90hp outboard jet starter problem

[keith douglas]

hello
first post:
I wonder if someone could diagnose this starter problem on my yammy 90hp outboard jet engine? I can start the engine fine...but sometimes the bendix gear stays engaged and spins with the flywheel.
The engine can also start fine, with the bendix gear dropping as normal, and then 10,20 or more seconds later the gear pops back up on its own and engages the spinning flywheel.

Any ideas what could be causing this? Battery is fully charged. No problem as such starting the engine..its just the starter gear comes back up on its own accord.
Thanks very much for any ideas on how to approach this problem
Keith

[99yam40]

bad key switch or a short in wiring going to start relay would be my thoughts

[keith douglas]

thanks for the idea on the key switch. I had read that in researching this problem that it could be an ignition switch issue.
keith