Starter engaging Problems

sehord · Post by **sehord** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:54 pm

I have two crusaders (454 -- 350HP) in my 10 meter. I have replaced both starters with geared drive starters which have worked fine. A few months ago my Starboard starter spins but does not engage the engine. I assumed a bad bendix, however it checks fine. I took it to a starter repair facility and they confirmed it under a load test to be ok. Installed on boat same problem. Frustrating. I looked at the flywheel, no missing teeth, then rotated the flywheel about 4 inches (difficult to do). Same problem. Could the stater need shimmed to give an angle? any ideas? Would love to have this fixed. THanks!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:08 pm

Is this a rear mount starter ? Check to see if the ring gear has moved on the fly wheel . common on Chrysler marine . But still could happen on a GM

sehord · Post by **sehord** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:59 pm

I don't believe that it has.... I did see another post about that so I looked and it looks the same as the port engine. I'm going to switch starters tomorrow with the port and verify they operate on opposite engines. Still stumped .... it is a rear mount starter

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:48 pm

Wait !!!!!!!! Don't swap the starters , your engines spin in the opposite direction from the other , and the engine will turn over back wards and suck water in thru the exhaust .

sehord · Post by **sehord** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:44 am

Well, it is actually a starter issue..... I did swap starters and the geared drive starter does not engage on the Port engine either...weird.... It appears ok... the starter repair shop tested it under load and looked at it and confirmed it ok, however the bendix must not be protruding out enough to reach the flywheel. I didnt run the engines, just confirmed they would hit. And prowlerfish I think these rotate the same direction..... Both starters are in the Lower Stbd side of the engine and are rear mounts. I guess the easiest way to comfirm that is look at both starters and see which way they rotate (if identical or not) so Ill check this afternoon before I get a replacement. However, I am very glad it is not a ring gear issue!

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:48 am

Pretty sure each starter is different...good luck.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:12 pm

This might help but you need to know if you have a counter-rotating engine - you probably do but need to confirm first.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... ion+-+ARCO