on cold starts the starter will hang up for a second, would this be a product of the starter solenoid(little box with wires coming out of it) or the starter itself?



1998 2 stroke 40hp

What do you mean by "hangs up"? Does it engage the flywheel but takes it a second to start turning the flywheel?

the typical drill sound you have in a car when the starter sounds like its going out.





the motor will turn over, but you will still have that starter sound afterward



eta what does the solenoid box control? and are there any special precautions when replacing the starter or the solenoid box? i already have both parts just laying around

Sounds like the drive gear on the starter is hanging in the up position. You may try lubing the spiral grooved shaft (helix shaft) the gear rides on.
The solenoid is just a big relay. It uses a small amount of current from the ignition switch to activate it. When activated the solenoid transfers the high current across the heavy cables hooked to it.. One of the heavy cables goes to the battery and the other to the starter motor.
No "special" precaution changing solenoid or starter. Unhook battery first and don't over tighten any bolts as they are threaded into aluminum.

ETA -- If the "drill sound" you mention is more of a screeching sound, and the drive gear on the starter is retracting normally, the upper bushing/bearing in the starter is going bad.
A way to check for this is to spray a bit of WD-40 or other lube at the helix shaft where it enters the top of the starter motor. If the screeching goes away then the bushing is bad.

You need a good battery to spin the starter with enough force to throw the Bendix up into the flywheel. If it doesn't get that initial rapid rotation the Bendix will just rotate.

If the starter is getting power your solenoid is working.