www.iFourWinns.com

i have a 94 four winns i bought two years ago a new starter was put on it when i bought it. last year it was acting like i had a weak battery. i replaced my battery this year and same thing my starter was dragging then would start the motor just fine. i went to my local parts store had it tested and it passed but the gear was very very sloppy so i bought a new one when i installed it, it wouldnt engage flywheel i am now on my third starter with same results its clacking against flywheel, ive even tried shimming. starter does fine when i remove it from motor still hooked up to boats wiring with adding ground of course. the first two starters were automotive but now i have a marine NEW OMC VOLVO PENTA MARINE STARTER 10093 3854190-0 ST93. any suggestions?

i also replaced soilnoid and checked wiring

There should be no reason to shim the starter so pull them out. Does the engine start and if so how does it sound/ is it still smooth running or out of balance. Check your bell housing bolts could be loose. Take the starter back out and check your flywheel is it loose-have someone turn engine over by hand and watch the flywheel for wobble. Just had to start with the worst case scenarios Check the teeth on the flywheel are they chewed up.

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'96 200 Horizon 5.8l VP/SX

Take a flashlight and look very carefully at the ring gear. If it is torn up, it can cause the same symptoms and it will destroy your new satrter. Dan

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Current Boat: 1994 278 Four Winns Vista

just in case someone has a similar problem like mine its a grounding issue

Bit late to the post, but that's exactly what I dealt with today. Went ahead and traced and cleaned all grounds from the battery to the back of the engine to the generator. She now starts like new.

Just an issue that needs to be dealt with when boating in salt water.

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2006 Four Winns 278 Vista.
Volvo Penta 8.1L, Duo Prop,
Kohler 5E Generator.

Glad you fixed the problem and it's some good information just in case I run into the same problem in the future.