75HP Chrysler. I think my starter is dead? Can someone confirm?

[ShaneB23]

Hello Everyone! This is going to be a long winded explanation/ask for help/confirmation.

Took the boat out for a test drive before I bought it. Fired right up and had no problems. Put it in the water myself and being an amateur and not having been around a boat since I was probably 10-12 with my Grandad when he was still around, forgot a lot of important things. My stupidity happened as follows:

-Puts boat in water
-Puts bumpers/buoys outside of the boat and ties off to dock.
-Puts tilt pin in to support motor.
-Turns key several times playing with throttle and engine won't turn over.... (did this for about 10 minutes before realizing the following)

-> I've realized now that I've A) not put the engine in neutral and B)Forgotten to pump the fuel line until the rubber ball is hard. (I did however remember to make sure the air-intake slot into the gastank was open).

-I finally do the above and I get the motor running. (Of course by now it's getting dark and I don't want to go out god forbid the engine doesn't want to KEEP running as I don't know it that well and have only had the boat since Monday)

TO THE POINT:

I put my flush muffs on it in the driveway on Wednesday night and it tried to start the motor after following the appropriate steps to do so. It tried the first time to turn it over and then it started sound sadder and sadder. Naturally as it sounded like it progressively dying, I thought it was the battery(Brand new batter with high CCA's btw). I Tried Jumping the battery from my truck and it didn't help at all. Was thinking maybe I wasn't getting good contact from the jump...

Took the battery to work the next day and used the battery charger. Went home cleaned/polished every single contact on all of the wiring just in case I was getting some flow resistance from that, given the age of the engine... Hooked the battery back up and tried again... Same deal first couple times the starter would start to spin (*slowly) and the gear would go up and engage and try to turn and it would stop. Couple times trying this and then the starter just buzzes now when I turn the key.

I've ruled out the battery, I've cleaned and polished all of the contacts, I've cleaned the spark plugs. I'm thinking the starter (Original one from the motor) is shot from my overworking it the first night I put it in the water and made a stupid. Can anyone confirm before I pay the $350 for the new starter?

​Thanks everyone!

 

[foodfisher]

Still suspect the battery. Have it load tested.

 

[ShaneB23]

Tried another fully charged battery. No go.

 

[blackd]

I think you have probably located the problem. Since it it is the original the brushes are probably warn in the starter, but it could also be the relay (starter solenoid). I just had a bad relay that had symptoms the same as yours. Boat now has both a new relay and starter. Both now work just fine. IIRC, the relay was ~$30-40 and the starter was ~$90. This is the 2nd relay and 2nd starter on this 1997 motor. i kept the old starter to rebuild with new brushes.

 

[Jiggz]

Try jump starting the starter straight from the battery. Or through the starter solenoid by shorting the two large terminals together is a large screw driver. (hold the screwdriver by its insulated handles) If it cranks over then the starter is good. If not, then the starter needs to be opened and inspect. Sometimes, it's just a matter of cleaning the inside which is full of conductive dust from the brushes.

However, if there is any sign of burnt wires in the starter windings, you'd be better off getting a new one. You might want to google online for starters which are way cheaper (Asian made) or rebuilt OEM's which should last a lot longer.

 

[ShaneB23]

Decided to pull the starter off to attempt to rebuild it. All of the brushes were out of their sockets and the springs all tangled up. The material ring that held them all together had cracked or separated likely causing them to be able to shift. Picking up a new starter in about an hour and a half. Will report back. Hopefully I pop it in and it rolls over no problems.

 

[Jiggz]

Yup, it sounds like you need a new starter.

 

[ShaneB23]

The marine shop ordered me in the wrong part. the chamber is slightly too large and the bolt patterns don't like up with the mounts. No boating this weekend unfortunately. Sigh. lol.

 

[ShaneB23]

I was wrong! I found this article!http://www.maxrules.com/prestMOT2005.html Starter fits just required a little love and nurturing first to get in there. Still wont turn over and feeling like it may ACTUALLY be the battery despite my jumping efforts. Heading to Basspro in the morning to get it exchanged. If that doesn't do it, its gotta be the solenoid. smh. Thanks everyone!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Slow turning starter:
​The battery, is it a deep cycle? You need a regular starting battery.
The starter needs to be rebuilt.
​In rare cases the solenoid can only allow a small amount of power through(very rare), usually they just don't work.
The battery cable is bad?
​The connections bad corroded, check the ground against the block.

The bearings at the top of the crank seize and stop the starter from turning?
The bearings in the lower unit seize and stop the starter from turning ??
​Drop the lower unit and see if that makes a difference.

 

[blackd]

Do the jump start test Jiggz suggested. It bypasses the relay, and if it turns over it is the relay. If it doesn't turn over it is the starter or the battery. Connect your external battery and re-run the jump test to eliminate the battery.

 

[ShaneB23]

Thanks everyone. I had a battery that had 550CCAs just exchanged it for one with 800CCAs yes a starting battery . Bought a new solenoid as well. Going to install both in a short while. I've already polished all of the connections/contacts and the wires appear to be in good shape.

Once I get all of that stuff installed I'll report back. Haha.

 

[Jiggz]

While at it, remove all the plugs and try rotating the flywheel manually. You should be able to easily unless there is a mechanical binding somewhere. Always rotate clockwise (looking down on the flywheel). If there is binding you might want to investigate further before shelling out more $$$ unnecessarily.

 

[jerryjerry05]

While the plugs are out do a compression test?

 

[ShaneB23]

No Title

Changed out the Solenoid and battery and with the new starter to; turned the key and fired right up! Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Jiggz]

Great.