'61 Evinrude 40 HP Lark III - Starter Hesitates

[gbeardmore]

When I turn the key to start up, the starter kind of "hesitates". Almost sounds like a car starter when it's really cold out. It goes "rrrrugh, rrrugh" really slow for two or three times, and then turns over real good. I don't think it's the battery, as that's got a full charge.

The main pos. & neg. cables that are connected to the solenoid box, from the battery, are kinda freyed but not real bad. Could it be a poor connection there, or do you think it's the starter motor itself going bad? Or maybe something else.

Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[mick_eight]

Re: '61 Evinrude 40 HP Lark III - Starter Hesitates

Have someone crank it over and feel the cables to see if one gets hot, if none then I would look at the starter as the high draw, brushes or bushings.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: '61 Evinrude 40 HP Lark III - Starter Hesitates

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

 

[DGartzos]

Re: '61 Evinrude 40 HP Lark III - Starter Hesitates

Sometimes batteries loose one of their six cells (for 12 Volt) and although rest of cells are capable of putting though enough power to starter, that is at a lower voltage and hence starter will not turn with ease. When testing with no load, battery looks fine, but under load looses potential.

 

[lindy46]

Re: '61 Evinrude 40 HP Lark III - Starter Hesitates

Clean connections, replace worn cables/wires first.