Perkins Starter (Delco Remy) Not Engaging

[morgan3]

Hey guys - I'm at anchor in mexico, and went to start my perkins 4108 yesterday.....she just whined at me. Sounds like the starter is turning but not engaging. I pulled the starter out today. It's a delcoRemy model number 110748 E F10, see picture below.

I want to be sure it works before I re-install it.....so can anyone can give me some instruction as to how this thing should operate and how to bench test it? I'm not sure if that gear you see in the picture (is that the bendix gear?) should slide up the shaft? As you can see everything looks pretty dry and a bit of rust. I'm hoping I can just lube it up and re-install.

really appreciate the help!!

[DeepFrz]

The solenoid on top is connected to a yoke that pushes the gear out to engage it with the ring gear on the flywheel. Take the solenoid off and check if it is working and make sure all the pieces move freely. You don't want a bunch of grease in there, but a very light coat on all moving parts and the shaft is okay. While you have it apart it would be a good time to check the bearings and the brushes.

This reference may help you out.
http://www.delcoremy.com/LiteratureDownload/Documents\\/Quick_Reference.pdf

Actually here is a drawing of the system.
http://www.delcoremy.com/pdfs/servic...acy/1M-151.pdf

[Stillraining]

Your solenoid is what throws your Bendix gear out so sounds like you need a new one.

Woops ...DF Got ya already

[hellosailor]

Morgan, you will find thayt DelcoRemy are still in business AND they are absolute aces at answering phone calls and giving end customers absolutely great tech support. They have manuals for many of their products online as well.

www.delcoremy.com/Starters.Aspx

Delco, ACDelco, DelcoRemy...all of them are really great at support. If you can find any model or serial numbers on your starter, odds are they can tell you what to look for and how to get parts. Although any competent alternator/starter shop should also be able to do that. Odds are this is a stock truck/bus starter not a specialty marine part.

[mesquaukee]

Not entirely sure but on that starter the gear is thrown out not by the solenoid but by the starter motor starting up.
The gear you see in the pic is mounted on a spiral thread and held in its present position by a spring. When the motor starts up the enertia of the gear causes it to be thrown out by the spiral thread (moves to the left in the pic) engaging the gear teeth on the flywheel.

All you need to do is open it up and clean all that rust and debris out of of the moving parts an ensure it moves freely. Make sure the spring is in good condition. Hook it up to a battery and make sure the gear snaps quickly out and immediately retracts when disconnected.

[morgan3]

I took it apart today....looks like some saltwater got into it at some point, bendix was definately stuck. I cleaned everything, lubed up the shaft, works fine now on the bench.

I'm going add some gasket sealer and try to get it semi water tight.....thanks for the help!

[glhotka]

I was originally going to rebuild mine, but in the end found that an aftermarket one new (no core charge) was about $130-150. I figured at that price, I would replace it new and in the end I am glad I did. I will still likely have the other rebuilt or rebuild it myself as a spare. Heck Amazon even has them now with free shipping so you don't have to taxi all over for the darn part

We ended up writing a couple of blog posts and also doing a 2 part video on our youtube channel on how to replace it, with close up videos, troubleshooting as well as adding a remote start button in the engine room.

Hopefully you find it useful.
Here is a link to the video on our Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlwpbgibX_O-K0qoJFcCVlxK8ETIBXgG_

Part 1 - Blog Post - Removing and troubleshooting
Part 2 - Blog Post - Replacing and remote start

[zeehag]

as you are already in mexico where nothing is discarded, you will be able to find a rebuilder of these. mine cost mebbe 50 usd to rebuild so i rebuilt both of the ones i have. perfect. the perkins starter is a burly machine and replacements are not so burly. this i show i learned that fact. my original perkins starter burned out on me 5 miles north of cedros island village. had it replaced there for damned cheap, but the replacement was wimpy and not quite right. i had the perkins starter rebuilt in barra de navidad by chebio, of cihuatlan. cheap easy and perfect.
i am sure you can find a good electrician who can fix it for you perfectly, as did i.
funny how replacements donot have the guts the originals do.
as you have already rebuilt it yourself, keep the info for later.....