Starter Problem '98 Ski Nautique; engine won't start

[un1q]

Hi all,
please help, don't know what to do, and I'm far away from any service. Today we were skiing as ususal in the morning, and everything was ok. I parked the boat and went home. When I wanted to go for a ride in the afternoon, I couldn't start the engine. Battery is fine, starter is working, but it doesn't start (turn) the engine. A friend told me that it is a "bimdex" (?) problem... I really don't know but it should be something that connects starter wirh engine?
Is it DIY fix or I shauld tow my boat to marina, and find some service....
Boat is Ski Nautique 1998 with Ford GT-40 inside. Never had any problem like this. It worked just great last monsth, and before that we had done maintence of starter, alternator (charger) and other electronics...

[Peter6000]

Hi all,
please help, don't know what to do, and I'm far away from any service. Today we were skiing as ususal in the morning, and everything was ok. I parked the boat and went home. When I wanted to go for a ride in the afternoon, I couldn't start the engine. Battery is fine, starter is working, but it doesn't start (turn) the engine. A friend told me that it is a "bimdex" (?) problem... I really don't know but it should be something that connects starter wirh engine?
Is it DIY fix or I shauld tow my boat to marina, and find some service....
Boat is Ski Nautique 1998 with Ford GT-40 inside. Never had any problem like this. It worked just great last monsth, and before that we had done maintence of starter, alternator (charger) and other electronics...

Are you saying the starter is running but the engine does not turn?

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[THE HECKLER]

so if the starter is working then it turns the engine over. there is a ford solenoid located remotely from the starter to engage the one mounted on the starter itself. about a $12 part at the auto parts store here. this can go bad - did on mine and it worked fine after replacement. you can check it by jumping the + post on it to the S post on it with a screwdriver to see if it is sending current. my boat is a gt-40 with fuel injection. you can not see the soleniod as it is under the ecm at the back of the motor. make sure your safety lanyard is plugged in too...

[un1q]

so if the starter is working then it turns the engine over. there is a ford solenoid located remotely from the starter to engage the one mounted on the starter itself. about a $12 part at the auto parts store here. this can go bad - did on mine and it worked fine after replacement. you can check it by jumping the + post on it to the S post on it with a screwdriver to see if it is sending current. my boat is a gt-40 with fuel injection. you can not see the soleniod as it is under the ecm at the back of the motor. make sure your safety lanyard is plugged in too...

Starter is working when I press my starter button, but nothnig happens with engine. Sorry for my english, but I thnik taht we think on the same thing - solenoid as You call it. Its part next to starter, connecting tarter with engine, and disconnecting it after starting the engine ?!
I have to fix it on water because there is no way (only by towing) to take my boat aout of the bay where it is atm, and ther is no car access to take it outside... Tomorrow morning I'm going to try to locate it as it is pretty dark here now...
what should i do to make everything safe?
Do You thing it could be lanyard safety problem? Its connected,now and i installed new safety swiths this spring (few months ago)... It think that starter wouldn't work at all if there is no safety lanyard connecetd...

[Peter6000]

so if the starter is working then it turns the engine over. there is a ford solenoid located remotely from the starter to engage the one mounted on the starter itself. about a $12 part at the auto parts store here. this can go bad - did on mine and it worked fine after replacement. you can check it by jumping the + post on it to the S post on it with a screwdriver to see if it is sending current. my boat is a gt-40 with fuel injection. you can not see the soleniod as it is under the ecm at the back of the motor. make sure your safety lanyard is plugged in too...

If that is the case and you don't have access to parts you can bridge the starter relay on the starter with a big screw driver. Be carful push it in fast and with commitment lot of amps sparks may fly.


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[SatherG230]

Yeah, I thought the safety lanyard / kill switch first (Thank goodness I called the shop and didn't actually tow it there. The woman that answered the phone was very kind when she suggested it...)

If I am understing your situation correctly, the starter spins but it does not engage/turn the ring gear. I have had this happen on an outboard where the Bendix gear gets dry and centrifugal force cannot push it out to engage the teeth on the flywheel. Wondering if this is the case and whether some oil on the Bendix gear (if you can get to it) would help.

