'93 40 hp Johnson starting issue

[jgryte]

I got my boat out of winter storage this past weekend and tried to start it with the muffs on before I went to the lake. <br /><br />The first couple times I turned it over it just clicked a bit. I checked the battery connections and tried it again. This time the starter engaged and wouldn't stop, until I disconnected the battery. After some troubleshooting I disconnected the small wires from the solenoid and when I connected the baterry the starter would still run. <br /><br />At this point I figured the solenoid had to be shot so I took it off. Just to prove to myself that the solenoid was making a constant connection I tried to arc it across the battery (I know, probably not too safe). Anyway, nothing happenend. So I put it all back together and it worked fine the rest of the weekend. Probably started it a dozen more times.<br /><br />My question is, do you think the solenoid was stuck and fixed itself when I took it off or did I unknowingly do something else? And should I just replace the solenoid just to be safe?<br /><br />Thanks for any help.<br /><br />Joe

 

[DJ]

Re: '93 40 hp Johnson starting issue

First off. Lubricate the starter bendix shaft.<br /><br />1. Do this by rotating the starter pinion, by hand, (small gear on starter) the opposite diection of normal rotation. This will walk the gear up the shaft. Clean it by using something like WD-40. Once clean apply a very light coat of marine grease.<br /><br />2. Make sure your battery connections are tight/clean. Wing nuts do not cut it.<br /><br />3. Remove the engine ground (battery) and clean it and the bolt thoroughly.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: '93 40 hp Johnson starting issue

Either the ignition switch has gone bad (feeding constant current to the starter solenoid), or the solenoid itself has stuck in the engaged mode. If it does this again, tap on the solenoid with a wrench to see if it stops the starter. Have a voltmeter handy and if the above suggestion doesn't work, measure the voltage at the small terminal on the solenoid that is engergized with the ignition in the start position. If you measure voltage at that terminal when the key is in the RUN position, the ignition switch is bad. All of this testing is of course, done when the problem occurs.

 

[jgryte]

Re: '93 40 hp Johnson starting issue

Thanks for the replies. That confirms what I was thinking.