Starter motor just whines and wont start - Cross city Derbi Motorcycles

You will need a new starter rebuilt ect. to replace the one you currently have that is defective. you sound like you are spinning the starter motor but the starter bendix is no longer engaging the flexplate/flywheel on the engine.

It could well be the starter motor, but you need to check the gear on the end of the motor, it maybe the teeth half worn, this part will be a lot cheaper than changing the complete motor.

If I understand correctly the starter motor turns but does not cause the engine to turn over. If this is the case then the ring gear on the flywheel or flexplate is worn out, or the teeth on the starter motor are worn out. The starter gear does not engage the flywheel. With the starter removed the teeth of the flywheel can be viewed. turn the motor over by hand and look for worn spots; the gear teeth will be noticably shorter. If you find worn spots then the transmission will have to be removed to replace the ring gear. Another possibility is the starter is not pulling in correctly, thus the gears would not engage.

I would start by ensuring that the battery is fully charged, and that all the battery and starter connections are clean and tight. If the problem persists, the starter solenoid is probably faulty.

You need to replace the starter. That whining sound is caused by a faulty solenoid in the starter which is responsible for meshing the starter gear with the gear on the engine flywheel.

If it is whining, the starter motor is turning. You possibly may have a broken starter drive. This is the little gear on the starter shaft. It's not too expensive and relatively easy to replace.

I have worked on many outboard motors. Since your motor almost starts, do these things:

1. install new spark plugs unless you are certain that the ones u are using are good.
2. Add a product called seafoam to the gas tank. Check to be sure but I recall that you add one ounce per gallon [this stuff is great].
3. At any auto parts store get a can of electrical connection spray. Spray all of your contact points.
4. Also get a can of starter fluid. Give the air intake a couple of short blasts and start the motor. if it runs real rough continue with the startere fluid until it runs smoothly.
5. Be sure that your battery cables are corrosion free where they slide over the battery terminals and that the connections are tight.

Enjoy your boat ride.

Nate, I'm not sure what you mean when you say,"I can get it to whine but not turn over. The starter is trying to get it to turn, but I don't think it is getting any gas".

Separate and aprt from not getting any gas is the fact( if I understande you correctly) that the motor is not being cranked by the starter motor. You say "it whines". You are referring to the starter motor, right? the starter motor should not "whine". If this is what's happening by guess is the Bendix spring in the starter motor is broken. The bendix spring is a heavy spring that is mounter on s worm gear in the starter motor. When you go to start the motor by turning the key the starter motor turn and the spring travels down this worm gear and engages tthe geared flywheel and cranks the engine. As soon as the engine starts the flywheel is now turning the bendix spring faster that the starter motor and the spring kicks back to its original position. If the spring is broken it never engages the flywheel and the engine wont crank.
The fact that you say the starter "whines" is what I would expect you to hear if the starter is at fault.

As far as no fuel flow there are 2 ifs: if you have an electric fuel pump, then there is a problem in the fuel flow. If you do not have a electric pump then the fuel pump runs off of the engines motion and since the engine is not cranking, the pump is not pumping and the fuel is not flowing.

Anything else you can add before we conclude that the starter has to come off?

Loringh

your starter