Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

[bigjo911]

So here is the deal. I just bought this boat set up. 14ft 1997 sea nymph 50th anniversary with a 40hp 1997 Johnson electric start oil injection and power trim. When I bought it 4 days ago the guy turned the key and it started with no issue on one key turn. When it it started the motor was revved real high so he tuned it back down to a low idle and it ran smooth and both gears worked fine.

I'm a novice starting electric starts so I'm guessing the issue is simple. I just charged up the deep cell and hooked it up correctly. radio worked, power trim worked and when I was turning the key the fly wheel spun fine and just didn't start. I realized the safety lanyard was missing and the key was pushed in. After I was able to pull the key safety out which it just stays out without a lanyard the motor does what you see in the video. Gas is primed, and everything has power but the fly wheel is not spinning smoothly. All I do with the throttle is leave it in neutral right? It wont even turn if it is moved forward or back at all.

I feel dumb asking these questions but I need your guidance on what is going on here. It just ran great 4 days ago.

Here is the video - http://youtu.be/lfYF9-scNXQ

Thank you in advance!

 

[emoney]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

The key should push in, that's your auto choke, btw and there should aslo be a "warm-up" lever in your controls, btw.

Sounds like the battery is drained. If you tried to start it several times, don't take long to drain one. You said "deep cycle", I'm assuming it's the same batt. he used? If not, make sure it's a dual purpose batt. that's also good for motor starting. He started it warm, I'm sure and you're trying to start it cold, so that's the biggest diff. It takes a different approach, as noted above. Post a pic of your controls and re-charge that battery.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

hope someone corrects me if im wrong.....but your starter is staying engaged with the flywheel, and that just isnt right. it does sound like a low battery or loose/corroded battery connections tho.

 

[bigjo911]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

Here are the pics. I know the key should push in to prime but I thought not having the safety lanyard on would keep it from running. Thats what I initially thought the issue was. I just hooked the multi meter on the battery and it read on the 9v section 11.67, so would that be fully charged? This is my own battery, unsure of age. He told me the motor hasn't run in 2 weeks and his driveway was dry of water when i arrived so I assume he was telling the truth and cold starting it. It was over 80 degrees that day if that helps.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy194/myparttimebusiness/1997%2014ft%20Sea%20Nymph%20%2040hp%20Johnson/DSC_6157.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy194/myparttimebusiness/1997%2014ft%20Sea%20Nymph%20%2040hp%20Johnson/DSC_6159.jpg

 

[hidef]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

You have to knock the starter pinion gear down it should not be up against the fly wheel. It needs to spin up and engage the flywheel. Make sure the battery connections are clean and tight. Never dry start a outboard you will burn up the water pump before you know it.

The engine will start and run without the safety lanyard.

 

[bigjo911]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

Ok, so tomorrow I will buy a safety lanyard. For now, the battery is charging again. I will knock the flywheel down, should I lube it at all, wd 40 or silicon spray? And the red lever I pull up and turn the key simultaneously?

 

[emoney]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

Not the red button, that engages gear. Is the gray circle at the bottom a "button" you can push in? If so, push it and then push the throttle forward without engaging the red button. If not, then try and see if your entire lever will pull out and then go forward. You're trying to find a "warm-up" which should let you push throttle forward partially and without in gear. It's sorta like pumping the gas on an old car. You're pushing fuel into the carbs to get it to start. Did you confirm that your battery is a "starting battery" or at least "dual purpose"? It should have a CCA # (cold cranking amps) somewhere btween 500 - 900 amps. If not, wrong battery.

I don't think you need a laynard, btw. Shouldn't turn over if the kill switch is activated.

 

[rothfm]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

A couple things....The red lever your mentioned about "pulling" up and turning the key....It appears to me that the red lever under the handle is to move the shifter out out neutral. It doesn't look like any sort of warm up lever at all.

Your warm up Throttle action is probably to pull out the whole shifter. They pop out about an inch or so, this then becomes your warm up throttle by pushing the lever down somewhat--it will not engage into any gear in this mode. So ensure you are getting into "warm up" mode on the shifter, and give it some throttle position by pushing it down a bit. This is all before trying to start.

Then, while your turning the key to start, if you push in the key a couple times (couple second pushes), this will Prime the engine with some extra gas. If/when it fires up, dont let it race at high rpm--decrease the warm up lever till you get a fair idle. After a minute or so move the lever to upright, the lever should then pop back in fully, this the normal shifter mode to enable foward, reverse.

I agree with the above....9volts is BAD. The video definitely looks like its a power issue. Its not going to turn over right. Start with a known good fully charged battery. Check those connections, but since the PO fired it up no problem-they are probably ok

 

[bigjo911]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

The deep cell marine is 400cca. 9 volts was the setting on the multimeter i used not the battery. The red lever is to exit from neutral. However the lever does not pull away from the current location at all. I gave it a good tug and also tried engaging the red lever and pulling as well. The gray button at the bottom does push in, this must be the warmer?? As the fly wheel goes, I took a rubber mallet to it and whacked it a few times, not to hard but it went no where. All I saw a slight smoke or dust in the air each time I hit it. DO I spray it with wd40 or silicon spray?

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

I had to walk out and put my cowl on so I took a quick pic of the starter. notice how the starter gear is below the flywheel gear. In your video it is not. it will not start if the gear is level with the ring gear.

 

[bigjo911]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

Thanks for the time you took. I love iboats! I just read to lube the starter pinion and turn the flywheel clockwise. I'm going to do that and try to free it up. I just don't know the best lube to use. I'm also going to clean the connections on the wires as the wire end loops look a bit rust colored. Tomorrow is a new day!

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

Thanks for the time you took. I love iboats! I just read to lube the starter pinion and turn the flywheel clockwise. I'm going to do that and try to free it up. I just don't know the best lube to use. I'm also going to clean the connections on the wires as the wire end loops look a bit rust colored. Tomorrow is a new day!

Just a personal preference but I use white lithium on the starter shaft. Use sparingly as it will fling it everywhere.

 

[bigjo911]

Re: Help - Newbie trying to start electric start outboard - VIDEO !

Not the red button, that engages gear. Is the gray circle at the bottom a "button" you can push in? If so, push it and then push the throttle forward without engaging the red button. If not, then try and see if your entire lever will pull out and then go forward. You're trying to find a "warm-up" which should let you push throttle forward partially and without in gear. It's sorta like pumping the gas on an old car. You're pushing fuel into the carbs to get it to start. Did you confirm that your battery is a "starting battery" or at least "dual purpose"? It should have a CCA # (cold cranking amps) somewhere btween 500 - 900 amps. If not, wrong battery.

I don't think you need a laynard, btw. Shouldn't turn over if the kill switch is activated.

The gray circle does push in! And that is what was missing, all is well now. Thank you all!