Mechanical Starters?

[Alan Wheeler]

Gidday Sean, how's it going mate. Question, so has it done this since you rebuilt it, or has it just started doing this???

Sean, you may have a damaged or badly worn flywheel. If you are in position to remove the starter, shine a light into the opening and take a look for a damaged gear. If nothing is visible, feel the gear with your finger (carefully, if it is burred it will be sharp). If there is a burred edge, that is likely the problem.
As for my comment about seamanship, I stand by it. Good seamanship includes allowing plenty of searoom, keeping the rig in top shape, having a contingincy plan for any failure of the rig or sails, and having an anchor ready to deploy when not in open water. Granted, a set of sweeps is not a practical back-up system on a 40 footer, but on a smaller boat it is very effective. When the wind fails, having an engine to get you in is a matter of convenience. Otherwise, you wait. IMHO that is just part of sailing.

[Boracay]

I thought the correct way to fix a malfunctioning starter was to tap it in the right place with the right hammer.

[Alan Wheeler]

Right hammer= that would be a big one!!
It's called Percussive maintanance by the way.

[Steve Kidson]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

Right hammer= that would be a big one!!

As a youngster learning to tinker with engines and the like, my father (a toolmaker and mechanical engineer) taught me that engines are precision machines; do not force anything to get it loose - get a bigger hammer

Sometimes it just works!!

Fair winds

Steve

[Sunspot Baby]

A serious look at tapping with a hammer.

I had a starter that didn’t want to engage, my diagnosis was sticky Bendix, so I tapped it with a small hammer when it wouldn’t go. This seemed to work for a while, then the starter quit all together.

When I pulled it, I found that unlike the old automobile starters with which I had experience, the casing was thin metal rather than a cast housing, I but had bent it slightly and dislodged magnets. Those then jammed in the armature. Oops. I thought my blows were pretty light taps. Not light enough I guess.

If your going to use “percussive maintenance” be sure you do it on a structure sturdy enough to withstand the blow.

Sunspot Baby

[hellosailor]

< a damaged or badly worn flywheel. > Good idea!

[Gallivanters]

They don't make spring starters small enough for our 56 hp Yanmar diesel.

Nor do they make oil centrifuges for small engines, either.

Oil Well...

Aye suppose this is why I've never seen them in a West Marine catalog.

Carry on,

Kirk

Hellosailor, it comes from owning Oldsmobiles when I was a teenager I got really good at driving without a reverse, and replacing ring gears.