help with starting issues

[holstrom7171]

Hello,
I just purchased a 1969 Thunderbird with a Evinrude Starflite 85hp.
charged up the battery and went to turn it over and just heard a clicking noise. Took off cover and saw that the starter was engaging but was not turning the flywheel. does the throttle have to be in a certain spot before starting. this is an old boat and I cant tell if it is in N or not. Thank you for your help.
Terry

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: help with starting issues

The fact that the starter attempted to engage proves that the starter circuit is as it should be. There is a neutral safety switch that will disengage that circuit if too much throttle is applied..... and if that point is reached, turning the key to the start position results in absolutely nothing.

To test the starter, have a good fully charged battery and run the battery cables directly to the starter. If that cranks the engine, the starter is obviously operational.

If the starter is okay, and the battery is good and fully charged, the problem is usually a loose cable, a tight but dirty cable, or a internally flawed cable. Remove, clean thoroughly, and retighten all cables associated with the starting system (All of them!). Let us know what you find.

 

[JB]

Re: help with starting issues

Ahoy, Terry.

Welcome to iboats.

You problem is a very common one, and very easy and inexpensive to fix.

Your starter is not getting enough current because there is a small resistance somewhere in the circuit.

Two large wires carry battery voltage/current to the engine and one carries current from the solenoid to the starter motor. Somewhere in that circuit is a slightly corroded connector or a corroded wire (inside the insulation).

Disconnect every connection in this circuit, clean the terminals thoroughly and reconnect. This includes the battery terminals, too.

While you have the connection off, check each wire for swelling or weak spots.

Sometimes, rarely, a bad solenoid or bad commutators in the starter motor can cause this symptom. If cleaning up the starter high current circuit does not fix it go to the Engine FAQs and do the troubleshooting with a multimeter described in "Outboard won't start".

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

 

[JB]

Re: help with starting issues

What Joe said while I was typing.

 

[ColdPat]

Re: help with starting issues

I don't know much about the electrical side of boats. I was electrician once in the Navy. I know that the starter solenoid if very inexpensive and if cleaning the cables doesn't work for you. I would assume the starter solenoid contacts are full of carbon or they are pitted which is not unusual for contacts. Isn't this a cheap piece to the starting mechanism. If you can take it apart, I would take that apart and sand the contacts with fine sandpaper.