and stopped the motor severl times over the course of the day. Towards the evening I stopped for a while and when I went to start it again it just made a whirling noise. The starter was not engaging the flywheel. I tapped on the starter lightly with a hammer and it started right up the next try. I have a 1985 Evinrude VRO 90 hp motor. Was this just a fluke or will it keep doing this, do you think? I haven't had it do it again but I haven't started it too many times since. Is there something dirty that I can clean? Is the starter on its way out and needing replaced? If so, can it be rebuilt or do I need a new one and where would I get it?Thanks,Dave Alfstad

[JB]

Your Bendix gear stuck on the shaft, Dave.It will do it again unbless you clean the shaft and lube it.Clean it with WD-40, wipe dry and lube with light machine oil.Good luck.

[Dave CFI]

Thanks for the reply...Do I need to take anything apart to clean the shaft or can I just do it at the top of the starter?Dave Alfstad

[DJ]

Dave,No, you do not. Just "walk" the drive up and down the shaft by rotating it, by hand. Rotate it in the opposite direction of flywheel rotation to make it go up.While doing that, clean the shaft, then lube with WD-40 as JB suggests.

[Dave CFI]

Thanks guys! This forum is GREAT!Dave Alfstad