Bad starter, battery, or other?

[Ryan29]

Hey all, I am currently trying to get my 1985 johnson 235 hp motor to start. Here is what I try. I have greased the starter so the little wheel doesn't have a problem coming up to spin the big wheel, and start with a fully charged battery. I turn the key, the starter wheel pops up and spins the big wheel, but it will not start. I stop, and try for a second time. This time, The starter wheel pops up and spins the big wheel very slow. I put the battery back on the charger, and notice the battery has almost completely drained. The charger reads at 20% battery life. I leave it on the charger for a couple of hours, battery reads 100% so I try again with the same results. I have also tried switching to a different battery, (as i have two in the boat) and pretty much get the same results with that one. Any help or ideas? Thanks.



Ryan

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bad starter, battery, or other?

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


also read about ethanol >> http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680

 

[Ryan29]

Re: Bad starter, battery, or other?

thanks for the help. i will try the suggestions.

 

[Al-53]

Re: Bad starter, battery, or other?

This is a shot in the dark and do not want to over judge Tashasdaddy...but I had the same problem....I went to to fish and boat started fine..went to start it again and just barely turned over....I took it home and cleaned all connections as Tasha explained...load tested the battery and was fine.....

I finely pulled the starter apart and seen I had a broken wire on a brush that was connected to the positive lead...I replaced the brushes...and now it is 100% better..flips right over now and no more drained starts...

Al

 

[d.boat]

Re: Bad starter, battery, or other?

This is a shot in the dark and do not want to over judge Tashasdaddy...but I had the same problem....I went to to fish and boat started fine..went to start it again and just barely turned over....I took it home and cleaned all connections as Tasha explained...load tested the battery and was fine.....

I finely pulled the starter apart and seen I had a broken wire on a brush that was connected to the positive lead...I replaced the brushes...and now it is 100% better..flips right over now and no more drained starts...

Al

wll you're not second guessing him at all since he mentioned that the starter might have to be rebuilt. (BTDT too).

But the place to start isn't rebuilding the starter, it's going through the steps he mentioned which are all very easy and take about 20 minutes.

 

[Ryan29]

Re: Bad starter, battery, or other?

Thanks everyone once again. I will be going through these steps today when i wake up. I would like to get out and start fishing again ASAP as the fish are finally starting to bite.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bad starter, battery, or other?

my belief is to do the FREE stuff first, don't go throwing parts at it.