Boat Won't Start - Starter Issues - Bendix Gear Sticking - Hobby Mechanic

Resolving a starter issue where the bendix gear spins when the ignition is in the starter position but it does not extend and make contact with the bendix gear. Sounds like this is a pretty typical problem and an easy one to resolve.
Looking to produce new content every 1-2 weeks for household maintenance, projects and honey do lists. I have a lot of motors and toys at home so I figured I would at least produce some videos of my maintenance in hopes of helping some folks out. Please subscribe to see more!
Song credits across my videos:
Song: Jarico - Island (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: • Video
Song: MBB - Feel Good (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: • MBB - Feel Good (Vlog ...
Song: Fredji - Happy Life (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: • Fredji - Happy Life (V...
Song: InRp - Last Summer (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: • InRp - Last Summer (Vl...
Song: Leonell Cassio - A Magical Journey Through Space 🚀 [Copyright Free/Free To Use]
Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: • Leonell Cassio - A Mag...

[@Stompkin]

Thanks for the vid, always wondered if I should grease this shaft. Mine has been sticking lately, going to grease it up today!

[@kristensparks8854]

Thank you for this video! We where so eager to get out and fish the MO river make a day of it , when the motor wouldn’t crank. So we bank fished and searched for the solution on KZbin and your video saved the freakin’ day!!!

[@thehobbymechanic47]

That makes my day, THANKS!

[@jimradix6684]

My boat just started started doing this after 12 years. Thanks for the video!!!

[@cinnamon11000]

Thanks for the video. Our rental boat with a 60 HP Mercury needs a spray of wd 40 a few times a season on the bendix gear shaft.

[@OmarAlvarez-mg3kl]

Wish you'd show how to loosen up

[@justinhennis4890]

Thanks, really appreciate this video, was able to fix my problem and get back out on the water

[@GabrielHernandez-sr8jr]

Men you save my life , I thought something broke or a big problem with try boat , once I put oil on it , problem was fix , thanks a lot

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Happy to hear!

[@Kruppa24]

Very helpful, thanks

[@markramos569]

After watching this I hit the gear with some wd 40,gave it a couple raps with a brass hammer and it worked,gear popped right up. When it comes out of the water I'll do the clean,and grease thing. Thanks for the video

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Love to hear it 👍 !!

[@mikespindor]

Great video thank you.

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Very welcome!

[@mikegoss1148]

starter nut is a 18mm and to hold the bendix gear shaft is 11/16

[@striker1211]

Your boat looks to be the same year as mine, how did you keep your cockpit cover in such great shape over the years? Did you have to buy a replacement? Thanks for the video.

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Yep, just watched your speed test vid and they look like they’re the same. You have great taste 👍 I had the cover made 2 or so years ago and I clean and baby it whenever I take it off the boat. I also deep clean and waterproof it at the end of the year. Really makes the boat look clean.

[@catfishredneck88]

Also people need to be aware to use an oil or light lube. A real stick grease can cause the clutch gear to stick like a glue. Good vid.

[@whourdadie]

What is the best oil / lube to use when doing this? I haven't taken my starter off yet, but I used some Blaster Dry Lube and sprayed in there to get it to work temporarily. Mine goes up and down but wasn't engaging all the way. When I spray the Dry Lube it works for a while but then starts doing the same thing again. I want to take it off and clean it, but hearing different things on what I SHOULDN'T use. Nobody says what to specifically use.

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Mines still working good after 2 seasons on salt water. I think the key is deep cleaning the cogs and then only using a really light amount of lubricant. I can only speak to what I used and like I said, I’m still running strong. I used the multipurpose lithium grease I listed in the video details.

[@klaylovell7333]

Any tips on how to get the bolt that holds it on the shaft off, can’t find a tool to grip the shaft so it don’t spin with the bolt .

[@thehobbymechanic47]

I did this fix a while ago but if I remember correctly, I just used a good impact driver and spun the nut off without holding onto the shaft.

[@lakeshorefishing6864]

could it happen the opposite way 98 150 merc to me looks like the pin is stuck up and wont go back down when cracking the motor the gear spins the flywheel but it doesn't start up and the gear doesn't move back down it stay up with the fly wheel ?

[@thehobbymechanic47]

I assume it could. This fix/maintenance is so easy it is worth a shot to try to resolve your issue as well. Good luck and please let me know how it goes.

[@a.abbott8474]

I’ve got that problem right now with an old evinrude 70 hp. I think the spring at the top is old and worn out. I just ordered a new starter off eBay for $50.

[@lakeshorefishing6864]

@@a.abbott8474 i hope it works out for you but my motor it would have been a few hundred for a starter. I ended up using vaseline to see if maybe it needed a bit of grease and gave it a crank and the pin/gear went back down and then i put real grease on it now but it hasn't got stuck since and for the motor firing up it probably would have cracked up either way if the pin/gear was stuck or not but figured out the fuel pump wasn't even turning on when i cracked the motor .... it was getting a bad connection the connectors to the fuel pump and fuel pump on the ignition were dirt and maybe some corrosions so needed to be cleaned and fired right up after that. lots of money later I'm still not fully done with the final tune-ups and needs a timing done . but i hope something helps and good luck

[@brianthompson839]

How do you get the nut off the top?

[@thehobbymechanic47]

I just used an impact driver to spin it off.

[@stephenmetz2044]

How long does this repair last ? Just ordered a new starter cause I tried pb blaster and got motor started once. But back on water same lodge in bottom position bendix. Spinning away. 80 dollars was price of starter. I could always send back. But kinda was worried ir would happen again and again.

[@thehobbymechanic47]

I would assume if there's not any corrosion and you clean everything really good and re-grease it should last a couple of years at least depending on your environment. I mention in the video that it would probably be a good idea to add this to your annual/bi-annual maintenance routine. It really only takes 20 minutes or so and will save you a ton of headache. Additionally, just make sure to have the right tools in your boat to resolve the issue if/when it happens in the future.

[@OmarAlvarez-mg3kl]

Wish you had shown how to take the nut off.

[@OmarAlvarez-mg3kl]

Can someone give me a tip how to loosen the nut on the starter. Please

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Yeah, I hadn’t invested in a camera tripod yet when I put this video together so I couldn’t video any action shots. I used a Dewalt impact driver to remove the nut. It actually dislodged the bendix gear in the process.

[@PattiMcracken]

What motor is this?

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Its a 1995 Mercury 125 ELPTO.

[@roslanhamdan1102]

@@thehobbymechanic47 hello... I wonder how you start open the bendix gear.. It was not show

[@nathanw5747]

What about the opposite? My bendix gear is stuck up.

[@thehobbymechanic47]

The same procedure should work unless your stuck on the flywheel.

[@noahgourd5156]

I wish you would’ve shown how to remove the bendix gear.

[@thehobbymechanic47]

Yeah, I know, I didn't have a tripod at the time. I used an impact driver with a socket and the nut spun right off. It actually freed the gear at the same time.

[@angelvega6672]

@the hobbie mechanic- you took the nut off with the start on the motor or off the motor ?

[@Kruppa24]

Very helpful, thanks