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Force 50hp Starter Question - Slipping ?

K

kirkn

New member
Hi, Kirk the newbie here. Just now joined up to ask for help:

So, it's an early 90's Force 50hp outboard.

When the motor has been sitting for a few days or more, the first time I go to start it, the starter pinion gear pops up great and engages the flywheel teeth. But, the flywheel is sluggish to turn over for the first few revolutions. But, during that time, the starter motor shaft is still spinning very fast. Like, the pinion gear is slipping on the starter motor shaft.

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But, after a few revolutions of the flywheel (usually by turning the key to 'start' and releasing it a couple times - kinda 'bumping' the starter), the thing finally straightens itself out and the motor starts fine. Thereafter, it'll start perfectly. You can shut the motor off, and it'll start right back up perfectly.

The whole shaft / spring / pinion gear is greasy, as if it's been well greased with a kind of white-ish grease.

What's going on here? Is this a starter / pinion problem, a grease problem, or a motor / compression problem?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Kirk
 
Hey, thanks. I didn't know the terminology.

Another bit of troubleshooting this evening: I degreased the whole thing as best I could using aerosol degreaser and lots of rags. It did a good job and with the rags, I didn't get a mess on any of the surrounding bits. Made no difference at all.

So, I decided to experiment and I held the key on for 5 or 10 seconds, to see what would happen, figuring I had nothing to lose at this point. The bendix began smoking (!!) out of the top (where the shaft comes out), and then it began to work! At first, it wouldn't even turn the flywheel, but then it began to turn it 1/2 revolution or so, then it just began to work perfectly! Motor starts right up.

Once the motor started and idled for 5 or 10 minutes, you could shut it down and it would immediately restart, no issues.

So, I shut it down and let it sit for 30 minutes or so, and the whole process repeated itself. Spinning shaft / no spinning bendix, then smoke, then 1/2 revolution then works perfectly.

Very interesting.

So, a new bendix in my future.

Thanks for the reply!

Kirk
 
Too much grease on the shaft is a problem.Should be just a lite touch of grease on the worm gear.
The bendix has rubber in it and grease makes it slip.While it's apart replace the brushes too. Easy job.
The springs are old(overheated) and new.
Make sure you get the right bendix.The one's for the newer starters will chew up your flywheel.




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