How to Test an Outboard Motor Starter

How to test an outboard motor starter

[@ScarlettNell123]

The starter is just an electric motor. The bendix engages because when the starter begins turning, the bendix resists the turning rotation due to inertia, and the bendix's helical gear uses this "reverse" force to drive the gear up to engage with the flywheel. The drag of the engine then maintains the "reverse" force to keep the bendix engaged until it fires up, when the engine turns faster than the starter, and the "reverse" force is overcome so the bendix disengages. Quite ingenious! Bottom line is that running the starter with no load only proves only that the starter will run without load. To test the bendix, you need to see whether the helical gear drives the gear up to the top of the shaft *when the starter motor first starts turning* (due to inertia). You then still need to test whether the starter motor provides enough power to turn the engine....

[@jimmmi124ut]

During the test be sure to use proper gauge cables. I had a same problem with bendix when I was using cheap jumper cables, later when I tried proper gauge cables bendix engage and spin the motor without a problem.

[@arnosteyn7557]

Myne just turn the bendix does not go up if all is connected right but if i reverse the polarity on the stater it moves up and my motor starts can this be right my motor runs perfectly

[@adamsturrup1389]

Ok cool mine does the same thing what the problem ?

[@fandy6902]

Hmmm... Mine engages the bendix with the flywheel but barely turns the motor over. I can use the pull rope and make the flywheel rotate completely so I know the motor isn't seized up.

[@ygad226]

mine does the same thing ... will rotate the engine without compression but will not rotate it with the spark plugs in... the starter has a wire off in it so it makes half the horsepower it should ...its basically junk

[@fandy6902]

+Rob Schuck found a bad connection on the negative battery terminal. I even had my truck jumpered to the battery and no cranking. when I went straight to the starter terminals it cranked properly. I got lucky.

[@SoFloCamejo]

It's easy to pull apart, the brushes are just super dirty

[@fandy6902]

Not mine. Mine works great after cleaning the negative battery connection.

[@SoFloCamejo]

F Andy Thats usually the First case for everyone lol. But if thats not it and its the starter ifself, it usually just needs to be cleaned up on the inside

[@Z-Ack]

Still then mine spins like a hot damn abd engaGes the bendix but doesnt turn the motor over..

[@danb.3397]

not much about hooking it up to the jumpers.