Starter Freewheeling/Stripped Flywheel?

[sea2sea]

So... my first mate turned the ignition key while the motor was running... After hearing the grinding sound, key was turned the right way and engine shut down. Went to restart after anchoring for a bit and the starter would only freewheel. Can someone tell me the steps I should use to troubleshoot?

I did try jumping the solenoid, and still got only the whining/freewheeling sound from the starter. Presume I'm left with either a damaged flywheel (really bad...) or "just" stripped the teeth in the starter.

Before I pull the starter and hope that those are the teeth that are striped, anything else I should check first since I will need to be upside down and backwards trying to get the starter out...?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[tank1949]

Bindex may be toast. Sorry, but you will have to pull starter and pray only bad bindex and not FW teeth GONE.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Almost certainly the bendix, which pushes the starter gear into engagement with the flywheel.

 

[sea2sea]

Thanks Rick and "tank". I appreciate the advice!

 

[Bondo]

Thanks Rick and "tank". I appreciate the advice!

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... If it's damaged, toss it, 'n get a pmm starter to replace it,....
1/2 the weight, 'n 'bout twice the power,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

I'f you did damage the ring gear. Remember a ring gear is only $15 and that is all that needs to be replaced. Not a complete flywheel

 

[sea2sea]

Update: I replaced the starter. When I had it off, I visually inspected as much of the flywheel as I could. It looked to be in good shape with no teeth missing or signs that it was grinding on anything. At the moment of truth when I turned the key, I heard a short/loud "clank" and immediately disengaged the key. So, I presume that the old starter/bendix was in fact shot (bendix in new starter tried to engage flywheel)- but also presume the flywheel is locked. Have gone as far as I think I can go, so will have it towed in for a professional to take a look. From what I have learned from other posts, sounds like it could either be hydro locked or a misaligned lower unit. Any other possibilities that I should be prepared for the mechanic to look at?
Just for background for others: boat was fine heading to anchorage. MAY have bottomed out lower unit in shallow water on the way there - but no indication that there was any real impact during the rest of the trip (20 minutes of cruising time after), and my wife turned the ignition key while the engine was still running when we were anchoring. Starter freewheeled when attempting to leave anchorage after 2 hours at anchor.

Thanks again!

 

[Rick Stephens]

Sounds hydrolocked to me. If you are in salt water, and it has a cylinder or two full of water, it is probably too late to save it from serious rust buildup.

 

[Scott06]

Sounds hydrolocked to me. If you are in salt water, and it has a cylinder or two full of water, it is probably too late to save it from serious rust buildup.

Agreed get plugs out see if it turns over and expels water out of cylinders needs to happen fast dont let them sit on it before working on it.

 

[tank1949]

Agreed get plugs out see if it turns over and expels water out of cylinders needs to happen fast dont let them sit on it before working on it.

If motor has sat very long, rings maybe rusted to cylinder. Been there!

 

[Rick Stephens]

If motor has sat very long, rings maybe rusted to cylinder. Been there!

Me too