Little winter sttarter project

[TwoBallScrewBall]

The starter on my 200hp evinrude will sometimes, once in a while, just spin and not engage the flywheel. I want to remove the starter and do whatever maintenance I can to alleviate this. Where can I start? <br /><br />As far as what happens, it looks like the bendix is not kicking up to the flywheel when this happens. It has never failed completely and does engage after a few tries. Just don't want to get stuck out there knowing I could have fixed it. <br /><br />Thanks!

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

Have you greased the slide?

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

Yeah I used some lightweight oil as the seloc manual (or someone here, don't remember) said to, but it still happened after that. I'm thinking it needs to be disassembled and cleaned up.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

Just trying to save you some time and $$ Steve. I have always used grease on mine with never a problem. Either on my previous Evi or my current Merc.

 

[backdraft]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

Steve , clean off all traces of grease and polish the shaft if you can get at it where the gear rides up. Use wd 40 on it . A low voltage to the starter will cause it not to function properly until the resistance in the wiring gets overcome and then full voltage is applied and it works.

 

[angus63]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

On some starters the gear/bendix ***'y is actually clutched. If the clutch wear is excessive, the gear will "bump" into the flywheel and the starter shaft will spin giving the appearance that the gear did not ride up the shaft. I know my '95 175HP ocean pro has this feature the hard way. Other possibilities are alignment, low cranking amps, damaged teeth, poor connections, worn brushes, etc....<br />Good luck

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

Lets start from the begining. Assuming we're still talking about your 96-97 OP -- you didnt say what year 200, and we're further assuming the connections, cables, battery and the starter itself are all good. <br /><br />There are at least 2 styles of drive assemblys (the upper gear assembly) OMC used on those gear reduction starters. One of them has a rubber insert. If corroision, oil or grease gets on that rubber, it will just sit and spin. Water can do it too but you'd almost have to have the hood off during a rain. <br /><br />Anyway the point is that if the rubber ever slips, it just continues to get worse. The starter drive is easily removed for inspection and/or replacement. If you have the rubber insert style, the correct fix is a replacement. The repalcements that I have seen are not the rubber insert style.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

You need to confirm Dhadleys assumptions by thoroughly cleaning all connections. That would be the easiest place to start troubleshooting.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Little winter sttarter project

Well, the boat is winterized and covered, batteries are out. I can access the motor easily though, a couple bungees and it's uncovered. My plan is to pull the starter off this weekend and take a good look at it. <br /><br />I did do the basic stuff like check connections, even cleaned up the posts even though they were clean to begin with. Still does it. It only does it once in a while though, maybe 5-10% of the time, and it always recovers. <br /><br />I'll pull the starter Saturday and post some pics of it here if it'll help.<br /><br />And yes it is a 1997 200hp Ocean Pro. <br /><br />Thanks!!