Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

[farginicehole]

I haven't had time to troubleshoot, but the electric start stopped working on my '93 Evinrude 15-hp kicker motor. I get no clicking or anything when I push the button. It starts and runs fine with the pull cord. Just for the heck of it, I pushed the electric starter button when it was in the water idling, and the starter spun. Hit the kill switch and tried starting it again with the button and got absolutely nothing. Re-started it with the cord and the starter still spins if I push it when the motor is idling. Disconnected the battery connections and even felt a little tingling (maybe not a good idea, but didn't have a voltmeter handy out on the lake) if I touched both the pos and neg with my fingers - so I guess it is still charging! Any ideas of what I should look at first? Thanks!

 

[MCM]

Re: Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

Hi,<br /><br />When you say the starter spun, did it try to engage the flywheel or just spin?<br /><br />Mike

 

[farginicehole]

Re: Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

It tried to, but I had the cables disconnected from the battery and the motor was only idling so I don't think there was enough voltage there to really make it spin hard and engage the spinning flywheel. I did increase the rpm a little over idle, and this made the starter spin faster. When I say nothing happens (not even a solenoid "click") when I push the starter button when the engine is NOT running, I do have the cables connected to the battery - just want to make that part clear. Thanks!

 

[MCM]

Re: Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

First off you need ot get a volt meter or some other way other than the human spark test to test the voltage in the bat.<br /><br />Once you can eliminate the bat. as the prob. it'll be process of elimination on other components.<br /><br />Mike

 

[farginicehole]

Re: Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

I have a nice Fluke voltmeter, but I just didn't have it with me at the time and I thought I'd see if anybody had any ideas. Besides, I get a real charge out of it! I would say the battery is definitely not the problem though, because I keep it on a Guest onboard charger and it has no problem starting up my 150 V6 main 'Rude outboard (sorry, didn't mention that before). I'd say I can also rule out the starter and solenoid, right? Seems like maybe something is shorting to ground and not allowing the solenoid to work when the battery cables are connected. One thing I didn't try is pushing the start button with it idling WITH the battery cables connected to the battery - that might confirm my theory. Thanks again for the replies!

 

[MCM]

Re: Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

Wish I had a Fluke<br /><br />Check out these links, might be something that'll help, lots of info either way<br /><br /> http://outboardparts.com/omc/troubleshooting/trublshtinghlp.htm <br /><br />I know yours is a '93 but this site is loaded w/info<br /><br /> http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/Fishing Info/Johnson 9.9_15.htm <br /><br />Good Luck,<br />Mike

 

[farginicehole]

Re: Electric start not working on 15-hp Evinrude

Thanks, MCM, I'll take a look at those. Keep an eye on Ebay for Flukes - mine is in like new condition and I got it for $100. . . . it was over $350 new!