85 hp 1986 Starting problem

[harrykleinsasser]

I just bought a 1986 or 1987 (not sure which) 85 hp Force outboard and am installing it on a homemade boat. But when i tried to crank it for the first time. The starter motor only just manages to turn it over and I noticed smoke billowing out of the engine. It looks like the black (Ground) wire between the battery negative and the strip with all the other wires that you plug the control wire into has melted its insulator. The same thing happened a second time what is up? Could someone help? Thanks

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: 85 hp 1986 Starting problem

You could hot wire the battery to the starter positive connection and to the motor bloc with a couple of jumper cables. If the same problem occurs, you could have a bad starter.

 

[harrykleinsasser]

Re: 85 hp 1986 Starting problem

We jumped it and the starter motor ran fine. What we will try is to just put a 10 gauge wire for the ground and see if that will do it. Does that make sense or will we blow something else?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: 85 hp 1986 Starting problem

You might want to test your solenoid connections and make sure they are not shorted to ground.

 

[harrykleinsasser]

Re: 85 hp 1986 Starting problem

We put in a bigger gauge wire and it worked!<br /><br />Thanks Alot<br /><br />Harry