40HP Evinrude, Starter trouble, intermittent???

[cmb3366]

I've got a 40hp 1993 Evinrude on the back of my tracker that is givving me intermentint starter issues, and I could use some insight and ideas on where to start looking. every couple of times when you turn the key, you will hear a click, but get no starter movement, no spin, no nothing. Usually, you just let off, hit the key again, and it will spin.

The other night I had it out on the water, and it would not spin, so I tried it several more times, nothing. So, at this point, we start to trouble shoot, first we change batteries, no difference, still just click but no spin. Then, thinking maybe it was a dead spot on the starter, we turn it by hand several times, but it diddent do anything, just click.

I trolled it back to dock where we could get a better look with my electric motor, where we decided to just emergency rope start it to finish out the night. That worked fine, and when I had to shut it down again to pick up a tuber, I decided to retry the key/starter. After 2 trys, it spun and got us started.

Now the question is, where do I start to figure out what is the issue. I think it is electrical, and not the starter itself given the click, but no spin, and the good performance on occasion, but I really dont know. I've got a good multimeter, but no service manual, so I'm not really sure where to look and what I should see. If some of you more experienced guys could help out a relative novice, I would appreciate it immensily.

 

[JB]

Re: 40HP Evinrude, Starter trouble, intermittent???

Remove and clean all connections of big cables from the battery to the engine, CMB.

Your symptoms are classic cable connection corrosion.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 40HP Evinrude, Starter trouble, intermittent???

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad