2014 DF15A starts with pull-starter but not with electric starter

[ranger42c]

Beginning of second season. DF15A was given it's 20-hour service and then winterized by local dealer last November, then sat in the garage until yesterday. The battery is full charged. The emergency stop switch lock plate is in place. The electric starter motor spins, but does not engage the flywheel. The motor started easily (first pull) with the recoil starter.

Given the motor starts and runs fine, I assume it's not a fuel issue. Given the starter spins (and the battery voltage was 12.52V), I assume not a battery issue. I checked the starter circuit fuse and it visually looks fine.

I have the owners manual and the parts catalog, but not the service manual (yet)... so not sure what do check next. Given the motor is basically new, it wouldn't surprise me if there's something simple...

Ideas?

Thanks, -Chris

 

[robert graham]

Is bendix gear on top of starter lubricated and moving freely up it's helix shaft?....check it and a drop of oil might help...

 

[99yam40]

load test the battery

measuring battery voltage without a load means nothing
check at the starter also

 

[lakensea]

Weak battery or poor connection.

 

[Grub54891]

Batterys can show voltage, but the amps have to be there for it to crank fast enough. How old is the battery?

 

[ranger42c]

Thanks, guys.

The battery is about 1? years old. I suspect the relatively low voltage (12.52 vs. 12.7 or so...) was because I hadn't topped it up with the charger recently. Something in the starter spins (strongly) when I press the start button. I can certainly look more closely at that.

Robert, that's kinda where I was suspecting I should look, something about just being slightly stuck from non-use... but I don't have the background to recognize outboard parts without a diagram in front of me. (For example, I know a lot about how carbs work... but usually wouldn't recognize one if it bit me in the ...) The words "solenoid" and "bendix" don't appear in the parts catalog; can you tell me the Suzuki names for those parts? At least for the bendix gear? (There's a "switch, magnet" in the parts diagram, and I'm guessing that performs the solenoid function?)

-Chris

 

[lakensea]

Since it's still under warranty, why not just bring it back to your dealer?

 

[robert graham]

Just look on top of the starter for the bendix gear and helix device that causes the gear to ride up the shaft to engage the flywheel....could be that...

 

[ranger42c]

Thanks, guys. I must apologize for not getting back sooner. Turned out to just be the external battery being too weak. Thought it had been nicely charged when I reinstalled it after winter, but guess not, even though it did act like it had juice. Put the battery on the charger for a few hours, and then the outboard started right up.

-Chris