Merc. Slow starter

[Uncle Dave]

Greetings all

I have a mercury 1995 125 hp. The starter turns very slow. Like you can count the revolutions as it goes around. The Bendix slowly comes up. It makes a buzzing sounds while doing so. When the bendix engages the fly, it all stops. All connections , battery are good. At the same time this starter problem started, the trim will go down to the stop but will not reverse and come back up. The trim up relay pulls but no trim up. Can these two be related?

Thanks,
Uncle Dave

 

[jmoorepghpa]

Re: Merc. Slow starter

Sounds like a low current issue. Could be a couple things. I'd check your battery voltage under load first. Check the voltage at the post first. Place your test lead on the actual battery post and operate the starter. If the voltage stays up around 10.5 -11 that should be ok. If the voltage drops down significantly ie 6-8 volts you probably have a bad cell or two in the battery. Do the same procedure with the test leads on the terminals. Low voltage on the terminals -- you have a layer of corrosion between the posts and terminals. You can also have an issue where the wires are corroded inside the terminals -- the copper wire is cast into the lead and will actually corrode inside the terminal and will be hidden by the insulation. You can see this if you make a small cut with a utility knife in the insulation right at the terminal. If your wires make any sharp bends some of the conductors may have broken inside the insulation causing it to loose its ability to carry the higher current demanded by the starter (and the trim pump working to raise the unit). One way to trouble shoot is to use one side of a set of jumper cables and bypass the wiring to determine which one is causing you problems. I suspect though since you are having the issue with both the starter and the trim pump your trouble is at the battery or cut off switch if you have one. Check the ground wires as well as you check the hot wires. Something is just not allowing your system to carry the amps needed by those high loads.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Merc. Slow starter

hi Dave, haven't heard from you in a while. check the battery cables for any nicks, or swelling, they will corrode from the inside out. i chased a problem for 2 months several years ago, to find there were only 2 strands still connected.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Re: Merc. Slow starter

Greetings Tash,

Im still around, just havent been on Iboat for a while.

This problem is now jumping around. I found out if I disconnect the acessory wires from the battery post the motor works normal. Connect the acess. wires and the problem reappears. That is until checking once more and now with all wires hooked up all is normal. All of that indicated a bad connection somewhere. But now I cant make it do it again. I guess the next step is to go the far end of the lake and try it . Almost guaranteed to happen there.

Thanks Uncle Dave

 

[Laddies]

Re: Merc. Slow starter

Dave because the only connection you disturbed was at the battery I would take all the connection off both sides of the battery and give them a good clean before you tempted the thing at the other end of the lake.