Motor wont start, any ideas?

[Rob85]

Hey all,

So recently I purchased an older motor ('73 Chrysler 55 hp) that was working when I bought it. I witnessed it running on a stand before I installed it on my boat. After purchasing it I replaced the seals in the lower unit and put everything back together. Got the boat in the water today and it wouldn't crank. I would bump the key and the motor would turn once or twice but wouldn't start. I took off the motor cover and watched it as I tried to turn it over. The starter would start out fast for a revolution or two but then slow to a crawl if I held the key down. I'll admit the battery is a smaller starting battery that is pretty old, but I tried jumping it off of another boat at the dock and it did the same thing. Although the battery was fully charged it just may not have the cranking amps it needs anymore. I am going to have the starter checked at an auto store to see if that's the issue, but I had a question first. Could I have done anything in replacing the seals and re-installing the lower unit that would make the flywheel hard to turn and thus not able to start? I can manually turn the flywheel and put the shifter in gear and the prop spins so I know it's making good contact at both ends, but this is the first time I've tinkered with a lower unit and I'm just trying to rule out anything I did in replacing the seals and putting the lower unit back in as the cause of the motor not starting.

Besides the battery and the starter, is there anything else I should check as to why it won't crank?

 

[tater76]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

Check all grounding points on the motor. Clean and inspect connections, I have not heard of removing/replacing the lower unit causing starting issues, but hey what do I know. Charge a good battery until full, then give it a try, and welcome to iboats

 

[ljc1957]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

Make sure the engine is in nuetral, which I'm sure it is. Did the starter spin easily when it ran the last time? Find a good battery and directly hook it up to your engine. I'm betting battery.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

For some reason, they usually don't jump start well. Hook up a known good battery directly to the starter cables and try. Second: You can rope start that engine with the flange on the flywheel. If it is magneto ignition with no alternator it will start easily. If it is battery ignition with points and coil, there needs to be enough juice in the battery to charge the coils and produce spark. Use a stout rope like lawnmower starting rope and wrap three times around the flywheel. Be certain the rope has a handle on it. Be sure that no one is behind you to be whipped by the rope. Brace your foot on the splashwell and give a good pull with both hands. Don't forget to have the key on. Try it in the driveway before you need to do it on the water.

 

[Rob85]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

Thanks for the ideas guys. I have a question about a type of battery, and I'm going to preface this by saying I am not intending to start a Walmart: Good or Bad debate. We all know how long those can go on. That being said, I went to look at their batteries and I was looking at the largest deep cycle battery they have. It's an EVERMAXX about $90 and comes with a 3 or 4 year warranty. Like I said, without getting into the timeless Walmart argument, is it a decent buy for the money? If it lasts 2-3 years I won't be disappointed about the buy. What can you guys advise?

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

You could have dropped a cell in the battery.. I would try cables, but if the cell in the battery is shorting out, then even jumping may not help. I would install a known good battery.. Like from your car or truck..

When your engine is running normally and smooth. If you are only going to use that battery for starting the engine, then any cheap battery will do just fine.
Now if you are hooking other accessories up to that same battery you may want to look into a deep cycle...

As stated before me, check all connections. Make sure they are clean and tight, Solenoid and start connections.

 

[Rob85]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

My goal was to have that starting battery for cranking the outboard and a large deep cycle for the fish finder, trolling motor, livewells, bilge, and lights. Granted not all of these things will be running at the same time, but I'd feel better about being out fishing for a prolonged period of time if my outboard battery was not the same one I'd been draining while fishing. I suppose I'll try it out though.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Motor wont start, any ideas?

If one battery will just be for starting... I'd go cheap on that one... Think of it this way. I have a 1200 CCA battery made for heavy trucks. I charged the battery a snow thaw. Since then I've only put it on the charger once (last week), when I did, it was at 75% charge. So where talking mid March till last week.

My Opinion. Small regular cranking battery. Larger Deep cycle for all your accessories.