Having a problem with the starter. It is a Wright Electric Motors starter. Problem, The starter spins but the bendix gear does not move out and engage the ring gear.
Problem started 4 weeks ago when the starter relay stuck closed causing the starter to continue to spin and the engine to run even when the ignition key was turned off and removed from the ignition switch. About 30 seconds after removing the key, starter and motor magically turned off. Replaced ignition switch and the starter relay as these are the only 2 components common to the starter and the motor. I then tried to restart the motor but the starter would spin but not engage the ring gear. Figured it burned out because of being run too long while the relay was stuck.
So I replaced starter with a new (refurbished) Wright Electric Motors starter. Boat ran great for 2 weeks of mostly constant start/stop for skiing and boating.
Boat sat a few days. I started it this morning. Motor fired right up but the starter engagement sounded strange/sluggish. The starter did shut off normally when ignition switch moved to the "run" position. Boat ran great. I parked at the dock and turned the engine off. All normal. One half hour later, I turned the ignition switch, starter spun but did not engage the bendix gear. Can't blame the relay or ignition switch for this one.
I did remove the starter and connect it to a battery on a bench. Starter spins but bendix gear does not move. I am able to move the gear manually so it's not frozen in the starter housing. (Problem with the solenoid coil that moves the bendix?)
I am at a loss as to what could account for this behavior, and, much more importantly, what the root cause of the problem is. Could it be simply a bad starter? (kinda doubt it but ...). I need to understand what the failure mechanism is that would allow the starter motor to turn but not throw the bendix out.
Thanks
One more thing. I have read in some posts about shimming a starter to move the bendix closer to or further away from the ring gear. On my engine there are two 9/16 bolts that bolt the starter to the engine. As far as I can see, there is no "adjustment" possible. The bolts go through holes in the front plate on the starter and into the bolt holes in the engine. Am I missing something? Hope not.
Problem started 4 weeks ago when the starter relay stuck closed causing the starter to continue to spin and the engine to run even when the ignition key was turned off and removed from the ignition switch. About 30 seconds after removing the key, starter and motor magically turned off. Replaced ignition switch and the starter relay as these are the only 2 components common to the starter and the motor. I then tried to restart the motor but the starter would spin but not engage the ring gear. Figured it burned out because of being run too long while the relay was stuck.
So I replaced starter with a new (refurbished) Wright Electric Motors starter. Boat ran great for 2 weeks of mostly constant start/stop for skiing and boating.
Boat sat a few days. I started it this morning. Motor fired right up but the starter engagement sounded strange/sluggish. The starter did shut off normally when ignition switch moved to the "run" position. Boat ran great. I parked at the dock and turned the engine off. All normal. One half hour later, I turned the ignition switch, starter spun but did not engage the bendix gear. Can't blame the relay or ignition switch for this one.
I did remove the starter and connect it to a battery on a bench. Starter spins but bendix gear does not move. I am able to move the gear manually so it's not frozen in the starter housing. (Problem with the solenoid coil that moves the bendix?)
I am at a loss as to what could account for this behavior, and, much more importantly, what the root cause of the problem is. Could it be simply a bad starter? (kinda doubt it but ...). I need to understand what the failure mechanism is that would allow the starter motor to turn but not throw the bendix out.
Thanks
One more thing. I have read in some posts about shimming a starter to move the bendix closer to or further away from the ring gear. On my engine there are two 9/16 bolts that bolt the starter to the engine. As far as I can see, there is no "adjustment" possible. The bolts go through holes in the front plate on the starter and into the bolt holes in the engine. Am I missing something? Hope not.
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