What does starter do during bench test?

[TurboFan]

I've taken apart my starter and all looks ok. I've removed my clutch and it tests ok too, spinning almost free one way and can't turn the other way. I have put it back together and tried testing it on the floor. The gear comes out for a second, then goes right back in again, is that what's supposed to happen when there isn't a load on it? That's exactly what was happening when I had it installed. Should I put it back in the Doo and see if that's what happens again or are my bench test results TOTALLY wrong?

TIA

Wes

[roberto]

yes it is wrong it shoud stay out(gear)until you release the swith

[ September 01, 2003, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: roberto ]

[TurboFan]

Seems like it's eager to push out, then once it stops accelerating the spring pushes it back in.

[roberto]

if you have connect starter strait ground to the starter to the negative and positve to the starter and and have the starter hold firmly in one place and manualy connect the positive to the battery it shuld stay out until you desconnect the positve it is sound the you need a new starter the price of a new one is about $269 but to rebuild onlythe brsh holder+ clutch assembly+armature=$282 [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] best choice to me is by a new one

[roberto]

did flood the hull or suncked the boat it is rusty the starter?

[TurboFan]

The starter is clean, not rusty at all. I had a known good battery and I connected the starter to it while holding the starter with my food.

SBT lists the starter for my particular machine, which is the same starter for a 580, 650, and 720 for $199. I know the starter turns though, and the clutch when removed tested ok, so I am just looking for someone with experience to explain this to me before I spend the $.

Wes

[roberto]

the $269 is an original part from seadoo not a aftermarket part

[Denny Moran]

You cant test the clutch without loading it.
The clutch will come out for a second and retract once starter reaches full rpm on a bench test.
Inertia throws the clutch out as the starter is accelerating and once the starter and clutch are spinning at roughly the same speed, the spring will push the clutch back. When in use, the load of the engine holds the clutch engaged and once the engine fires, the clutch freewheels on the one way clutch and the spring and engine overrun disengages the clutch.
A good way to test the one way clutch is to FIRMLY mount in a vice by the front end cover (not the round body as this will ruin it). connect jump batt and hold a piece of wood against the clutch teeth to load it. If good, the starter will put a nice divot in the wood and make a bit of smoke, if bad, the starter will still spin but the clutch teeth will not.
We call this method "the starter dyno"
If you need a new starter, get a genuine one unless you enjoy paddling your ski. Especially if you have a 785 engine, they need a quality starter as the non reduction starter they are equipped with is just adequate imho.

[ September 02, 2003, 04:25 AM: Message edited by: Denny Moran ]

[TurboFan]

Thanks for the response. That's what I was thinking was happening but I was just looking for someone to confirm it. I havn't heard of the test with wood, but I am thinking it'll fail since the starter turns just fine.

It's not a 785, it's a 580.

Tech do the starters from SBT come with the clutch drives?

[NAB]

My starter seemed to work fine also. It would crank the engine with one plug out but wouldn't with both in. Had it checked by a starter mech. He said it checked fine. It still wouldn't crank the engine. I finally gave in, bought one from SBT and it worked fine, cranked the engine with no trouble.

[TurboFan]

I don't know why Tech and Bill O are not responding to this topic at all, oh well. Anyway, I asked a friend real nice and I got a new bendix/clutch/drive (whatever you want to call it) for $40CDN with tax, so like $28US in my hands. I will be putting it on tonight. If that's all that's wrong, and should be then that's a pretty cheap fix.

Wes

[Technical Support]

Denny already gave you the correct answers.

[TurboFan]

Ok.

I guess I am just used to seeing your replies before anyone elses, and the correspondence between roberto and I took place in a short period of time so there was no time for you to correct him.

[Michael73]

I was just reading this subject, and noticed the statement about the starter would only turn over with 1 plug in.

If the armature bushes/bearings wear out, it allows the armature to 'pole out' on the field coils within the starter housing, causing massive current drain, and not much hard cranking. Usually the starter will get hot, or you assume your battery is flat/dead.

This is why when NAB replaced the starter everything was fine, I know in my 800 starter there is a bearing up the front, and a bush in the back, once one of these wears out, the armature will start poleing out, and causing the slow crank situation.