5 replies to this topic

[cuejodoggy]

Hello All!

I am having starter problems.

Firstly a little back ground - I have a 2004 Sportster LEDI with a 2 stroke Rotax 947.
Just recently one of the (cheap plastic) "T" connectors that connect 4 major tubes in the water cooling system busted and the engine started to heat and blah blah blah... lots of damage....  Everything is back to par with the exception to the starter.  Water got in the crank case and was vacummed out using special intruments. Then was flushed with carberator cleaner and then with oil.  I have perfect compression in the piston chamber. So the crank case is AOK.  There is zero water in the crank case.    I have run it since the cooling issue  and flooded crank case issue and the engine purred like a kitten! --- it ran perfectly.  

NOW the starter will not work.  

When I attempted to start the engine on the first occasion all that happened was the starter was spinning and the crank shaft would not turn.  So I went on a forum and read that some guys who were de-winterizing there sportboats would have to remove the spark plugs and rotate the shaft with their hand a little and then start it.   Well I did exactly that and it worked!!!!  I have done that on every occasion since and now..... And now that method doesn't work anymore.

I have tried to remove the starter by removing the two screws and pulling and tugging on the thing without sucess.  I didn't want to force anything.  I was thinking if I get my starter out I can shoot some WD-40 in where the "bendix" resides and perhaps get everything going.... Not sure.

I'm thinking there is something maybe the "bendix" is seized or has some seizing going on... I have no clue.   It could be an electrical problem that is causing the spinning starter not to turn the flywheel so my boat starts.   Can someone help!  I need to know what I should check given my current situation.  There is not a seadoo shop within 500 miles of where I am located.

Many Thanks.

Nick

[tiggerman]

cuejodoggy, on Apr 8 2007, 07:05 PM, said:

Hello All!

I am having starter problems.

Firstly a little back ground - I have a 2004 Sportster LEDI with a 2 stroke Rotax 947.
Just recently one of the (cheap plastic) "T" connectors that connect 4 major tubes in the water cooling system busted and the engine started to heat and blah blah blah... lots of damage....  Everything is back to par with the exception to the starter.  Water got in the crank case and was vacummed out using special intruments. Then was flushed with carberator cleaner and then with oil.  I have perfect compression in the piston chamber. So the crank case is AOK.  There is zero water in the crank case.    I have run it since the cooling issue  and flooded crank case issue and the engine purred like a kitten! --- it ran perfectly. 

NOW the starter will not work.  

When I attempted to start the engine on the first occasion all that happened was the starter was spinning and the crank shaft would not turn.  So I went on a forum and read that some guys who were de-winterizing there sportboats would have to remove the spark plugs and rotate the shaft with their hand a little and then start it.   Well I did exactly that and it worked!!!!  I have done that on every occasion since and now..... And now that method doesn't work anymore.

I have tried to remove the starter by removing the two screws and pulling and tugging on the thing without sucess.  I didn't want to force anything.  I was thinking if I get my starter out I can shoot some WD-40 in where the "bendix" resides and perhaps get everything going.... Not sure.

I'm thinking there is something maybe the "bendix" is seized or has some seizing going on... I have no clue.   It could be an electrical problem that is causing the spinning starter not to turn the flywheel so my boat starts.   Can someone help!  I need to know what I should check given my current situation.  There is not a seadoo shop within 500 miles of where I am located.

Many Thanks.

Nick

If the starter spins but doesn't engage the flywheel, then chances are a seized bendix is your issue. It is centrifugal, and has no choice but fly out and engage- unless it has become rusted on the starter shaft.
Check the rear of the starter for a bracket bolted to the block, and remove it- the starter should fall off in your hand. Of course, be sure you have disconnected the battery first.
You should be able to spin the bendix one way or the other and see that it spins out on the starter shaft. If it doesn't do it either way you turn it, then it has rusted to the shaft. A few firm taps with a hammer will break it loose in most cases. it will still need a little cleaning and lube if this does it, or it will continue to rust and do this again next season. Disassembly is simple, provided you have the correct tools. DON"T TAKE THE STARTER MOTOR APART UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING- they are difficult to reassemble because of the brushes. I think you may find that the bendix is the issue, though.

[cuejodoggy]

tiggerman, on Apr 8 2007, 09:23 PM, said:

cuejodoggy, on Apr 8 2007, 07:05 PM, said:

Hello All!

I am having starter problems.

Firstly a little back ground - I have a 2004 Sportster LEDI with a 2 stroke Rotax 947.
Just recently one of the (cheap plastic) "T" connectors that connect 4 major tubes in the water cooling system busted and the engine started to heat and blah blah blah... lots of damage....  Everything is back to par with the exception to the starter.  Water got in the crank case and was vacummed out using special intruments. Then was flushed with carberator cleaner and then with oil.  I have perfect compression in the piston chamber. So the crank case is AOK.  There is zero water in the crank case.    I have run it since the cooling issue  and flooded crank case issue and the engine purred like a kitten! --- it ran perfectly. 

NOW the starter will not work.  

