Help diagnosing failing starter

[peteSki]

Strange issue over the weekend when out skiing. Boat operated fine for an hour or so, then upon starting the engine between ski sets a grinding noise could be heard. It would go from quiet to louder while idling with the engine cover up. Shutting down the engine and restarting cleared it, but after a few seconds the noise came back. Then after about 5 or 6 cycles of shutting down and restarting, the noise didn't come back and the boat operated fine and we kept skiing. While listening to the noise it did sound like it was coming from the direction of the starter motor, so I'm thinking the starter is partially engaging after the engine starts and that's is what the grinding noise is. Anyone else experienced this? I'm thinking this is a sign that my starter needs to be replaced. The noise was happening whether I put the boat in gear or not, so ruling out a transmission issue.

Boat is a 2005 Sport Nautique 216 with the Excaliber 330 engine. Starter is most likely the original although I can't confirm as I didn't own the boat until it was 10 years old.

Appreciate any insight the group may have.

Will likely pull the started and take it to a local shop to check it out, but if I indeed need a new one I want to ensure I get one ASAP as we've got a few good weekends of skiing before fall really sets in.

Pete

[jpwhit]

It's possible it could be the bendix on the starter, but that usually doesn't go away and then come back right after starting. Usually when the bendix is hanging up, it stays after starting until it finally releases and the noise stops. Sounds more like a failing damper plate to me.

[bturner]

Have you ever lubed the starter bendix? On many boats this is a recommend maintenance item. There's been a ton of discussion on this on several of the forums with yours truly being in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it camp" but based on the age of your boat and the symptoms it would sound reasonable to ask the question. If the answer is no then this would certainly be some low hanging fruit to check. Having grown up in a, let's call it less affluent environment where every car we owned was well used, I have seen/heard a starter bendix hang on a car which sounds similar to what you describe. I've also heard other boaters with older boats mention this happening but I personally have never had this happen on any boat I've owned or maintained for others, hence my position on the maintenance procedure. With an inboard such as yours removing the starter and checking the bendix would seem to be a fast and simple procedure to do.

[peteSki]

I've never pulled our lubed the starter bendix, but I will take it to a shop here and have them assess the unit.

jpwhit, you mentioned a failing damper plate.... what is that? Part of the starter or trans?

Pete

[bturner]

Damper plate bolts to the flywheel. As the name suggests it's used to dampen shock between the engine and the trans.

[peteSki]

So my starter checked out at my local shop, so I'll be putting that back on the boat. Am looking at the damper now, I can see where it sits now looking through the engine schematics. So if this is starting to fail, does it make sense that I heard the grinding for a short while and then it operated fine? It didn't seem like there was any abnormal operation after the noise stopped, ran the boat a barefoot and skiing speeds. Based on other's experiences, when this fails does it do so gradually? Any other symptoms to look for other than the grinding noise happening more often?

Will run the boat on the hose later tonight after I reinstall the starter to see if the grinding noise returns.

[peteSki]

So after running the boat on water a few times since the incident problem free, it returned again a couple weekends ago. This time though it was accompanied by my keypad basically going haywire.... buttons wouldn't respond, press blower on and 10 seconds later it would come on. Again heard what sounds like the starter partially engaging after starting, pressing around the start button a few times then starting cleared the issue. Ordered a new keypad and installed it Thursday last week and had a successful outing on the weekend.... so this looks to be a bad keypad. Hope to have the boat out a couple more times before winter this year so hopefully I'm in the clear!