1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

[dkhntr83]

WOW...what a great site!

1977 Evinrude 25hp 25752S:

Well I just bought a jon boat with remote 77 Evinrude. It is very hard to start when it is cold. The second time I took the boat out it would start. I figured the battery was bad. I jumped it off and away we went. I have taken it out a couple of times since then and it started fine (besides cold starts). So this week I buy the best marine cranking/deepcyc. battery at WalMart. I ran the boat on Thursday and it everything was fine. Came home and disconnected the new battery and put it on the marine battery charger. This brings me to today. Boat cold start was the best it has been this morning. We get to the duck hole and spend about an hour there with the motor off. I should also tell you that a fish finder, two fog lights, nav lights, and bow light (constant power) are connected to the new cranking/deep cycle battery as well as the motor (everything is off except the constant power to the bow light). The starter was working and it seemed like just a dead battery. I finally get a pull rope rigged up and get the boat started. As it is running I bump up the throttle just to warm it up so it doesn?t stall. After a few seconds the motor stops abruptly....as in like a lock up not a stall...the starter was up and looked as if it may have caused the halt. I worked the starter down and tried to re-pull start, but the motor was locked up. I took the spark plugs out, looked at the shaft, messed around and tried to free it up. We ended up floating a long way and when we stopped I turned the flywheel and it was free. I pull started it and we made it home. The battery started my buddies 4 stroke at the house perfectly.

Now after this elaborate story (sorry)

The starter makes a click but will not engage. So my questions are.....Could the problem all along been a starter/solenoid going bad? How do I find out what is bad? Is it a bad idea to run all my accessories and the motor on the same battery?

Thank you very much and Happy New Year!!
kc

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Your system may not have an alternator, so all the accessories will use up the battery quicker. If you're going to run different things off of that battery, an alternator may be a good investment. These motors may have one already built in and you just need to wire in a voltage regulator. I have the same motor, but a 1986 model and that is one thing I'm going to research next for mine.

How did the motor lock up? Is the water pump working properly?

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Not sure why it locked but the transom would have broke before that flywheel was going to be pull started. I believe it stopped b/c of the starter. As for accessories, the guy i bought the boat from said the motor will charge the battery, so i assumed it had a alternator. One hour of running a couple of fog lights is the only thing that was on.....And the battery still fired up my buddys boat at the house plus all the lights would still work on that battery....just wouldnt start the boat. I am wondering if i am having some elect. problems elsewhere...either way the starter is not engaging...

Thanks for the Reply

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Check all the wiring and make sure all the connections are clean. Take a wire brush to each connection until the connection is shiny. Most starting problems are due to faulty wiring and corroded connections.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Does your boat actually have a voltage regulator/electrical box setup? If so, then you're good to go.

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

but why would the starter engage by itself and nail the fly wheel to a halt?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

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


check for shorts.

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

okay...so i hooked the battery straight to the starter and got nothing. I took the starter off of the motor and i am debating on taking it to a starter shop tomorrow or just buying a new one. What do yall recommend i do??

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

okay...so i hooked the battery straight to the starter and got nothing. I took the starter off of the motor and i am debating on taking it to a starter shop tomorrow or just buying a new one. What do yall recommend i do??

Did you ground the black cable or just hook the red to the positive?

Sorry , gotta ask.

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

grounded it

 

[soundchaser]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

When you thought the motor was seized, What position was your throttle and shift in? was the pull lock out engaged and thats why it wouldn't pull?

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

when the motor seized up the drive was in N and the throttle was above idle. at that time the starter shot up and i guess that is what hit the flywheel thus killing the motor.....I got the boat pull started after all that so it is free and able to run now....just cant get the starter to turn over.

 

[bktheking]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

grounded it

Ok well if it won't turn now and ground is good i'd say it's dead, take it to a starter shop and ask them to see if they can rebuild it.

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

will do....you reckon that is cheaper...or more cost efficent than buying a new one? Thanks for the help!!

 

[soundchaser]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Yep get it repaired it's cheaper. And next time your motor is seized, Check your lock out.

 

["G"]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Back in the old days we rebuilt starters and made them as good as new. Here's what we did;
Clean it up.
Put in a new set of brushes and springs.
Clean the commutator and then undercut the insulator.
Insure the Bendix is working properly and has a good gear on it.
Check your solenoid.
Do a growler check
Do a few ohm checks to be sure there were no errant grounds.
Replace if needed the brass bearing in the end caps and assure smooth operation.
Bench test

Your starter shop will do just that, probably not in that order though.

Our most common findings were loose connections that caused heat problems and bad brushes. If the inside smells like burnt varnish..... you may have cooked it. Testing will prove that. Clean it up, install new brushes and tighten those bolts/screws/fittings. Most likely you'll be good to go.

OR... pay the electric shop to do all that for you.

If the Bendix didn't release from the flywheel the starter will be spinning at engine RPM and you could be burning up the brass bearings in the end caps. Could be cause for the freeze up.

 

[dkhntr83]

Re: 1977 Evinrude 25hp Starter problems

Well....$125 to get it rebuilt. $242 for a new one from evinrude. I am going to get it rebuilt.

Unless anyone can tell me where to find a aftermarket starter. I know Sierra/Arco makes starters but i cant seem to find a cross ref. Please HELP! I got to get on that water and chasin ducks or I am going to POP