New starter faulty?

[TRIP]

Howdy y'all,
just got a new starter for my GT40 from Nautiqueparts.
Installed it; boat started but with a terrible grinding noise for a few seconds. Shut the engine off after a while, then it wouldn't start. You'd hear the starter turning, but not engaging with the flywheel, just spinning freely in the air. Took the starter off the block to inspect, found nothing so put it back on. And yes; it started again, but with that same noise again. Went riding but after a while the engine died (another issue, another story for another time) and again boat didn't start, same as earlier where the starter spins in nothingness.
Took the starter off the block, put it back on, and it started again, once. With the grinding noise. Back at the dock I shut the engine off, tried to start, again nothing.
Is there anything apart from the whole starter being faulty that can cause this? Anything I can check or try?
The issue is that I'm in Costa Rica, so it's a bit of a hassle sending the starter back and wait for another one.
Thanks!

[bturner]

It sounds like the Bendix isn't engaging fully or quickly enough. I wish I could say this is rare but since Covid many parts like this are bad out of the box. Between poor quality control and China knockoff that are absolute junk no one is exempt from getting bad replacement parts. Coming from Nautique parts I would hope it would be better quality but then again, see the above.

As far as what you can do goes..... Pull the starter again and closely compare the new and old starter just to be sure you have the right part. If that checks then check the Bendix for lube and proper operation off the engine. If no joy here and the old one worked you could try swapping out the Bendix from the old starter with the new one. It wouldn't be the first time I personally had to do something like that.

[jpwhit]

A couple of possible causes.

It may not be the right starter and the starter pinion gear isn't close enough to the gear on the flywheel. It sort of works the first time after it's installed because there is enough play in the bolts that the starter is a little closer to the flywheel gear. But during the first start, the poor meshing of teeth pushes the starter away from the flywheel by the amount that the bolt play allows. Did you talk to the folks at Nautique Parts before ordering to make sure you were ordering the right starter? If not, probably worth a call to them now to discuss if it's the right starter for your particular engine.

Another possibility, or contributing factor, is the teeth on the flywheel may be severely damaged. With the starter off, rotate the engine and examine the all the teeth on the flywheel.

I seriously doubt a starter from Nautique Parts is bad out of the box. I've always received the highest quality parts from them.

[TRIP]

Cheers guys, appreciated!
I hope to head to the boat tomorrow again.
I'm pretty sure it's the right starter, unless there are several starter options for a GT40 but I'm fairly sure there's not.
I am worried there might be an issue with the flywheel. How do I spin the engine by hand? I tried to inspect the teeth last time but I didn't bring my glasses then.

On the old starter is was the solenoid that went bad. So I might have the solenoid of the new starter put on the old one, see how that goes.

Thanks again!

[XBIGPUN66]

In the automotive world, there are shims you can use to correct this issue

[jpwhit]

Socket and breaker bar on the main pulley bolt.