Marinette Boat Forum

Hi everyone. My port motor's starter has gone out on our 1977 37' sedan bridge, with the original dual Chrysler Marine 360s. I took the starter to a rebuild shop, and he seemed confident at first but less so two days later. Has anyone had any luck rebuilding their starter, or sourcing a new one that can bolt on (any recommendations)? Also not sure how to tell if it is clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Have a marina inspection in a couple week and we need to have this sorted beforehand!

I'm also looking to source a water pump impeller for our starboard side motor, but hard to tell what water pump we have... any suggestions?

I hope this helps - if you can find the tag, the rotation is part of the serial number.

If, like mine, the original engines with their ID tags are long gone. Even engines with metal data plates get thrown out by engine builder. I can't remember which ones are LT and RT rotation. The two starters listed in the factory Chrysler parts manuals are 2875927 and 9575928 plus 14 different part numbers to rebuild one, not sure if any are still available. The only two parts that make them LT or RT are the armature and the Bendix, all the other parts are the same. If you google the two starters, it looks like there are replacements available, some being the newer hi-torq mini starters.
As far as the impellers, do you have a Sherwood or Jabsco pump? Mine is a Sherwood, which I have converted to Globe Run-Dry impellers (part #625). Run-Dry impellers are made from silicone instead of rubber and will run dry for 15 minutes before they self destruct. Easy to rebuild and there is a post in the drivetrain section of the forum on how to install them, since LT and RT are the same part number you simply curl the blades in the appropriate direction when you stuff them in the housing (if you mix them up, they won't pump). Let us know what you can come up with.

just recalled that another place to look for rotation is at the rear of the transm. There may be an arrow stamped there.

The Starboard engine is always going to be reverse rotation, or RH (clockwise) looking at the front of the engine.

Can't advise on your unseen water pump, but I expect you've already sorted that out. If you haven't, post a picture.

On my Sherwood pumps, with a new soft impeller, I don't worry about curling the impeller in the correct direction. Upon starting the impeller always sorts itself out. Lubricate with non petroleum anything before dry starting.

You can check the direction of rotation of the starter motor by connecting it to a battery, but you can just look at the gear on the Bendix that engages the ring gear and match your old and a new starter. There is a slight bevel to the teeth of the gear to help it engage. Opposite rotation starters have the bevel on opposite sides of the teeth. I believe a standard rotation starter has the bevel on the right side of the tooth as you look at it.

Jim,
I have considered going with the Globe impellers but the negative reviews on Amazon have always scared me off. The negative reviews are mostly about problems with the composite hub as opposed to the bronze OEM hub. Have you experienced any problems with these?
-Scott

Going on three years, no issues ! I’m guessing any reluctance about the composite hub would be that it would break off from the impeller part. But the silicone material won’t get stiff with age, like natural rubber, so there won’t be as much stress on the hub. That would be my theory. Guess I’ll see in 4 or 5 years ! One thing I do every time I start the engines is check for water discharge out the tailpipes, without fail. I have checklist I go through every time take her out.

Sherwood impellers are not natural rubber, they are Neoprene.