MH30 Bendix Drive question

It's missing its cog on the flywheel more and more these days, whining out of control when I hit the starter button. Repeated tries on the starter switch don't work, but if I flip the engine over with the crank and try the switch again, it catches and starts the engine normally.

Why is that? The problem happens too often to be a missing cog on the flywheel.

Thanks,

Rod

If the Bendix won't engage at the time I take the starter off, that portion of the flywheel would have to be at fault if it were a missing tooth, right? Last time I did it the flywheel cogs in that section were fine.

I'll ask him about shimming the Bendix for a better fit with the flywheel.

I've also thought about having him rewire the starter for 12V. When starting on 12 it hits with a brutal impact and turns very fast. It has to be hard on itself. On my Chrysler M47 marine engine I have a similar 12V alternator/6 volt starter combination but it doesn't seem hard on itself at all. I've used it that way for twenty years now without a problem. The starter guy told me that some 6 volt starters had Bendix drives which are well protected from impact and others such as the 30's which are exposed.