Sticking Starter

[Wayne]

The starter on my O-360 is not releasing when I let go of the starter
button. If I rev the engine slightly, it disengages at about 1500 RPM's. I
have sprayed silicone spray on the ring gear, and well as the bendix of the
starter but have only started it once since and it still stuck. Is this
common? Is there a common fix? Has anyone had one apart? I'd like to know if
the engine spinning faster causes it to disengage, or if it's only a a
spring loaded bendix alone. Any help would be appreciated.

Wayne

[Newps]

A starter is $150 and silly simple to replace. Buy a new one.

Wayne wrote:

> The starter on my O-360 is not releasing when I let go of the starter
> button. If I rev the engine slightly, it disengages at about 1500 RPM's. I
> have sprayed silicone spray on the ring gear, and well as the bendix of the
> starter but have only started it once since and it still stuck. Is this
> common? Is there a common fix? Has anyone had one apart? I'd like to know if
> the engine spinning faster causes it to disengage, or if it's only a a
> spring loaded bendix alone. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Wayne
>
>

[Roger Long]

Don't you mean just the Bendix?

--
Roger Long
Newps > wrote in message
news:2kv4b.317490$Ho3.45223@sccrnsc03...
> A starter is $150 and silly simple to replace. Buy a new one.
>

[Robert Little]

Most starters on the Lycomings have a sticker stating that they require tear
down and lubrication every 200 hours or 6 months. The nosepiece is held on
by 4 bolts and the shaft and centrifigal bendix is easily slid apart for
inspection, cleaning and lubrication. You can get the copper/bronse sleeve
bushing at most auto parts stores to replace the nose sleeve. If the shaft
is allowed to wooble, it will wear very quickly and cause the bendix to
hang. These starters are just like the ones on the cars up through the '80s
and a good alternator shop/starter shop can do a very good job of
inspection for you. Technically, they can not repair/rebuild ($25) them
but your A&P can with parts that you get from the manufacturer. The motor
brushes can be replaced and the communicator re-cut which is easier on your
battery and cables. Very easy and cheap. That is why rebuilts/exchanges
are very cheap ($175) aviation wise. But rule #1, get it fixed quickly as
it will get very costly quickly. Hope this helps. RTL

"Wayne" > wrote in message
...
> The starter on my O-360 is not releasing when I let go of the starter
> button. If I rev the engine slightly, it disengages at about 1500 RPM's. I
> have sprayed silicone spray on the ring gear, and well as the bendix of
the
> starter but have only started it once since and it still stuck. Is this
> common? Is there a common fix? Has anyone had one apart? I'd like to know
if
> the engine spinning faster causes it to disengage, or if it's only a a
> spring loaded bendix alone. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Wayne
>
>

[Wayne]

Thanks, I will check into that.
Wayne

"Robert Little" > wrote in message
...
> Most starters on the Lycomings have a sticker stating that they require
tear
> down and lubrication every 200 hours or 6 months. The nosepiece is held
on
> by 4 bolts and the shaft and centrifigal bendix is easily slid apart for
> inspection, cleaning and lubrication. You can get the copper/bronse
sleeve
> bushing at most auto parts stores to replace the nose sleeve. If the
shaft
> is allowed to wooble, it will wear very quickly and cause the bendix to
> hang. These starters are just like the ones on the cars up through the
'80s
> and a good alternator shop/starter shop can do a very good job of
> inspection for you. Technically, they can not repair/rebuild ($25) them
> but your A&P can with parts that you get from the manufacturer. The motor
> brushes can be replaced and the communicator re-cut which is easier on
your
> battery and cables. Very easy and cheap. That is why rebuilts/exchanges
> are very cheap ($175) aviation wise. But rule #1, get it fixed quickly as
> it will get very costly quickly. Hope this helps. RTL

[Rod Farlee]

"Wayne" > wrote:
>The starter on my O-360 is not releasing when I let go of the starter
>button.

Cause: grease from the starter's gearbox gets forward of the grease
retention plate into the Bendix and gums it up.
Easily fixed in less than an hour.
Remove the starter, take the Bendix off, clean its shaft and housing with
Stoddard solvent (kerosene), dry completely, lube with Teflon or silicone
spray (no oil or grease), reinstall.
Do this every few hundred hours, and it'll always engage fully and disengage
immediately.
Defer it, and it won't engage completely (causing uneven wear and early
replacement of the Bendix and ring gear), or won't disengage (likely
breaking teeth on Bendix and/or ring gear, or destroying the Bendix or
entire starter).

Also inspect the teeth of the Bendix and ring gears. Sticky Bendix might
not extend to completely engage these gears, causing scoring or uneven wear,
which can prevent completely engagement and lead to broken gear teeth.
Minor steps in the aluminum ring gear can be dressed out using a file. If
the Bendix gear is scored, it's $50 for a new one from Chief.