Yanmar Starter for 20GMF

[Ron Honeycutt]

Starter on Yanmar 20GM Fresh engine doesn't disengage upon starting of engine. The drive gear stays for 1/2 to 1 second engaged to engine gear. Removing the Starter and starting it with battery it disengages as soon as current is turned off. I have been told it could be an electrical short in starter/ignition switch or burrs on engine gear. Any ideas or solutions greatly appreciated.Ron.

 

[Mike McKendy]

Starter Engagement

I had a bit of a different problem but the source might be the same. I have a 2GM20F. A couple of years ago, when trying to start my boat in the spring, the starter would spin but not engage. I took the starter off and discovered that the drive gear was spinning but not advancing on the shaft to engage the ring gear. I cleaned and then lightly sanded and oiled the shaft. It then worked fine. You might have a variation on the same problem. Perhaps the gear is moving to the engage position but not releasing back once the starter is released.Mike McKendy"Sea Sharp"

 

[Henry Weber]

starter motor not disengaging

RonHave had same problem with H30 77 YSB12 engine. The ignition key switch in the start position has a spring which returns it to the on position when you release the key. Sometimes salt corrosion causes the key cylinder to bind and not return. Solution is new key switch or squirt with WD40. The second much trickier cause can be a poor fit between ring and pinion gear (a tooth with burrs perhaps).I went through 3 starters up to now. The last one seems to be holding ok (4 months).Hope this helps.Henry