Outboard will not crank?

[realistic]

hey guys i have 1987 evinrude 88hp. The motor ran great before i put it away for the winter. I took it back out and it will not crank at all, i dont even hear a clicking noise. I have put a new battery in it, checked the fuse and still nothing. What could be wrong?

 

[F_R]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

Got it in neutral?

 

[realistic]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

yes it is neutral,

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

You're positive the fuse in not blown?

Do you have access to a Multimeter?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

i had a 88 88spl it was hard to start also.

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

 

[realistic]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

Thanks for the response . I am positive the fuse is not blown, I replaced the battery connecters that come out of the motor. If there where wires corruded which ones would they me that would not let it start?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

Crunching when flexed is a sure sign of corrosion, as well as nicks, cuts, abrasions, heat or voltage drop.

Get a multi meter and do a voltage drop test. The idea is that normally when you put both leads of a voltmeter on the same side of a circuit you should essentially get no reading. If you have a reading, more voltage is passing through the voltmeter than through the circuit. A voltage above a certain level is not acceptable and is what you will be testing for as described below.

To begin, connect your POS lead on the battery POS terminal and the NEG lead on the large incoming solenoid/battery terminal post and hit the starter switch. If the voltage meter reads more than .3 volts, the battery cable is bad, corroded or has a bad connection.

Now connect the POS lead to the incoming large solenoid post and the NEG lead to the outgoing large solenoid post and crank the starter. If the voltmeter reads greater than .2 volts, the solenoid is bad, corroded or has a bad connection.

Next, connect the positive lead to the outgoing large solenoid post and the negative voltmeter lead to the starter positive post and hit the starter switch. A reading of over .2 volts indicates a bad wire between the solenoid and the starter.

Lastly, connect the NEG battery post to the negative lead and the POS voltmeter lead to the engine block (no paint) and crank the engine. A reading of greater than .3 volts indicates a bad negative cable, corrosion or a bad cable connection.

Let us know what you find.

 

[F_R]

Re: Outboard will not crank?

Instead of driving yourself nuts and guessing, go to Wally World or Radio Shack and buy yourself a cheapo multimeter for under $10. Then, with it on a suitable range ground the black meter lead to the powerhead and test for voltage at the two small posts on the starter solenoid while somebody turns the key. Should be 12 volts on one and 0 volts on the other, and a click of the solenoid. Check back for further instructions when you get these test results.
EDIT: Hightrim and I were thinking and typing at the same time. Same result, test the circuitry!