Starting Outboard Question

[Jack Daniels]

Ok since i know that this forum has some trouble shooting studs, I will bring this dilema to you guys and see if you know the answer.

Ok I have a 83 FORCE outboard that has an intermitant starting issue. The problem is sometimes when i turn the key it does nothing, when i mean nothing, i mean nothing. This happens maybe 10 percent of the time or less. So what i have do to start it when this happens is basically jump the selinoid and she fires right up. So heres what i did to try and solve the problem

NEW STARTER
NEW SELINOID
NEW BATTERY
NEW BATTERY WIRES

So with all that done, its still doing it, so I had a few mechanics look at it, and nothing, we are still at a loss. Its really not a huge deal for me to jump it but its just a little embarassing having the cowling off and jumping the outboard with a screwdriver when we have company present. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys

 

[JB]

Re: Starting Outboard Question

Wow!!

A perfect example of why throwing parts at a problem without isolating it first is the most costly and least effective troubleshooting method known to man.

Go to the Engine FAQs and do the starter circuit troubleshooting in "Outboard won't start".

My guess is a bad (intermittent) starter keyswitch, neutral safety switch or safety kill switch.

Sure wish you had come here before you started emptying your wallet, Jack.

Let us know what you find.

 

[Jack Daniels]

Re: Starting Outboard Question

Oh i figured dumping parts into it wasnt a good thing but since it was 20 yrs old and all the parts replaced were original i didnt mind to much. Replacing them just seem to save me some potential future problems. But anyway, I am almost sure i dont have a kill switch on the boat or at least the typical kill switch. Ill check the thread recomended and follow up with yall. Thanks

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Starting Outboard Question

Sure wish you had asked before throwing money at the problem!

Sometimes this problem occurs because there is compliance in the control cables or they are possibly mis-adjusted. However, even if correctly adjusted, compliance still can cause the no start problem.

Did you try moving the control handle into reverse then back into neutral when this happens? This is my easy fix, and I need to do it sometimes on most of my engines. Infrequently I need to do it more than once to correctly position the linkage and sometimes I even need to cycle from forward thru reverse to neutral. Mind you, this is before turning the switch to start.--Not while you are turning the switch

Because of compliance in the cable, sometimes the neutral interlock does not fully return and does not depress the micro-switch. Moving the handle back into reverse biases the cable so when you return to neutral, the interlock will be in correct position and depress the micro-switch. The neutral interlock micro-switch is a brown switch below the carb on the starboard side of the engine. The shift linkage has an adjustable bent metal plate, held to the linkage with 2 pan head screws. This plate depresses the white button only in neutral, when properly adjusted.

In this line, check the micro switch and the two yellow wires to and from it. Since the problem is intermittent, the switch and wires are probably OK.

The circuit is yellow from the start terminal on the start switch to the yellow terminal on the engine. Yellow from the engine terminal goes to the micro-switch, and yellow from the micro-switch goes to the solenoid. When you turn the key to start, voltage goes to the micro-switch. If the switch is depressed, voltage energises the solenoid.

And for others who do troubleshooting--not to be nasty but as education: the logic you should have used but did not is: when you have the intermittent problem and you jump the solenoid, and the starter motor turns and starts the engine, you have just eliminated both the starter and the solenoid as the cause of the problem; battery and cables too.

Reason: when the solenoid goes bad, it is either because the high current contacts have burned or the energising coil has burned out. It simply will not function even if jumped. When the starter has a bad spot in the winding and will not turn over, even if you jump the solenoid, the starter will not turn because it is on a dead spot. If you manually turn it to a good spot, then it will turn.