Atomic four starter failure

[sailmed]

I was all ready for spring. New distributor cap, rotor, points, plugs, wires, rebuilt carb. But the Prestolite gods had other ideas. Upon pressing the ignition, the starter motor spun freely without engaging the flywheel. I was told there are ususally two causes for that in this model...either rust on shaft prevents pinion from being thrown against flywheel, or the ring gear on the flywheel has migrated foward away from the starter (less likely). I pulled the starter to find that the shaft had fractured through, and the pinion assembly fell off in my hands and into the bilge. I feared that a seized engine had caused the break, but it spins freely. Just fatigue , I guess.

[Bob Cleek]

It's been a long while since I mucked around with an Aneimc Four, but as I recall, the starter on those puppies is a very common automotive number, Delco, if memory serves. I remember knowing of two that were out at the same time once. One guy went to the Universal parts outfit and paid an arm and a leg for a new starter. The other guy went down to the local auto parts place and bought a rebuilt for a few bucks, like maybe a tenth of what Universal wanted for the same darn starter. Sometimes the starters are different on the same engine, so I can't say for sure about yours, but maybe... it's a start!

[High C]

Always, I say ALWAYS!!!! try an auto parts supplier before going to the "marine" dealer for engine parts.

My story is about an alternator for my Yanmar YSM12 1 cylinder diesel. I went online to the big Yanmar parts suppliers and found that a new alternator would cost.... drum roll.... bbrrrrrr. $1,000.00!!!

After I regained consciousness, I removed the golden alternator from the motor and headed into town to the local Starter and Alternator place. With trembling hand, I thrust forward the priceless object to Mr. Alternator. He mumbled some disaproving epithets, looked in his catalog, rifled through some old boxes on the floor, and announced in a somber tone, "I'm afraid I'll have to special order that unit for you, it won't be in 'til tomorrow, and it'll cost you 60 bucks!" I cried out with joy, "I'll take 2!"

Always look at the auto parts dealers first!

[ 05-22-2003, 10:36 PM: Message edited by: High C ]