motor wont crank over

dcata

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2008
Messages
15
I know this will a little long, but I will try not to be a try to be thorough. I took my tank out cleaned it and put it back in last weekend and when I went to try and start the motor it would just barely crank (batteries fully charged) and after I few tries I seen that my negative cable coming from my engine to the #1 battery was smoking. I went and bought new 4 ga marine wire for the postive cables I ran and 6 ga for the negative side and I made sure I had good connections on the new ends, liquid electrical tape and the heat shrink around all. Now I cant get my motor to even crank over. I have 93 115hp Johnson and I did the test with my test light and I have power to the soleniod, power to the yellow/red wire on the soleniod with key on and power to bottom wire to starter with key on which leads normally to a bad starter. I just by chance had a spare starter and put it on and still the same thing. Any help or thoughts would be highly appreciated. Sorry its so long.
 

Barnacle_Bill

Admiral
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
6,469
Re: motor wont crank over

Why did you install a smaller ground wire than the pos? Ground is just as important as the positive and has to carry the same amount of current. Jump the 2 big wires at the solenoid. If it tries to start, replace the solenoid. If it still does nothing then the starter is bad.
 

dcata

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2008
Messages
15
Re: motor wont crank over

I have jumped the wires and changed the starter. The reason I put the lower wire on is because I was told that the negative wire didnt need to be the same size as the positive. Im far from being a boat mechanic and I do appreciate the inputs.
 

daselbee

Commander
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
2,765
Re: motor wont crank over

It absolutely needs to be the same size.

And the larger the better. Clean all terminals completely.
 
Last edited:

Barnacle_Bill

Admiral
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
6,469
Re: motor wont crank over

If you jumped the 2 big wires and you are sure all connections are good and battery charged, then you have a starter problem. Take it to your local auto electric shop for testing and rebuild.
 
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