Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - Starter?

[Coastal238]

Help, my motor wont start. Everything was working fine, shut it off when fishing, went to start it and nothing, enginer did not even turnover. Waited a few, and it started, drove back in, shut it off and again nothing. Came back to slip a few days later to investigate and it started every time? Was told it might be the selonoid so I changed it out and went fishing yesterday and everything was fine until I shut off the engine and wanted to restart it, again nothing. I took the cover off while my dad tried to start it, engine was not turning over but I heard the selonoid clicking, also noticed a very small smoke dust coming from negative wire on starter. I noticed the wire was only hand tight, so I wrenched it tighter and the motor started! Came back to slip, cleaned boat and then went to restart, nothing, dead?

I think it might be the starter, my Dad thinks it might be a bad wire, how do I check, where do I begin. I already ruled out the throttle and selonoid, I do hear clicking so I dont think its the kill or ignition switches. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Walker]

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - Starter?

I think you should start at the battery and work your way back to the starter removing and cleaning all battery cables, starter wires, and ground connections and reconnecting them tight. If you have wingnuts on your battery tighten them with a pair if pliers or better yet replace them with some stainless steel nuts and tighten them with a wrench.

 

[DJ]

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - Starter?

What Walker said.

Pay special attention to connections-on the engine end.

Don't do the newbie thing of replacing parts.

90% of outboard troubles are "basic". Pay attention to connrctions and wire/hose quality and you'll have 90%- licked.

By a manual, here on iboats, for about $30.00. It will be the best $30.00 you'll ever spend.

Enjoy!

 

[Coastal238]

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - BAD Starter?

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - BAD Starter?

Thanks, but I already have both an original Johnson manual and a parts catalog. The battery is new, charged, clean (w/ anti-corrosion coating) and tight.

The motor terminals look all clean and besides, I hear the selonoid clicking so I think its at the starter. How do I test the starter and/or wiring?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[DJ]

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - Starter?

The motor terminals look all clean and besides, I hear the selonoid clicking so I think its at the starter. How do I test the starter and/or wiring?

Looking OK and actuallly being OK are two different things,

Do the work (simple) and save yourself a bunch of aggrevation and $$$$.

If you're hell bent on replacing the starter-go ahead. You'll fix the actual problem by renewing the connections. But, you'll be $200.00 less in your wallet.

Your choice.

Sorry to be blunt. Just been there-done that.

 

[Seasport]

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - Starter?

A simple check to isolate whether it is the starter motor or elsewhere is to measure the voltage directly at the starter motor when you turn the key to the start position.

Put the red probe of the meter on the starter motor +ve terminal and the black probe on the case of the starter motor and then get someone to turn the key. If this reading is greater than about 9.5V suspect a starter motor problem.

If the voltage is less than 9.5V you are dropping volts somewhere else. Check and clean all of the connections from the +ve battery terminal to the starter solenoid (including the battery switch if fitted) and from the solenoid to the starter motor. (As a clue, any bad connection should get warm when cranking).

Check & clean also the -ve battery terminal & powerhead ground connection and also the ground connection from the starter motor to the engine. On some motors the -ve battery terminal is connected directly to the starter motor body and on others it is bolted elsewhere to the powerhead.

If this doesn't fix the problem, you may have bad cables or a bad solenoid. If you have access to a voltmeter you can use the following tests to isolate the problem. You need to measure the voltage drop across each part of the circuit while turning the key to the start position. Start by measuring the voltage from the battery +ve terminal to the battery side of the starter solenoid (large terminal), i.e. meter red probe to +ve battery terminal and meter black probe to the large solenoid terminal that is connected back to the battery. This voltage should not be more than about 0.3V – 0.5V. If it is suspect a bad cable or connection here somewhere.

Next measure the voltage directly across the solenoid when the starter motor is trying to crank, i.e. meter red probe to battery side of the solenoid and meter black probe to the starter motor side. This voltage should not be more than about 0.2V.

Next measure the voltage between the solenoid (starter motor side) and starter motor +ve terminal. This should not be more than about 0.3V. If it is too high check the cables and connections here.

Finally measure the voltage between the starter motor case and the battery –ve terminal. This shouldn’t be more than about 0.3V. If it is check for a good solid and clean ground connection between the battery –ve cable and powerhead or –ve battery cable problems.

Make sure your battery is in good shape. Battery voltage when cranking will also vary with condition of the battery. The battery voltage shouldn't drop below about 10V when cranking.

The voltages mentioned above are indicative. They will vary a bit with starting system. What you are looking for is an excessive voltage drop. The voltage readings may well go up and down a bit if the motor turns over slowly but just try to choose a consistent set of readings. The key is that the starter motor needs at least 9.5V to operate properly.

 

[imported_lorin]

Re: Johnson Ocean Runner 225 Wont Start - Starter?

If you have a problem with your starter, it would seem, by your description, that it is an intermittent problem, i.e. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This makes testing it more troublesome. The best way to test a starter, or any other component of a system (you might be testing your left lung for instance) is to eliminate all the other parts or components from your test, and then see if the questionable part is working. I made a starter tester by using 2 battery cables which hook up directly to a battery and to the starter. This test can be done with the starter installed on the motor or removed from it. If it's removed, I place it in a vise or lay it on the floor and put my foot on it to prevent it from hopping around. I also put a battery switch in the circuit so I wouldn't have to be touching the end of the cable to the battery terminal, making sparks, and frying the cable end and battery terminal. You could do something like this, but if you have an intermittent problem, just because the starter cranks 20 times, that doesn't mean it's going to crank the 21 time. Intermittent starter problems may be caused by a bad spot on the commutator, the part of the armature that contacts the brushes. If the bad spot is not aligned with the brushes when you turn the key everything may seem fine. If the bad spot is aligned, it may not crank. If you're interested, you could remove the starter, take it apart, and clean the commutator or replace the brushes if needed.