Name:	Mulligan -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/16/2014 5:37:42 PM

1990 pontoon with 3.0 mercruiser.  It eats starters due to a poor design that allows water to splash on it at every decceleration.  This year I replaced the starter (third time) and it worked until July 4th weekend (of course).  Starter spins, but the bendix won't engage.  Installed new starter, same symptom.  Replaced both battery cables.  No joy.  Anybody got a suggestion(s)??

Cat:  If the answer is your shop, how do I get it there?  I don't have a trailer.

PS:  The work you did on my Larson was great!!  Happy customer.

Mulligan

Name:	Osms -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/16/2014 11:08:06 PM

This is a stretch, but could you be missing a couple of teeth off your flywheel?  If you've had that much trouble with starters, the flywheel might have gotten damaged.  More likely the bendix got wet, rusted and won't extend.

Name:	Mulligan -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/17/2014 9:48:26 AM

thanks for responding, flywheel is ok, shoulda said that earlier.  Brand new starter won't engage, the motor spins but the bendix won't move into the flywheel.

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/17/2014 10:47:25 AM

Maybe the starter is bad?  If it was working before, and just stopped I would pretty much bet on it. 

Steve

Name:	Mulligan -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/17/2014 12:37:51 PM

Old starter did the same thing, go I installed a new marine starter.  Same symptoms, starter spins but bendix won't move.  Maybe I got a defective new starter?  I thought the bendix has to move/engage before the starter motor would spin.  

This is getting beyond my mechanical capabilities.  How do I get a pontoon to CAT, I don't have a trailer.

Again, thanks for all the responses.

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/17/2014 5:33:41 PM

Call the shop tomorrow.  334-358-2838.

Steve

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/23/2014 7:32:30 PM

I have to believe that Cat has you fixed by now but something you said raised an eyebrow.  " I thought the bendix has to move/engage before the starter motor would spin.  " 

My understanding is that either the centrifugal/centripital force (I made a C in physics cause I could never keep them straight) caused by the spinning starter, or the slots in the bendix mechanism itself cause the bendix to engage the flywheel.  If the starter doesn't turn at all you might have a starter solenoid problem....or a bad starter.

I'll crawl back in my cave now,,,,,

Name:	Mulligan -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/24/2014 7:47:32 AM

Cat did in fact fix me up.  Turned out to be missing teeth on the flywheel, starter was ok.  CatHouse is 60 miles from my lakehouse and towing my pontoon on Steve's loaner trailer all that way is worth it!!  He has worked on both my boats and every time it has been a professional experience. Great people, great communication, and he didn't even charge extra for the 3.5 ft snake they found in the battery compartment.

Mulligan

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	Starter won't engage
Date:	8/24/2014 12:40:32 PM

That snake in your engine compartment gave Steven a heart attack!  lol.  I hate the engine had been living in 12" of water for so long.  I be now your starter/rusted flywheel days are over for ever.  Thanks for the kind words.