Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

[deerhound]

I have been starting my engine every other week, but noticed last time since cold weather that solonoid sticks, this appears to get better after say couple of times, battery is new and engine is a credit to its previous owner, always serviced and any part renewed, and always starts first turn of key, could this be the solonoid on the way out? all connections are again solid and clean,soloniod itself looks like new, where should I be looking to make sure it will start in water. JBD

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

When you say it stick's, do you mean it won't engage, or disengage? If your in cold weather, can you warm it up, and try it?

 

[deerhound]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Thanks for reply, when I turn key to start there is just a click from solenoid, let key go turn again just click, then it will start, switch off, start no bother, several times, then click, then start, not consistant, was fine before cold weather, I took cover off to try and noted starter pinion was partially engaged, ring gear is like new and unmarked not worn or damaged, as is pinion gear on starter moror I turned starter shaft down by hand (free to move not seized or difficult to turn) tried it and it started, then again after couple off attemps just clicked,is it maybe the starter which also looks new with decals still on it showing wiring etc,do you mean warm up starter? thanks Paul. J.B.D.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Forgot to add to above that only thing I have done to engine is put Di electric grease on terminals. J.B.D.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Make sure all electrical connections are solid at both the engine, and the battery. I don't know how cold the temperature is, but remember! a battery lose's cranking power with a temperature drop. If you have wing nut's on the battery, replace with stainless, or brass nut's. Clean both the battery post's, and connectors befoe applying grease.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

To add to what R. Johnson wrote, connections can look good, but the metal-to-metal contact can have corrosion. To be sure, take them all loose and clean well.

 

[Seasport]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

I agree. Could well be a bad connection which improves as the bad joint heats up. Could also possibly be the solenoid or brushes/commutator in the starter motor. Try cleaning all the connections first and then report back.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Not only should you check the connections, but make sure the terminal ends where the cable goes into them is clean and tight. Corrosion at these points also creates problems. Next time its cold, jump the solenoid. If it works normally, the start circuit from the ignition switch may not be providing the required voltage to trigger the solenoid. If it doesn't engage by jumping, the solenoid is bad.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Thank you Gentlemen,the battery connections are new and tight,but I suppose just looking at connections doesn't tell whether they are good or not and to undo them clean and replace is probably a good way to start, now I am wondering about the starter, when turning the key the pinion only partially engaged with flywheel and it was as though it didn't have the energy to turn it? but when it does its cranking speed it brilliant, just as it has always been, and battery is new and fully charged,when I clean connections will I use Di-electric grease on them? and clean them with emery paper or wet and dry. First time I turned it over today it started first time then became inconsistant, would dampness/cold be a factor or should it cope with this no bother, again can brushes be obtained and fitted.J.B.D.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

do that with all connections between battery and starter, not just the battery connections themselves. and both ends of ground cable.

 

[Seasport]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

When this happens does the starter motor ever turn over very slowly or does the solenoid just click and the starter motor not operate?<br /><br />Yes you can get brushes & springs for the starter motors and it is a reasonably straight forward job to replace them. Fine emery paper or wet & dry should be fine for cleaning up the contacts. Use dielectric grease or similar to seal the connections once you have assembled them. I use a spray on CRC soft seal product.<br /><br />If you still have problems after you have cleaned the connections, then it's time to do a bit of troubleshooting with a meter.

 

[Bill Mattor]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Had a similar problem. Was a loose ground wire under the engine cowling. Took a few beers to find it but those meters are great. Just start at the battery and check your reading. Then follow the cables all the way and then follow the wires. Check at every conection until you see a drop.<br />Thats where your problem is.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Thanks everyone for great help and advise, to answer to answer Seasport, When turning key with engine cover off and watching what happens there is just usual click from solenoid, then noticed that starter only partially engaged with tip of pinion and stopped as though it had no energy, it was not jammed and was just resting on the ring gear, when I turned pinion gear back down shaft by hand tried it again, click, then burst in to life as normal, spinning engine over at great cranking speed,since I bought boat it has been started quite a number of times with no trouble, but since cold weather -5oC its giving this inconsistant problem, I appears to start better after it gets cold, I have Clymer manual and will start by checking earth cables, I wonder about the starter though, would it be good practice to replace brushes now ( or if it aint broke dont fix it) thanks again Gentlemen, J.B.D.

 

[MCM]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

lurcher, Have you read this post yet, might help <br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000001

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Try this, with a set of jumper cables, go direct to the starter.

 

[Seasport]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

JB's troubleshooting guide should help you identify the problem. In particular you should measure the voltage between the starter motor +ve terminal and it's case (which is grounded) when the key switch is in the start position (when the solenoid clicks but the starter motor doesn't turn). If you read greater than about 9.5V and there's no sign of life from the starter motor then you have a problem with the starter motor.<br /><br />RJ's jumper cable suggestion will feed 12V directly to the starter motor terminal and if it leaps into life you know you have a problem elsewhere.<br /><br />If the voltage at the starter motor is less than 9.5V you are dropping volts somewhere else. Any resistance in the circuit will lead to voltage drop and take power away from the starter motor. Check and clean all of the connections from the +ve battery terminal to the starter solenoid and from the solenoid to the starter motor.<br /><br />Check & clean also the -ve battery terminal & earth connections and also the earth connection from the starter motor to the engine.<br /><br />If this doesn't fix the problem, you may have a bad solenoid. You can use the following tests to isolate the problem. Measuring from a good earth or preferably directly from the battery -ve terminal, work through the starting circuit and measure the voltage at each point in the circuit while operating the keyswitch: battery +, solenoid battery side, solenoid starter motor side, starter motor +ve terminal and starter motor case. The difference between these measurements will tell you where the volts are being dropped and hence where the high resistance is.<br /><br />Also make sure your battery is in good shape. The battery voltage shouldn't drop below about 10V when cranking.

 

[byacey]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Possible your commutator bars need to be re-soldered.

 

[Seasport]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Could well be a poor commutator connection. Could lead to a deadspot on your starter motor which would give you the intermittent problems you report.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Again many thanks to everyone for kind help,the Clymer manual seems to conradict itself on a couple of trouble shooting points, misprints, but the directions here are very clear, rather thatopen starter at this time I will go through connections from battery + then - trying to start engine as each part is complete to see what effect it has, I am always amazed with the visual appearance of the ancillery items on these outboard engines, ie; on mine the starter looks like new and one tends to get impression that it is new or has had very little use and can't possibly be faulty! I wonder what the general lifespan of an outboard starter is say in U.K. where most boats are idle during winter,(I understand amount of usage will effect life span) thanks for now everyone. will post my progress. J.B.D.

 

[deerhound]

Re: Bad starting Evinrude 40HP.

Here is update from this afternoon, had a look at main earth lead which attaches to power head, took nut off and underneath was two large rusted mild steel washers, the terminal itself is the wrong type ie; it is same size as ones fitted to cars, infact the mounting hole on terminal can fit over the retaining nut! it was sandwitched between these two mild steel rusted washers and although the nut was tight the cable could be moved by hand, I then went to main positive lead coming into solenoid, I found the same thing although this time the hole on the terminal was so large that small mild steel spring washers had been piled up around the solenoid terminal in an attempt to make the power cable tight which due to size of hole was over the top of nut on solenoid terminal and covered in rusty water gunge, all in all a mess, but a quick look couldn't show this, the cables came with boat and are the rigid type with outside diameter of approx half an inch, wonder if marine terminals are smaller, the I.D. of terminals should be about 5/16th instead 1/2inch, so good progress so far just need new terminals of correct size. J.B.D.