[James]

Un1q, when the solenoid that is attached to the starter motor is energized with 12 volts it causes the bendix/pinion gear on the actual starter motor shaft to engage the flywheel gear. Simultaneously the starter motor will begin to spin and therefore the engine will spin and therefore start. If the starter motor is spinning but the engine is not spinning the bendix/pinion gear is #1 not engaging the flywheel gear, #2 the bendix/pinion gear is damaged or #3 the flywheel gear is damaged. Removing and inspecting the starter/solenoid is definitely a DYI job. You can put the starter in a vice on a workbench, connect it to 12 volts and observe it’s function. If you ultimately need a new starter be sure you replace it with a MARINE starter. An automobile starter could result in and explosion if there are any fuel fumes in your bilge.

[THE HECKLER]

if your engine is fuel injected gt-40 pro boss - it located on the same plate as the ecm except basically hidden behind the relays. it is tough to reach - just trace your main power wire and you will find it. fortunately not a very expensive part but critical for starter function. to make things safe - just depress the ignition switch breaker on the dash or disconnect your battery. the wiring in my '98 has left a bit of concern for myself but otherwise one of the most well engineered machines I have ever worked on.

[un1q]

Yea, Bendix!!!
Starter spins, but does not engage the engine!
Some friends told me they think its Bendix (or some simmilar name, I was in the state of schock as everything worked just fine till today)
They told me that hitting it with hammer might help, but i can not seem to locate it. Maybe at autopart store i find new one... and then know what im looking for on the boat?

[un1q]

This are some old photos of the engine during restauration. Starter was checked before 2 months and cleaned...
I really thniks id this bendix thingy... starter is on the right side, almost below the engine, really hard to get to...

[Peter6000]

This are some old photos of the engine during restauration. Starter was checked before 2 months and cleaned...
I really thniks id this bendix thingy... starter is on the right side, almost below the engine, really hard to get to...

A new starter will fix your problem it's easy to replace, don't forget to disconnect battery.
You can use a automotive starter temporary if you can't get a marine version.
The difference is a plastic disc between motor and gear in the starter.
You cam even move it from the old to new.
If you want to go this route remove the starter take it to a autoparts place have them look for a starter ford bronco 5.8 1990,s or so.
Make sure it looks the same and the amount of tooth on the gear are the same.
To be on the save side open the engine cover be for you start.

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[un1q]

Thnx, I'll try that in the morning, its past midnight here!
Also, I think there is no single Ford Bronco within cca 1000 Miles around me (Croatia, Europe)...
Do You think I can replace only bendix?



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[Peter6000]

There are also some ford Mustang's using the same starter but finding one in Europe may not easy.
I would remove the starter and bench test it.
Clean everything and make sure the solenoid on the top puches out tell gear.
You may get lucky.
If you find a simular ford starter you can may move the solenoid.
I don't think the coil is bad if it would be the starter would not move at all.
Post some pictures if you get it apart.
It seams to be in a bad location but when you get to it its really not too bad to get out.
When you put it back in make sure it's lined up straight it's easy to mess up a threat.


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[Peter6000]

Thnx, I'll try that in the morning, its past midnight here!
Also, I think there is no single Ford Bronco within cca 1000 Miles around me (Croatia, Europe)...
Do You think I can replace only bendix?



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One more thought, last time I was in that are it was still Juguslavi and due to unavailable parts there where some excellent automotive technicians that where able to fix everything.
If you take the starter out and bring it to a auto repair shop you may get lucky.

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[un1q]

UPDATE:
Yesterday I took out starter and went to a friend, on my way there tried to buy new bendix, but there are no markings on starter. So we took starer and bendix apart, bendix was stuck. After some 5 min work we cleaned and lubricated all. After putting starter back, it worked great. From morning, to afternnon, all fixed.
Today morning, strater starts engine every 3rd or 4th tim... same problem... We wend skiing, any now Im waiting for engine to cool down to take starter home again, go and install new bendix and new automat, just to keep it safe.
Yestarday adrenalin wes high as I was doing everthing alone for the 1st time. Today, Ill take my GoPro with me... We'll se what comes out of it!