Starter issues.

[Frenzy731]

Hello everyone, we have a 06 24ve with fresh rebuilt 5.7l with a brand new starter, running into the issue of the bendix shoots out but doesn't spin a good portion of the time. Thought it was the wrong starter so now have replaced 3 times and still doing same issue. When it does spin and catch it fires right up. Any ideas what would be causing this?

[lee]

What does the ring gear look like, is it the correct one?

[Frenzy731]

Unfortunately I personally didn't look at it, but what should I look for on it to tell?

[boatwakes]

Right there with Lee. The ring gear may be the problem. But I need more information on what starter you have. Is it top mount or engine mount? If it's top mount, the ring gear MUST be installed AFT on the flywheel. If your starter is block mounted, the ring gear MUST be installed FORWARD or towards the engine (see photos for clarification). If the top mount starter is used in conjunction with a forward mounted ring gear, or a block mounted starter is installed with an engine aft mounted ring gear, the bend will engage with only 10% of its nose gear. This usually results in the ring gear engagement points breaking away and the starter being unable to start the engine (because engines usually stop in the same 30* arc on the flywheel).

If you can remove the starter and inspect the ring gear, post a photograph.

[boatwakes]

The top photo shows a top mount starter ring gear installation and the bottom photo shows a block mounted starter ring gear installation. The captions are from a recent insurance survey we did with the same issue.
15-Incorrect Ring Gear Placement on Engine Flywheel.jpeg16-Correct Ring Gear Installation.jpeg
Again, the immediately above photograph with the ring gear closest to the engine is for a block mounted starter and NOT for a top mounted starter. If you have a top mount starter and the ring gear is in this location, that is your problem.

[Frenzy731]

Thank you guys so much! Will check tomorrow and let you guys know

[Frenzy731]

Any chance anyone has a part number for a block mounted starter? It would be greatly appreciated

[boatwakes]

If your wires can reach, and this is crucial, the mercruiser part number is 50-863007A1. DO NOT PURCHASE CHEAP *** CHINESE INTERNET STARTERS!!! Buy factory original or you will get stranded.

[Frenzy731]

Sorry for not getting back sooner, been busy working, we found the correct starter, we noticed the teeth on the installed one were too far apart. Thankfully marine store out here had one and now it starts up flawlessly!

[boatwakes]

Great to hear Frenzy. Can you elaborate on "...the teeth on the installed one were too far apart."? There is a block mounted starter available for the 153 tooth ring gear but ALL of these engines have a 168 tooth ring gear and swapping the two would cause similar problems but you said you changed the starter 3 times. Let us know. Thank you!!!