Starter motor didn't shut off

[jamarohn]

Last week, I ran the engine while tied to the dock to flush stagnant salt water as I usually do once a week or so; But something didn't sound right. I should've shut the engine off right there... but I let her run for about a minute before I pulled the engine stop cord.

When the engine stopped I was left with a whirling sound, mixed in with little pops and crunching, as if a coffee grinder was going off down there.

I immediately hopped down, popped off the engine covers, saw a whiff of burning smoke, noticed that the starter motor was still whirling away! I turned off the main switch to the battery and heard 1) the solenoid click and 2) the motor whirl down with a few more "coffee beans crunching".

Now if this isn't making you cringe, you get the idea of how I'm feeling right now. ;-)

I am a total newbie to engine maintenance, especially around electrical stuff.

I'm guessing the solenoid is defunct and I need to replace it? That part I'm not worried...

Just today I went back to the boat to try to trouble shoot the problem, and this time, the engine started just fine. I would have thought the flywheel would have been shot, but no. At least it appears that things are normal...

Still replacing the solenoid. Anything else I should pay attention to?

 

[Steve Dion]

The fly wheels are very tough. I would pull the starter and have someone inspect it too. It sounds like you have some corrosion build up and it would not be a bad idea to have it inspected. It is a lot better to just pay now for a repair rather than when you are 100 ft. from the rocks and the damn thing won't start!

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The fly wheels are very tough. I would pull the starter and have someone inspect it too. It sounds like you have some corrosion build up and it would not be a bad idea to have it inspected. It is a lot better to just pay now for a repair rather than when you are 100 ft. from the rocks and the damn thing won't start!

probably the best advice I've ever read.

 

[seadaddler]

Pull Starter

I would pull the starter and check the starter out completely and the fly wheel.
I would take the starter to a rebuild shop and have it checked out,maybe some corrosion or something worn or loose or broken.
Like already mentioned get it checked out and pay now or pay a lot more later.
I have repaired truck and car starters and some times easy fix and some times needed complete rebuild at a shop.
Nick

 

[kloudie1]

Whoo Yeah.. Not fun ! Another thing to check is the pushbutton itself. There are lots of stories about these things sticking "on" and doing just what you've described.. The button lives out in the weather and spray and generally has a tough time.. Unscrew the rubber cover and check it for cracks and spray some WD-40 in the switch between the button and the outer ring..

 

[JoeWhite]

I would get a new started and replacing the starter relay would not be a bad idea. It is not likely that the flywheel has suffurred any damage. The starter gear is released when the flywheel rotates faster than the starter - this happens when the engine starts to run.

 

[phoneman]

When you pull the starter, look at the bendix(the gear on the starter) if it is looks damaged then you need to look at the flywheel through hole that the starter goes in. If the soleinoid gets stuck in the on position it can cause the bendix to keep trying to engage the flywheel and bouncing back.

 

[Benny]

The flywheel is one part and the ring gear is another. The purpose of having two parts is that if the teeth get damaged you may replace the ring without having to replace the flywheel. The ring is heat mounted on the flywheel. You will need to remove the starter and check the teeth on it. With the starter out look through the opening and inspect the teeth on the ring while manually turning the engine. Also check that the shaft on the starter has not bent. The malfunction which caused the starter to continue running may be due to one of a few different causes; faulty selenoid, faulty push button, electrical short on the wiring harness or electrical short on the starter (brush holder). While the starter is out, have it and the solenoid bench tested. Should both check out, chances are your problem is in the wiring harness.

 

[dstrippe]

Hunter starter problem

last Week, I Ran The Engine While Tied To The Dock To Flush Stagnant Salt Water As I Usually Do Once A Week Or So; But Something Didn't Sound Right. I Should've Shut The Engine Off Right There... But I Let Her Run For About A Minute Before I Pulled The Engine Stop Cord.

When The Engine Stopped I Was Left With A Whirling Sound, Mixed In With Little Pops And Crunching, As If A Coffee Grinder Was Going Off Down There.

I Immediately Hopped Down, Popped Off The Engine Covers, Saw A Whiff Of Burning Smoke, Noticed That The Starter Motor Was Still Whirling Away! I Turned Off The Main Switch To The Battery And Heard 1) The Solenoid Click And 2) The Motor Whirl Down With A Few More "coffee Beans Crunching".

Now If This Isn't Making You Cringe, You Get The Idea Of How I'm Feeling Right Now. ;-)

I Am A Total Newbie To Engine Maintenance, Especially Around Electrical Stuff.

I'm Guessing The Solenoid Is Defunct And I Need To Replace It? That Part I'm Not Worried...

Just Today I Went Back To The Boat To Try To Trouble Shoot The Problem, And This Time, The Engine Started Just Fine. I Would Have Thought The Flywheel Would Have Been Shot, But No. At Least It Appears That Things Are Normal...

Still Replacing The Solenoid. Anything Else I Should Pay Attention To?

I Too Have A 2007 Hunter 33 And After No More Than 20 Hrs On The Engine Last Year (brand New) I Burnt Up The Starter. I Was Told It Was A Grounding Problem Relative To The Factory Install And That Was Supposedly Fixed. It Was Fine The Rest Of The Season; We'll See How I Do This Year!
Dave