moresparks
Well-Known Member
Hi, I am looking for thoughts and comments on a starter motor issue.
The original starter motor has been on the engine for years without any problems, however this year one of the solenoid terminals worked loose causing intermittent starting so I replaced the starter motor with a shiny new aftermarket starter supposedly for my engine.
This new starter has been working fine for weeks until this weekend, when whilst out cruising a sudden whining nose was heard. I turned off the engine the noise stopped but a smell of burning was quite strong. Now - I have twin petrol’s so not good!!! I managed to limp back to my mooring on one engine.
On inspection I removed the “new” starter motor and sure enough it didn’t look healthy and the bendix / pinion gear was damaged. The Flywheel looks as though it’s managed to come through unscathed.
Replacing the starter motor is not an issue; I just won’t be a cheapskate this time. But I am wondering what may have gone wrong? It looks like that somehow the solenoid activated the bendix! The wiring around the start circuit all looks good the ignition switch seems to meter all o/k. So I am thinking that the aftermarket starter was just not suitable for my engine and I will replace the main battery isolating switch and the ignition switch to be on the safe side.
Any thoughts or possibly something else that could have caused this problem?
Being a petrol boat I am paranoid about safety so this incident was unsettling to say the least....
The original starter motor has been on the engine for years without any problems, however this year one of the solenoid terminals worked loose causing intermittent starting so I replaced the starter motor with a shiny new aftermarket starter supposedly for my engine.
This new starter has been working fine for weeks until this weekend, when whilst out cruising a sudden whining nose was heard. I turned off the engine the noise stopped but a smell of burning was quite strong. Now - I have twin petrol’s so not good!!! I managed to limp back to my mooring on one engine.
On inspection I removed the “new” starter motor and sure enough it didn’t look healthy and the bendix / pinion gear was damaged. The Flywheel looks as though it’s managed to come through unscathed.
Replacing the starter motor is not an issue; I just won’t be a cheapskate this time. But I am wondering what may have gone wrong? It looks like that somehow the solenoid activated the bendix! The wiring around the start circuit all looks good the ignition switch seems to meter all o/k. So I am thinking that the aftermarket starter was just not suitable for my engine and I will replace the main battery isolating switch and the ignition switch to be on the safe side.
Any thoughts or possibly something else that could have caused this problem?
Being a petrol boat I am paranoid about safety so this incident was unsettling to say the least....