When I attempted to start the engine on the first occasion all that happened was the starter was spinning and the crank shaft would not turn.  So I went on a forum and read that some guys who were de-winterizing there sportboats would have to remove the spark plugs and rotate the shaft with their hand a little and then start it.   Well I did exactly that and it worked!!!!  I have done that on every occasion since and now..... And now that method doesn't work anymore.

I have tried to remove the starter by removing the two screws and pulling and tugging on the thing without sucess.  I didn't want to force anything.  I was thinking if I get my starter out I can shoot some WD-40 in where the "bendix" resides and perhaps get everything going.... Not sure.

I'm thinking there is something maybe the "bendix" is seized or has some seizing going on... I have no clue.   It could be an electrical problem that is causing the spinning starter not to turn the flywheel so my boat starts.   Can someone help!  I need to know what I should check given my current situation.  There is not a seadoo shop within 500 miles of where I am located.

Many Thanks.

Nick

If the starter spins but doesn't engage the flywheel, then chances are a seized bendix is your issue. It is centrifugal, and has no choice but fly out and engage- unless it has become rusted on the starter shaft.
Check the rear of the starter for a bracket bolted to the block, and remove it- the starter should fall off in your hand. Of course, be sure you have disconnected the battery first.
You should be able to spin the bendix one way or the other and see that it spins out on the starter shaft. If it doesn't do it either way you turn it, then it has rusted to the shaft. A few firm taps with a hammer will break it loose in most cases. it will still need a little cleaning and lube if this does it, or it will continue to rust and do this again next season. Disassembly is simple, provided you have the correct tools. DON"T TAKE THE STARTER MOTOR APART UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING- they are difficult to reassemble because of the brushes. I think you may find that the bendix is the issue, though.

Tigger - thanks for replying so quickly!  Youre the best!

Question: I need to get to the bendix.  However I spent an hour staring at the starter and surrounding parts.... feeling around for a way to get to the bendix without luck.  When you say "bracket" at the rear of the starter... are you referring to the bracket holding the starter together?  Because I do not think I need to take apart the starter.  I'm just trying to get the the bendix like you said.  I haven't a clue how to get to the bendix.  I did remove the two bolts at the bottom of the starter that hold it to the block , however I tugged and tugged for an hour and could not budge the starter.   I have attached a diagram for better understanding of what's going on.  Thanks so much for your help!

Attached Files

•  Starter1.1.jpg   51.75K   34 downloads

[tiggerman]

Your diagram makes sense- I wasn't paying attention that it was a 947. The 2 bolts you removed should let the starter slide back. You're right in not taking the starter apart.
If you look at this diagram ( it is an XP DI, but its the same engine), part number 18 is your bendix- somewhat different than mine, but it works by the same principle.
http://216.37.204.20...pe=13&A=115&B=2
It is probably going to come out the front of the engine, and the magneto cover may have to come off. It looks like it has a smaller cover there as well. Reminds me of a Polaris the way the bendix is separate from the start motor.
You should probably purchase a service manual, available on eBay, for a further breakdown of how toget this part out for inspection.

[cuejodoggy]

tiggerman, on Apr 9 2007, 06:46 PM, said:

Your diagram makes sense- I wasn't paying attention that it was a 947. The 2 bolts you removed should let the starter slide back. You're right in not taking the starter apart.
If you look at this diagram ( it is an XP DI, but its the same engine), part number 18 is your bendix- somewhat different than mine, but it works by the same principle.
http://216.37.204.20...pe=13&A=115&B=2
It is probably going to come out the front of the engine, and the magneto cover may have to come off. It looks like it has a smaller cover there as well. Reminds me of a Polaris the way the bendix is separate from the start motor.
You should probably purchase a service manual, available on eBay, for a further breakdown of how toget this part out for inspection.

Tiggerman - My biggest problem at this point is that I have take the 2 screws out and have tugged for an hour at the thing and cannot pull it back.  It doesnt make sense that you would have to take the whole engine apart to get the stinkin starter off.  Do you know anyone who has removed a starter from this type of setup?   If so... is it difficult to remove?  Thanks for all your help!

Nick

[SBSOTJL]

I have a similar problem. I have a seadoo mechanic from a local shop who comes to my house and does work on my boat and jetski on the side. my starter was bad and apparently when he removed my old starter a part of it broke off. I didn't realize this until I got my new starter and tried to put it in by myself because I've been having trouble getting the mechanic back out to my house the last few weeks. so anyways I sent him a picture of my motor where the starter goes in and explained how the new starter won't fit in and he said that it's the bearing and casing stuck in there and that he'd bring pullers to get that out when he comes on tuesday. ofcourse he didn't show up and I've been unable to get in touch with him and it's now friday and beautiful weather to be on the water so I need to find a way to get this part out so I can get my new starter in. any suggestions? has anyone else had to deal with this problem before? btw I have a 2003 seadoo sportster le boat and it appears that the part of the old starter that is stuck in the motor is the part on the new starter that is silver with 2 rubber o-rings.