50 hp force starting slow

[pitlife4me]

I'm good with auto's but just baught my first boat (17' 1990 Capri bay runner) and I'm having starting issues. When I tried to start it the motor turns over slow. I checked batt. and it was low so I charged it until I got 12v at motor and still turned over slow. I checked connections and all seem to be very clean so I baught new batt and still turns over slow. I checked on buying a new starter but that is very costly it seems and not to mention that they seem to be rare being that they dont make them anymore. (While I'm thinking about it I wasnt sure what starter to buy because all they had was a Merc. starter that they said fit 35hp-55hp.) I passed the sylinoid (not spelled right) and still turns over slow. I took the starter out cleaned brushes and put it back together and still turns over slow. I read that maybe it was to long of a run for the cables even though that the boat ran fine before so I hooked my truck straight to the starter and still turns over slow. I just ordered a starter for it and its on the way but would you think this is the problem? I know with motor bikes with 2 stroke they have decompresion switches to crank easier and thought maybe boat motors are the same. I thought about this because I did how ever pull out the #1 plug and the motor turned over fine and even started up. I put the plug in and can turn the motor over by hand pretty easily and this is what makes me believe that the starter is just weak. Has anyone else had this problem? I've seen other threads about this but no follow up on what the final step was. If the new starter doesnt work I have no choice I guess but to take it to someone else unless I'm missing something here. Please help me if you can.

 

[Nate3172]

Re: 50 hp force starting slow

Sounds like a bad starter to me. Unless your cables and or connections are shot. Then again, you hooked your truck up directly to the starter, (I would assume with a good pair of jumper cables), so I would bet starter. What did you clean the brushes and the armeture with?

 

[roscoe]

Re: 50 hp force starting slow

There are plenty of starters out there for that motor.
You can order one from iboats.
Or you can get one from your local NAPA auto parts store, they have a separate marine parts catalog.

 

[pitlife4me]

Re: 50 hp force starting slow

Nate I took the starter apart and cleaned it with wire brush. The brushes in the starter didnt look bad but where the boat had been sitting for a year had gotten a little green in side on the copper but not not after cleaning.

Rosco thanks for the info I didnt think about the auto parts store because I thought they delt with auto stuff only. I have already ordered a starter and the cheapest I found it was 89.00 and thought that was pretty good and I hope it works or like the batt. I replaced will be a waste of money.

 

[Nate3172]

Re: 50 hp force starting slow

FYI never use a wire brush to clean brushes or commutators on electric motors or starters. this will put too rough of a finnish on the surfaces and the brushes will not get good contact all across the surface. Best thing to use is an eraser. I use to use this method when rebuilding starters and alternators and it works perfectly. Learned it from a friend of mine that rebuilt electric motors and the giant hydro generators in dams.

 

[pitlife4me]

Re: 50 hp force starting slow

Thanks Nate i'll keep that in mind next time but either way it didnt make any change to the slow turn on the starter. I'll just wait for the new one to get here and then keep my fingers crossed and hope the new starter will fix the problem. Today I double checked - and + on both sides of the solenoid and batt. I even moved batt. closer to the motor and still no change. I'm hoping this is the resolt of over a year of sitting that has done this starter in.

 

[azlakes]

Re: 50 hp force starting slow

.... so the new starter arrived and?