97 SPX 787 Starter Trouble - Video Inside

[RebuiltSeadooBaffles]

I took this video a couple weeks ago but my SPX has been doing this crap with the starter since I bought it, it will eventually work but does what it does in the video off and on, 1st time I had it out after I bought it it would just spin after it warmed up and would never engage till it cooled al the way down, I have been noticing it getting way worse tho as far as not engaging so I pulled the starter out, pulled it apart, magnets and brushes are damn near perfect, I cleaned up the contacts and reassembled, also did a full check on the bendix which was good too, battery is at 12.8 volts and has a NEW ground cable, still does the same thing. What do you guys think? Guys on PWCtoday think its the bendix does that sound right? I took it back out cause I am in the middle of reassembling the motor (bad base gasket) so I ordered a starter rebuild kit with aftermarket bendix for the OEM starter in hopes that it fixes it, I just want to hear some opinions on it. The flywheel has no damaged teeth I gave that a good check-over.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mhjGlRYhyA

 

[kicker]

That sounds like a bendix problem to me.
I have not had much luck with aftermarket ones though. I just use OEM..........I know they are expensive, but I have had more then one trip ruined because of aftermarket starter parts.

On the up side at least you got your motor apart and it is easily accessible.

 

[RebuiltSeadooBaffles]

All I can find are aftermarket ones or else I would go oem, I know to stay away from aftermarket starters.

 

[JoeStrange]

Sounds like the bendix to me as well.

I purchased a rebuilt starter off ebay two years ago and still no problems with it. Most of them are just rebuilt OEM anyways but I suppose you should just buy one from the most reputable rebuilder if your concerned.

You wouldn't catch me buying a new OEM one for what the dealer is asking.

I bought mine from dbelectrical.

http://www.dbelectrical.com/p-1716-100-new-seadoo-starter-gsx-gtx-xp-spx-sea-doo-pwc.aspx

 

[CReynoldsMIZ]

Sounds like a bendix problem to me as well. Just buy a good used one from Minnetonka4Me

 

[Britrick]

Did you bench test it before putting it back in the ski ?

 

[RebuiltSeadooBaffles]

Sorry for the late replies, been out of town.

Sounds like a bendix problem to me as well. Just buy a good used one from Minnetonka4Me

He does not have any in stock, my aftermarket bendix will be here tomorrow.

Did you bench test it before putting it back in the ski ?

Yes, hooked up a 50A battery charger to it in the "start engine" mode and bumped the starter on the bench, bendix came out like it should have everytime.

If the bendix does not work I will buy the one from DB electrical, I am sick of this ski being down and want to take it out this weekend for once.

 

[RebuiltSeadooBaffles]

It was in fact the bendix, the 9T aftermarket bendix I got was hard to get on the shaft and was tight moving in the grooves of the starter but working it back and forth for a couple mins fixed all that, also it is a lot louder now that I have a 9T, hopefully that wears down some once it "meshes" together

 

[RebuiltSeadooBaffles]

Well I lost a day at the lake saturday, started fine when pulling it off the trailer in the water, put in on the dock to park the truck, come back and the starter just spins, I was not happy, the aftermarket bendix seized on the starter shaft, I ordered another 8T OEM starter as I doubt I can fix this one, at least the vendor of the bendix is refunding my money (once I send it back). I only got about 50 starts on it. So add me to the aftermarket starter parts failure list, now I know to listen next time....