1997 75 hp Force Starter problems

[J.avant]

I have a 1997 75 hp Force. The problem I'm having is the starter gear drops in and out while cranking. Not good on the flywheel.

Things I've done...Installed a new switch, still the same. By-passed switch,still the same. Ran a seperate ground from battery to starter, still the same. New starter solinoid,still the same. Removed grounds from engine and sanded all connections, sanded engine where groung connects.

This is a new starter as per PO???.

Maybe someone has more ideas that I can try?

Thanks, John

 

[texasabil]

Re: 1997 75 hp Force Starter problems

hey hows it going I had one do that it ended up being a bad starter if you have a auto parts store near you. they can test auto zone checked mine and it was bad hope this helps!!!

 

[J.avant]

Re: 1997 75 hp Force Starter problems

Thanks...I'll give auto zone a try. I'm thinking its the starter too.

 

[TwoFish]

Re: 1997 75 hp Force Starter problems

You could pull the starter apart, clean the inside & check the brushes for wear. It?s not difficult to do.

I have the same motor as you and had similar problems when I first bought it. I cleaned all connections, cleaned the starter and replaced the battery. This seemed to help.

Have you tried to isolate the starter by using jumper leads directly from the battery to test the starter? Positive from the battery to positive pin on the bottom of the starter. Connect the negative cable to the battery & touch it to the casing of the starter. Either have the motor connected to the hose in case it starts or have the safety switch off at the forward controls so the motor won?t start.

Have you had the battery tested?

Does the gear on the starter move easily on the starter shaft? May be binding a bit.

Another thing to keep in mine is that starter motors on outboards work differently than car starters. Starter motors in cars stay engaged as long as you have the key turned. Boat starters rely on centrifugal force to engage the gears & resistance from the motor to hold the starter gear in place. If the motor kicks or coughs the starter gear can disengage and drop down to its original position on the starter. It will then just sit there and spin until the starter is allowed to stop spinning & the process can start over again. You should still be getting a reasonable cranking time until the motor tries to start. If it drops out quickly every time you try to start it you defiantly have a problem


It took me a while to get used to boat starter motors when I first got the boat. I always felt a bit nervous when starting the motor when I was out at sea.

Good Luck

 

[J.avant]

Re: 1997 75 hp Force Starter problems

You could pull the starter apart, clean the inside & check the brushes for wear. It?s not difficult to do.

I have the same motor as you and had similar problems when I first bought it. I cleaned all connections, cleaned the starter and replaced the battery. This seemed to help.

Have you tried to isolate the starter by using jumper leads directly from the battery to test the starter? Positive from the battery to positive pin on the bottom of the starter. Connect the negative cable to the battery & touch it to the casing of the starter. Either have the motor connected to the hose in case it starts or have the safety switch off at the forward controls so the motor won?t start.

Have you had the battery tested?

Does the gear on the starter move easily on the starter shaft? May be binding a bit.

Another thing to keep in mine is that starter motors on outboards work differently than car starters. Starter motors in cars stay engaged as long as you have the key turned. Boat starters rely on centrifugal force to engage the gears & resistance from the motor to hold the starter gear in place. If the motor kicks or coughs the starter gear can disengage and drop down to its original position on the starter. It will then just sit there and spin until the starter is allowed to stop spinning & the process can start over again. You should still be getting a reasonable cranking time until the motor tries to start. If it drops out quickly every time you try to start it you defiantly have a problem


It took me a while to get used to boat starter motors when I first got the boat. I always felt a bit nervous when starting the motor when I was out at sea.

Good Luck

I have isolated starter, I used the jumper cables as you stated with just the battery. Still drops out.

The battery is new. But I did have it checked at auto zone and it passed.

The gear does move freely on the shaft.

With the kill switch activated the gear will drop out with-in a few seconds of trying to start it.

I'm going to take the starter to auto zone to have it checked and go from there.

If the starter checks out ok then I'll be up for more suggestions/ideas to deal with this problem.

I'll keep up-dating as I go along. Again, Thanks for the help.