trouble with bendix or potential other issue

[javelin/johnson115]

I have a 2000 Johnson 115 HP outboard 2 stroke engine. It seems I have troubles with the bendix every summer. This summer the boat was running fine. I recently had a newer starter installed. Then, one day, when I tried to start the engine, the starter would spin, but the bendix would not engage the flywheel. I tried messing around with the engine position. When I tilted the engine all the way up, the boat started fine. But when I put the engine in its normal position the same problem occurred. That worked for a couple weeks. Now tilting the engine won't even work. Not sure if it's a bendix issue, but I plan to take it apart and grease the shaft next week. Any other suggestions on what it could be? Seems weird that it worked when I tilted the engine. That's why I think it's the bendix and not a starter cable or starter. Any suggestions? Thanks,

 

[tphoyt]

Check you wiring connections.
Maybe when it was tilted it provided a tighter connection. It’s a long shot but doesn’t cost you anything to check it out.

 

[OldOMC31]

Did you try charging or changing your battery to see if low/bad battery was the cause? Bendix needs high RPM to fight spring pressure and gravity to spin up. With engine tipped up, bendix is more horizontal and slightly less than optimal RPM will cause it to rise up to engage flywheel.

 

[brodmann]

Spray it with a little WD40 and once you use it a few times, wipe that off and put marine grease on it. Happens to me every first time out in the late spring/early summer.

 

[javelin/johnson115]

Did you try charging or changing your battery to see if low/bad battery was the cause? Bendix needs high RPM to fight spring pressure and gravity to spin up. With engine tipped up, bendix is more horizontal and slightly less than optimal RPM will cause it to rise up to engage flywheel.

Thank you for the suggestion. I have a trickle charge that I can hook the battery up to. Hopefully you are right and that solves the issue.