Starter runs an extra couple seconds

Charles,
Get the VOM (volt Ohm meter) out and check voltage at the starter during cranking.. If you get the volts for those few extra seconds, then the issue is electrical. If not ,then it mechanical. Report back.

OK KENO, I used the volt meter and it does appear that I am getting current too long...but honestly I'm not certain of that.

The starter was bolted on flat and solid against the bell housing. I have taken it off again to show both the starter pinion and the ring gear for you to look at.

Can I test the starter now that it is off the boat? If so, what specifically should I look for?

Thanks,

Charles

I don't see anything obvious in either picture

I'll get a little long winded here, but hopefully it'll be easy to understand/follow

You can test it on the workbench with a battery, a set of jumper cables and a jumper wire with alligator clips hooked up like in the picture below.

Positive jumper to the big terminal that the 2 gauge wire normally hooks to, negative to the metal body of the starter and the small jumper where the wire from the engine mounted solenoid normally hooks up

As soon as you touch the small jumper to the big one like in the picture the starter starts and the pinion is shot out and stays out till you remove the small jumper and the pinion will or should retract pretty much instantly



If it takes a couple of seconds then it's a starter issue

If it works as it should, then I'd reinstall the starter and wire it normally but leave the small wire disconnected and tape over the end

Then using the same small jumper with the alligator clips, hook one end to the small terminal on the starter that you just left the wire off of,

Then preferably with a helper named Pax turn the ignition key to the RUN position and touch the small jumper to the big terminal on the starter.

That energizes the starter just like going to START would and the engine should start and run till the key is turned to OFF. As soon as the engine is running, remove the clip and see if the starter still takes a couple of seconds to disengage

Since you're right down near the starter when doing this, you should be able to tell if it disengages right away or still takes a couple of seconds.

If it takes a couple of seconds, I'd figure the pinion is hanging up on the flywheel .

If it's instant, I'd go back to the engine mounted solenoid or the key switch looking for a problem

When you're done , don't forget to hook up the small wire again so that you can start the boat with the key

First test, the work bench:

Starter starts and stops immediately.

Next steps on the way.

You didn't do something like disconnect the battery before removing the starter and then forget to hook it back up did you?

Do you have 12 volts at the big terminal on the starter?

I just had my 1995 GT 40 starter out this morning, one thing I noticed, on my tear down the bendix, the teeth inside the starter housing was lubricated with a little black high temp grease.
Yours looks to be dry and clean.
Would it hurt to add a film of high temp grease on the shaft and the teeth before install?
PCM did it on mine.
Hope you get it fixed.
Mark

If your battery is hooked up properly that big wire on your started should be HOT all the time.
If it is not HOT trace it back to your battery and find where it is not connected.

There is an ignition switch on the dash board on these boats and it must be ON to start but the main wire from your battery direct to your starter is live/Hot all the time.

Maybe you are not getting a good ground to make this test. I reached in and grounded to one of the Steel plugs in the engine block, it was not painted and an easy ground to grab.
The aluminum engine cradle did not ground for me.

I'm thinking however you have it hooked up right now.............keep it that way

Here's a page from the GT40 manual showing the wiring at the solenoid

it's a little tougher to follow than the more generic TRB diagram from earlier but it shows all the connections to the engine mounted solenoid

65, that's old, almost as old as that old fart Pete,,,,,,,and me and a number of others here

We're "experienced"