Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

[dccordell]

Hey guys, first post here... looks like a ton of great info on here! However I can't find anything to help with my problemm...
I bought a boat with a evinrude 60hp motor about 2yrs ago, it was running fine then. Well I ended up letting it sit up for about 2yrs and now I'm trying to get it running. When I try to crank it, the starter can barely turn over the motor. So I figure dead battery... so new battery AND using jumper cables from my truck it still does the same thing. I'm thinking maybe it's in the wiring so I just try to ground out the motor with the jumper cables and touch the + cable to the starter, it does the same thing so it's not in the wiring.
I thought maybe it was the starter so I took the starter off and apart, the brushes and the rest of it look fine, I cleaned it all off a bit and put it back together, same thing. So I'm thinking the starter is fine.
I've heard that the timing could get off to cause hard starting but I haven't really done anything to the motor since the last time it was running fine, so I'm not thinking this is the problem.
I was wondering if maybe some dirt dobbers could have the exhaust stopped up, but I'm not sure how to check that. I don't know much about outboard motors obviously.
What else can I check to find the problem?
Thanks!

 

[henrye718]

Re: Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

try to turn it by hand, put a wrench on it and turn it. Can just use your hands too or a rope and rope start it if any of the above are very difficult. the cyliders are most likly rusted pretty bad and the piston are getting stuck.

Remember the thing could start while you are doing this WATCH YOUR HANDS. Make sure your key is off or its disabled from starting.

You can fill the cylinders with something like WD40 and get them cleaned and working again. Do more searches on rusted engines here you will find more advice if that is indeed your problem.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

After sitting 2 years a little oil in the cylinders wouldn't hurt.

Why the jumper cables? Why not hook up directly to boat wiring? Thing is with cables your running juice for 10' with no alternator behind the battery pushing it = a lot of resistance. Other think is new battery doesn't mean charged battery. I'd put it on the charger to make sure because they won't crank with a low battery, and hook it up to the boat wiring and try. If the starter is engageing but slow either the motor is dry or the starter is creating a load on the battery. You can have the starter load tested.

I guess the hornet thing is possible as I have had them build in car exhaust and they wouldn't run, but it didn't keep them from turning over and they would try and fire.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

I was worried that it was rusty and seizing up too, so I pulled the plugs and while I had them out the starter would spin the heck out of it if course so even though there probably is some rust, I dont think that is the main problem. I actually did charge the new battery after trying it that first day. The only reason I was using the cables that time was because I also figured the new batt may not be fully charged, so I figured between the batt and cables it should have enough to crank. I have the heavy duty cables, btw.
I think I'll shoot some wd-40 in the cylinders just incase... The only other thing I can think of would be the starter I guess right? Where can I get this load test that you mentioned? Just curious, what makes a starter go bad anyways? If the brushes are in good shape as well as everything else inside there.. Just curious.
Thanks for the quick replies!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

Could be a bad winding who knows? The starter may not have enough power to overcome compression if it works with the plugs out. You can take them to most auto parts stores and they can load test. Still could be bad wiring to creating to much resisitance to the starter.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

Sounds like load test on the starter is next.. Will check that out and let you guys know. Thanks!

 

[dccordell]

Re: Evinrude 60 too stiff for starter

Just an update on this... Duh! It was the battery, which also led me to the fact that my battery charger wasn't working correctly. Out with the old battery, in with a new one and BAM it fired right up! Kinda felt like an idiot at that point but I sure was glad it was running.

Cheers!
Daniel