Bad Solenoid?

[JB Platte]

I have a late 70's 60hp Evinrude that won't start. After turning the igniton switch all I get is a click. Tested the starter and it was fine and I know the battery is good. Does this sound like the solenoid and if so how can I test it without burning up the starter? I was told that arching the posts will do that.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Bad Solenoid?

A large % of "bad" solenoids turn out to be wiring problems. Check and clean all hots and grounds ... make sure they are shiny and tight, but you can first check the solenoid by jumping across the hot feed and +12v out with a heavy jumper. If the motor cranks, the solenoid is bad (leave the ignition 'off', unless you want to start the motor). If not, start looking elsewhere as outlined above.

 

[tootallofwa]

Re: Bad Solenoid?

Make sure you are less than half throttle. Most engines won't crank if past that.
Neutral safety switch?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Bad Solenoid?

He said "it clicks" ... so clearly power is going to solenoid, but probably not enough.

 

[F_R]

Re: Bad Solenoid?

The solenoid clicks. That means everything is good up to that point, including the safety switch. The next step is to use a voltmeter (multimeter) to check the voltage at the starter terminal when the solenoid clicks. If there is battery voltage there but the starter does not run, the starter is bad or the ground cable is bad.

If there is no or very low voltage there when the solenoid clicks, the solenoid might be bad, which is not too likely. ---OR---the battery may be dead, or the starter is dead-shorted, or the cables bad. The battery is a no-brainer--have it tested. "Nuff people have already said to check the cable connections.

 

[JB]

Re: Bad Solenoid?

Just to amplify the above; About 20% of the starters, solenoids and batteries replaced are not bad. They are blamed for the results of corrosion in the battery cables and their connections, most often the battery ground cable connection to the steel bypass plate on JohnnyRude loopers. That is a copper terminal bolted to an alloy block through a steel plate. VERY corrosion vulnerable.

The connections can be disconnected and cleaned free, and the price of replacement cables is less than a starter, solenoid or battery.

The connections can be corroded when tight and clean looking. The starter circuit is a very high current circuit and even a few thousandths of one ohm (Not measurable with an ohmmeter) will prevent the starter from getting enough current to engage.

My guess is that your engine has had good solenoids replaced at least once.