Starter problem 76 mercury 850 85 hp

[ghs48]

My starter would not engage and would only spin. I have checked it all from Battery to Starter. I replaced the solenoid. I took the starter off and used a dc power source and the cranking motor turned just as it is supposed to and the pinion gear raised. When I try to start it now all I get is this clicked noise and the starter does not spin. Any ideas why. I don't want to buy a new starter and then find that is not the problem. Shouldn't it work in the outboard if it works when I take it off. Also the neutral switch works fine it won't turn over when in gear and out it clicks when I try to start it. Could it be a wiring issue in the wiring to the starter but the power wires look like they are in great shape to the solenoid but the small "s" and "i" wires to the solenoid had some insulation melted off so I taped them up.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Starter problem 76 mercury 850 85 hp

Well, you are mixing issues. If the bendix gear won't rise up to the flywheel when the starter spins, it is likely its track is dirty. Remove the bendix gear and clean the track with some solvent or grease cutting detergent. After it is clean oil it sparingly.

The other issue is the starter now doesn't spin. Likely you have bad battery cables or dirty battery cable ends. Jumper from the battery cable to the "S" (small) terminal on the solenoid. If the starter doesn't spin, jumper across both large cables of the solenoid. If the starter spins now, the solenoid could be bad. They almost never fail, BTW.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Starter problem 76 mercury 850 85 hp

Measure the voltage between the hot terminal stud on the starter and the starter case stud if it has one where the - battery lead is connected. With the starter spinning, you should get 10v minimum. If not clean up your wiring. If you do and starter isn't spinning properly, feel it. Is it getting hot? It shouldn't be. If all that works, lube your starter shaft.