Starter runs backwards ?????

[gcriniti]

I've never seen such a crazy thing! It worked last year. Nothing's been changed. The starter runs backwards. Yes, I checked the battery cables; that's the first thing I thought of too. Cables are correct. I even checked the polarity with a meter at the starter motor. So, since it runs backwards, the drive gear does not fly out and engage the ring gear, it just spins. Has anyone ever seen this before? I hate to buy a new starter just to find out something else is wrong.

Mercury 125 HP outboard 125HP 2-stroke.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[older than dirt Brownie]

You say the Starter runs backwards. When looking down from the top, which direction is it actually turning? Clockwise or Counter clockwise?

 

[fastjeff]

IF you hooked the battery up backwards the spark box may be shot. A customer did that to me once (but was honest about it).

Jeff