Starter issues (related to Air in Lower Unit)

[C17LoadSmasher]

Hello all, I went and removed the starter, figuring if there was nothing wrong with it, then I could just put it back on. Better to check it out than sit around. Well I took it off, and water ran out, so I figure the starter is what it is. I took some pictures, and here is the link: Starter Pictures . If any one has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.. it would be most appreciated. I am going out to pull the actual starter drive housing next to check that out.<br /><br />Thanks in advance..<br /><br />--Chris

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter issues (related to Air in Lower Unit)

Chris,<br /> Not that it Really matters... I like to take the starter off in One piece.... the 2 big bolts holding the rest of it in, are all you need to remove.... you can get a Complete starter for about $150.(wholesale) to $350.(retail)...... <br />By the looks of it, I'm Surprized it started at All.....

 

[C17LoadSmasher]

Re: Starter issues (related to Air in Lower Unit)

Okay, I apparently overlooked the bolts, since they were on the underside of the starter/engine. So I pulled the whole thing out this morning, and took apart the rest of the part I pulled out yesterday, and there was rust just CAKED in there. I am surprised it was starting too! I took some more pictures, and added them to the previous page: Starter Pics . The new ones are the ones that have an underscore between the word starter and the number (ie: starter_001). Seeing as how the starter was so corroded and rusty, is there anything else I should look for in that area? I am anxious to put a new one in and see if that clears up the noise, I am almost sure it would! Thanks again!<br /><br />--Chris

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starter issues (related to Air in Lower Unit)

You Sunk it in the Salt, Didn't you ??? <br />I think you should be Looking at alot of things.... Along with spraying with WD-40, greasing, oiling, etc... And while you're crawling around in there, check, clean, loosen, retighten any eletrical connections that saw the salt... maybe a daub of di-eletric grease....<br />You need to stop that rust,+ corrosion, before it gets out of hand....<br />Your photos showed No real Surprizes.... <br />Step back a little, so we can see more of your engine room...<br />What i can see in the 1st pic. in your album, i See Alot of Rust..!!! i see crud growing around the pressure fitting on the fuel pump Too...<br />When you reinstall the New starter, I'd coat the threads of the bolts with Never-Seize...

 

[quick_claude]

Re: Starter issues (related to Air in Lower Unit)

C17,<br />Here is my experience with a similar situation.<br />After forgetting to remove the bilge plug after last summer's final outing, I visited my boat ( '79 Chapparral 120 I/O Merc Alpha 1) at the storage yard a month later and there was about a foot of water in the boat covering the starter (yeah, I have a boat cover now). Anyway starter rusted inside like yours. Took apart solenoid and starter and clean and WD forty-ed everything. THe end result....the solenoid kicks out the starter bendix about only 50% of the time so now I am going to buy a new starter. Moral of the story...i'ts now worth chancing it. Buy a new starter or at least a new solenoid....BUt that's just my suggestion.

 

[C17LoadSmasher]

Re: Starter issues (related to Air in Lower Unit)

Good news.. it starts alot more quickly now (go figure). Bad news.. still noise. I took the belt off, and fired it up just for a moment to see if perhaps it was the alternator...and it appears it might be. When I spin the alternator it grates a little against something inside, perhaps a byproduct of the saltwater being slung around by the belt. I have a friend that rebuilds alternators, so I will see if he can help me out with that one. I have, actually, scraped/sanded some of the rust off of things, and coated it with some corrosion preventative lube, however my time is limited with work and all. Hopefully the alternator will be the fix, and then the rust will be my next objective.<br /><br />--Chris