What causes the bendix not to engage?

[Quinc]

Still have the issue, and after getting rolled in the surf because the Bendix wouldn't engage.. Im tearing the whole thing apart again. Going to replace the bronze bushings in the flywheel cover and cases with the mcmaster bushing: 6658K16. Also have a used starter off a honda motorcycle and a used bendix off a mid 2000's jetski coming to try.

 

[Vumad]

This seems like a really good excuse to buy a fourth axis for my CNC.

If that's not enough of an excuse, then how about this... If you set up a 4th axis, I will bug you about how you did it until mine has one too. Motivated now?

 

[Mpage]

Just replaced my bendix with a new one. Replaced with new spring , washers and copper bushings. Had already replaced the starter with new one last season. Just started my ski today. Out of 5 starts I get one spinning sound. Flywheel teeth is excellent shape. All OEM parts. Flywheel is Jetnitics light charging .

 

[spinyard]

It has absolutely nothing to do with anything else than the back cut on the teeth of the ring gear and bendix. No manufacturer(including Parts sourced by Yamaha) of ring gear or bendix does enough back cut to reliably engage every single time. Look closely at the ring gear and you will see the teeth on this new MSD flywheel vs the ones I have cut more. This bendix has been cut properly too. If you look at your parts you will see there is likely no lead in on the teeth making it difficult for them to mesh on startup. It’s not rocket science to fix it and don’t be intimidated to try it. A steady and consistent hand with a thin blade cutoff wheel you can fix the bendix and ring gear so it will never, and I mean never, miss again.

I just did this and my starter engages perfectly every time, I did have a few teeth that looked questionable, but just gave them that same angled grind. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Daytona Nick]

A light coat of lithium grease helps a lot on gears