starter spinning backwards?????

[jeffmitchell]

tryed to fire up the boat for the first time this year, I have 1990 Johnson outboard 120 hp. The boat would not start, starter spinning fast but the bendix wouldn't pop up. After many attempts I noticed the starter is spinning counter clock wise, but when I spin the bendix (and it moves up and down freely) the only way I can spin it up is in a clockwise manner , so starter spins counter clock wise, bendix won't pop up, but I can manually spin the bendix up but in the opposite direction from what the starter spins, any suggestions?

 

[F_R]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

tryed to fire up the boat for the first time this year, I have 1990 Johnson outboard 120 hp. The boat would not start, starter spinning fast but the bendix wouldn't pop up. After many attempts I noticed the starter is spinning counter clock wise, but when I spin the bendix (and it moves up and down freely) the only way I can spin it up is in a clockwise manner , so starter spins counter clock wise, bendix won't pop up, but I can manually spin the bendix up but in the opposite direction from what the starter spins, any suggestions?

You aren't the first one to be confused by this and won't be the last. It is turning the right direction. Try this: hold the bendix from turning and rotate the starter shaft counter clockwise. You will see the bendix rise, just as it should. In actual use, the force of inertia holds the bendix still just as you as doing with this experiment.

EDIT: The rest of the story. Your starter isn't spinning as it should. It needs to spin instantly and fast. It is that sudden rotation and the bendix lagging behind that makes the gear go up. Check your battery and cables, 90% that is the problem

 

[jeffmitchell]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

so you are saying there is different problem somewhere else?????

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

The starter gear may also need to be oiled properly for it works free too.

 

[jeffmitchell]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

unless I am badly fooled battery is good, cables maybe a little suspect, but I cleaned all the connections at the starter and oiled the shaft, I will check the cables and go from there

 

[JB]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

Clean all connections, from the battery to the engine and from the battery to the solenoid. The worst offender is the battery ground cable connection to the engine block.

They can look good, be tight, and still prevent the starter from getting enough current.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

read this: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=303982

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

Bad connections are a very common issue. Rule this out first.

 

[F_R]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

Bad connections are a very common issue. Rule this out first.

Agreed, and if they check out good, have the battery tested. Many places will do it free. It can have a dead cell and still make the starter whiz pretty fast, but not good enough to engage the gear and crank the motor.

 

[rockstarbob]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

I had the same issue with my starter spinning in the wrong direction and the bendix not popping up to engage the flywheel last season. Luckily I had a friend with me who was an electrician and his first thought was reverse polarity and he was right. I had my positive cable connective to my negative terminal and my negative cable connected to my posotive terminal. Switched these up and voila the bendix spun in the right direction and fired up my boat.

One of the signs this was an issue was that I would get some sparking when connecting the battery. In my defense there was a bright red QA sticker next to the negative terminal

 

[witenite0560]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

For those folks who don't do this kind of work often: Note that the battery terminals are usually marked on top and embossed on the case. As well, they are different sizes. If one fits loosely and you have to loosen the bolt up on the other and tap in on, you've probably got them reversed. If you do and you turn the key, you'll be lucky if your starter turning backward is the worst of your problems. You'll likely fry anything electronic that's hooked up and turned on!!

 

[JB]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

I had the same issue with my starter spinning in the wrong direction and the bendix not popping up to engage the flywheel last season. Luckily I had a friend with me who was an electrician and his first thought was reverse polarity and he was right. I had my positive cable connective to my negative terminal and my negative cable connected to my posotive terminal. Switched these up and voila the bendix spun in the right direction and fired up my boat.

One of the signs this was an issue was that I would get some sparking when connecting the battery. In my defense there was a bright red QA sticker next to the negative terminal

This is technically impossible, Bob. What you had was a bad connection that prevented the starter from getting enough current to drive the Bendix into the flywheel. Your friend merely corrected the bad connection.

Starter motors are polarity independent. They run the same direction with polarity reversed. The Bendix will fool many people because it appears to turn one way while being driven by the starter motor turning the other way.

Further, it is unlikely that having the battery reversed wouldn't wipe out a lot of motor electrics, including regulator, rectifier and, if so equipped, the powerpak.

 

[F_R]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

This is technically impossible, Bob. What you had was a bad connection that prevented the starter from getting enough current to drive the Bendix into the flywheel. Your friend merely corrected the bad connection.

Starter motors are polarity independent. They run the same direction with polarity reversed. The Bendix will fool many people because it appears to turn one way while being driven by the starter motor turning the other way.

Further, it is unlikely that having the battery reversed wouldn't wipe out a lot of motor electrics, including regulator, rectifier and, if so equipped, the powerpak.

What JB said is true, at least it is for conventional starters with field coils. But I wonder---the new permanent magnet starter motors--will they run backwards if polarity is reversed? It seems like they would. But obviously I've never tried it.

Anyhoo, this guys starter is running in the correct direction, counter clockwise.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

But I wonder---the new permanent magnet starter motors--will they run backwards if polarity is reversed

Yes a motor with a permanent magnet field will run backwards if the polarity is reversed.

 

[inspeedway]

Re: starter spinning backwards?????

cc starter makes the flywheel go clock wise is the easy way of futting it!!!