75 merc starter maybe turning wrong way

[kingfisherman]

is this possible can the starter turn the wrong way? It turns but wont engage. last time i used it worked just fine. i jumped the starter from the battery and it looked like it turnes the wrong way. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[JB]

Re: 75 merc starter maybe turning wrong way

Series wound DC motors cannot be reversed without rewiring the brushes, so it seems very unlikely that yours has suddenly reversed. It is normal that the starter motor rotates the opposite direction of the flywheel.

What is more likely is simple and easy. . .clean up the wiring of the starter high current circuit. Remove and clean the connections at both ends of each big wire, with special attention to the battery ground cable that bolts to the engine block.

You didn't say what the starter did when you jumped it. Did it spin fast? Did it engage the flywheel?

Let us know what you find, and good luck.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 75 merc starter maybe turning wrong way

JB - Do you think he has a pemanent magnet starter? If so and you reverse the magnet when you reassembling the starter, the motor will spin the other way.

 

[kingfisherman]

Re: 75 merc starter maybe turning wrong way

when i jumped the starter it did turn fast but did not engage. are you talking about the outer casing? maybe i put it back together upside down. i will try that and let you know. thanks a bunch.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 75 merc starter maybe turning wrong way

Looking at the engine and starter from above, the engine runs clockwise. To start the engine, the starter must spin counter clockwise -- that's the way gears work. If the starter is spinning clockwise, it is indeed running the wrong way. If it is spinning counter clockwise, the bendix is stuck down. It is not uncommon for this to happen on Mercs. Pop the bendix upward by hand and clean the grooves in the shaft. A light spritz with a spray lub is all that's necessary.