dead battery

[timdan94]

The other day I was out fishing myself and having a good day. I was six miles from the ramp with a half dead trolling battery. I went to come home the engine cranked but wouldn't start. Three tries and the battery was dead. I thought hmm it always starts on the first try. I hook my trolling battery up and push to choke and nothing dang choke wasn't working. So I'm sitting there thinking how to get it started. I ended up taking the cover off of the engine and using the paddle to push down on the choke linkage in order for it to start so I could get home. I knew my battery was going bad but I figured it would make it till the end of this season. I had it tested and it was only putting out 319 cold cranking amps, it was rated at 550 amps. Thats why it has been taking a second to get the engine to roll over fast enough to start. All I can say is thank God I bought the trolling motor and battery this year because pull starting that 85 would have been tough.

 

[j_martin]

Re: dead battery

The other day I was out fishing myself and having a good day. I was six miles from the ramp with a half dead trolling battery. I went to come home the engine cranked but wouldn't start. Three tries and the battery was dead. I thought hmm it always starts on the first try. I hook my trolling battery up and push to choke and nothing dang choke wasn't working. So I'm sitting there thinking how to get it started. I ended up taking the cover off of the engine and using the paddle to push down on the choke linkage in order for it to start so I could get home. I knew my battery was going bad but I figured it would make it till the end of this season. I had it tested and it was only putting out 319 cold cranking amps, it was rated at 550 amps. Thats why it has been taking a second to get the engine to roll over fast enough to start. All I can say is thank God I bought the trolling motor and battery this year because pull starting that 85 would have been tough.

Glad yer ok. Often the first half of an accident is missed maintenance.

John

 

[timdan94]

Re: dead battery

I got around today to fixing the boat. It was the choke solenoid that was bad along with the battery. It now turns over much faster than with the old battery. I'll hopefully get it out for one last run to test it for the year.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: dead battery

carry a rope and handle for pull start. You can pull start even a big motor if it's been warmed up. But have your passengers out of the way of the whip.

 

[timdan94]

Re: dead battery

it was stone cold so pull starting it might have been a bear... I always have either a spare battery for the trolling motor or a booster pack with me so I don't have to pull start it

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: dead battery

I have used a "fish stringer " to pull start a 140hp Evinrude back in the day- it was not hard to pull- 1st pull it almost started and after I pushed the choke button a couple times and raised the warm up lever it started right up on the 2nd pull. --gotta do what you gotta do sometimes !

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: dead battery

A friend just told me about his battery being run down when herons took a liking to his boat adn were perching all over it; some apparently landed on the console and flipped on all the switches (lights, bilge, etc.) leaving him with a dead battery.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: dead battery

I have pull started my Suzuki Dt115. I even did it cold, so it can be done. Was not so bad either. I like to know I can start it that way as a backup if I have to... I do have two batteries, so I usually and hope I do not have to...

 

[HappierWet]

Re: dead battery

carry a rope and handle for pull start. You can pull start even a big motor if it's been warmed up. But have your passengers out of the way of the whip.

NO JOKE!!!!!!