94 Mariner outboard troubles

[bryancx94]

I have a 1994 Mariner 90HP 3cyc 2cycle, oil injected outboard engine.<br /><br />My boat won't start. It was running fine last summer. When I tried to start it today, the engine would barely rotate, as if my battery was dead. So I assumed it was the battery and I tried jumping it off my truck, no luck same thing. So today I bought a new battery which was 550 marine CC amps. It seems to rotate a bit faster, but nothing like when it should when it cranks normal. So I thought maybe the battery wasn't fully charged from the store, so I charged the battery at 6amps for about an hour till it was full, same result. I am currently charging it at 2amps and will try again.<br /><br />My first questions is: Can you jump a boat off of a car?<br /><br />Second: What else could it be? Do I need a bigger battery?<br /><br />Items recently repaired were a new key ignition because we lost the keys, and a new vertical shaft. I'm assuming its the drive shaft not the prop shaft. If anything was wrong with the installation, I feel the engine would not rotate at all, not just sound like the battery was not charged. The boat hasn't run since these repairs, just because this was done over the winter time and no one wanted to start it in the cold.<br /> <br /><br />Any help would be great!<br />Thanks<br />Bryan

 

[andy6374]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

Can you turn the engine over by hand? If its hard by hand try pouring a bottle cap of oil down each cylinder.<br /><br />550 cold cranking amps is more than enough juice to turn over that engine. Check to make sure all the connections at the battery and starting solenoid are tight and corrosion free.

 

[bryancx94]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

I can turn it over by hand, its sort of tuff, but not incredibly hard. I checked all the connections, all seem tight. The wires seem to get pretty hot when trying to crank it over, but I think that is normal with any starter that is cranking more than 5 seconds. I will try to pour a little oil in each cylindar.

 

[NatHat]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

When you tried to jump start from your truck did you connect to the boat battery or to the hotpost of the starter and ground it to the engine? The reason I ask is I recently went through a like spat with my old j35 johnson, I changed the relay I rebuilt my starter and it didn't get any better so I tried a set of power wires from an old junker motor I have and poof she starts like a champ. It really doesn't take alot of energy loss (ohms) to drag down your amps. Try jumping straight to the starter via your jumper cables, connect the ground to any unpainted bolt on the engine, but be aware that as soon as both wires make contact the starter will engage so be mindful of you fingers. <br /> Another thing to check is the bendix shaft of the starter if it has gotten bent then when it wobbles toward the fly wheel it will put an extreme amount of strain on the system..

 

[andy6374]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

Hot battery cables are a tell tale sign that there is corrosion under the insulation. Try with some new battery cables

 

[bryancx94]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

I tried all of your suggestions and still the same result. I have a link below of the video of me starting it with jumpercables off the battery, still no dice. I notice when i do this the postive terminal on the battery, the jumper cable, and the starter get VERY hot. I'm wondering if something is shorting out in the starter.. I really am clueless at this point.<br /><br />video: http://tamaquatech.com/engine.3gp

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

time to service your starter motor ....

 

[bryancx94]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

Thats what I was thinking... Anyone know ballpark how much a new start would cost, and/or have any suggestions of finding a good website to order one from?

 

[bryancx94]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

Well I did some troubleshooting today...<br /><br />I can turn then engine by hand, as what seems to be a normal tension. If I take out the spark plugs the start will turn the engine over, still seems a little flaky though. If I put the plugs back in the starter does its normal routine. <br /><br />So I took the starter off the boat, opened it up, and out poured about 1" of blue corroded powder with the worst smell of Ozone I ever smelled. Also the brushes on the bottom seem to not spring anymore, and are worn down. So at this point, I am 90% sure it’s the starter. So if anyone can answer my post above, I would like to try to get a good deal on a new / pre-owned one. Thanks!

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

www.outboardstarter.com

 

[saumon]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

Around 200$

 

[andy6374]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

Sounds like an ailing starter. It could turn the engine over because of lack of compression from the extra cylinder. You may not need a new one, the manual tells you how to disassemble and clean.

 

[bryancx94]

Re: 94 Mariner outboard troubles

I actually found an aftermarket starter that replaces the 50-60015 for only $125. I'm just gonna go that route. The inside of that starter was bad.. things were worn down, corrison everywhere, just not worth fixing. <br /><br />Another problem I noticed is that when they put the drive shaft in the engine, they did not align the shifter shaft, so now neutrel is forward, gonna have to rip the lower end off again.. arghhh. <br /><br />Thanks for the help everyone.