1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

[skibrain]

My brother bought a used boat with a '91 Johnson 30 hp twin. Electric start only on this model. Sorry Don't have the model number.

It runs great when warm, but when starting, the starter jumps up to engage the flywheel for just about 1.5 seconds and then pops out and the starter motor spins. Same thing over and over. New battery so plenty of juice to pop it up. If it would only stay engaged with the flywheel I'm sure it would start. Starts OK with pull rope wound on flywheel.

Any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[skibrain]

Re: 1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

Bump.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: 1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

Check your battery, fully charged without load 12,5 Volts.
Hook a voltmeter directly on the starter and ground.
If volts drops down below 11.5 volts, you either have bad battery, bad battery cable connections (including ground on engine) bad starter solenoid or a burned out starter!
Completely remove the ground stud on the engine and clean the threads. Any 'white powder' and you have a bad connection

 

[skibrain]

Re: 1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

Thanks, Is it the solenoid that kicks it into the flywheel?
Starter spins just fine after it jumps off the gear. I just need it to stay engaged until it starts.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: 1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

It kicks normally out if the starter for a second looses momentum when getting 'loaded'.
Might be due to voltage drop or bad starter.

 

[dc095]

Re: 1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

starter solenoid maybe?

 

[skibrain]

Re: 1991 Johnson 30 hp Electric Start - starter pops out

Thanks.