Starter / Engine Problem ?

[rayjr162]

I have a 1985 NQ50 spree. Hadn't been run since 1990. After doing the basic stuff like cleaning the gas & Oil tanks, replace the battery, tires, tubes spark plug ect.... the problem I am running into now is the starter, when I go to try and start it the starter doesn't seem to have enough gumption to turn it over and move the starter gear fast enough. I have cover off the belt area and when I remove the pinion/bendix and physically remove the starter it motor zooms right up..what is this a sign of ???

Also I have used a 17mm socket on a drill and have started that way, but it wont stay running, which I feel it's starved for gas and will make sure the the carb is really clean when I have the time soon to work on it again.

Any help would be great thanks.

Ray.

[rayjr162]

Also when turning the drive/starter pully gear by hand it doesn't move freely all the way around. It seems to get difficult to do 3/4 of the way around.

[otto-man]

I had the same starter problem with a 1984 Spree. The previous owner tried using a 1986 starter with the 1984 bendix. 1984/1985 starters have 10 splines on the starter and 65 teeth on the bendix. 1986/1987 starters have 11 splines on the starter and 63 teeth on the bendix. If you interchange them, they will bind up.