New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

[greenjeans]

Hello everyone,

I have a 1995 Bayliner Capri that I bought last week. It has a Force 120 OB.

At our lake test, it started, but started but it seemed like the battery was weak. When I tried, it would still engage the flywheel and spin the motor but it would not start.

I originally thought that it was a weak battery combined with a flooded engine. (I was mistakenly using the choke in 100 degree heat)

I met some guys at the ramp that own a local marina and they took a quick look and agreed that it was flooded. I let it air out for 20 minutes or so and then tried

to start it again. This time it would barely turn the flywheel. Again, to me, it just acted like a dead battery - like in a car. The guys offered to check it out at their shop

which was about 1/4 mile down the road. They looked things over for me, checked compression and the battery and while they were at it, I had them replace the impeller, since

it had been over 4 years since it had been replaced. They charged me $150 bucks. I know I probably should have done it myself, but they were right there.


The battery tested good. They are thinking that the starter is going bad. To me, it seems like it was working properly. But - it was quite hot when we were trying to start the boat.

It would engage the flywheel and when the engine was trying to start it would drop down and spin freely.


Any ideas or suggestions ? Any more info on starters would be a plus as well. The good part is: they said that the motor ran like a top. These starters can be rebuilt right ? Is it worth it ?

Thanks in advance, John

 

[JB]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

Howdy, greenjeans.

Welcome to iboats.

Take both battery cables off. Scrub the ends shiny and replace. That will take care of 95% of slow/no starter when the battery is good problems. The tiniest bit of hidden corrosion in a tight connection will baffle many experienced wrenchs.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

 

[bentle]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

You can also check starter bolts both top and bottom for tight fit. Also power and ground connections to solenoid and starter for tightness and check for any corrosion of your wires. Sounds like a pretty fare price for what they did for ya.

 

[greenjeans]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

Thanks guys. I'll try that (cleaning & connections) and report back. I'll clean the solenoid while I'm at it.

Just for me - what typically goes bad in a starter ? Seems like a starter can last darn near forever - I have several that are over 40 years old & still crank like a champ - granted they are on Hondas...

 

[fucawi]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

brushes and commutator are the main problems ..you should have no oil on the inertia starter mechanism ...wash in parafin.....you can have bad solenoid contacts ..if you short out the solenoid bolts with a spanner and its ok then the solelnoid is bad . riviets can be drilled out and it re built if you are good at that sort of thing.
Personally I would check the voltage of the battery when you try to crank ..not less than 11.5v and then check at the starter ..not less than 11v......I purchased one no runner that had plug lead cable used for the battery leads !!!!!

 

[greenjeans]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

Just how hot should a starter get ? Mine was very hot - just about hot enough to burn skin. We did have it spinning about 10 times about 2 seconds each time.
Would that be a symptom of bad brushes ?? Something else ? I got my volt meter out and am going to check voltage everywhere after I clean all the connections, contacts etc.
What is actually getting hot ?

I guess I need to get a set of muffs rather than sit in the lake....

 

[brianvolt7]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

I had this exact problem two summers ago. I took the starter apart and cleaned the brushes as the brush kit was kind of expensive. This helped a little but did not solve the problem. In the end I purchased a new aftermarket starter and have not had any problems. But like previous posters have indicated, make sure your terminal connections are completely clean. You can also jumper out the neutral interlock switch to eliminate that as an issue.

When cranking my old starter it would get so hot I could not touch it, this is likely what burned it up.

I think you got a great deal from the mechanic as they fully checked out the motor and installed a new impeller.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

Check all connections? Load test the battery?What were the comp readings?
Take the starter apart.It could need brushes.The magnets might have come loose..
$150 wasn't bad.
If the starter is ok and the comp is good.Battery is good and the cables are good and the connections are tight.
Take the lower unit off and see if it spins then,sometimes a corroded bearing will stop it from spinning.

 

[greenjeans]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

I haven't checked it myself as it is still at the boat shop, but, I just got off the phone with the guy checking it. The way he described it - as it is starting, the voltage is leaking through the starter ?

He's getting around 10 volts and said it should be lower - under 3 volts. I asked him if the voltage was measured "at" the starter - he decribed it as leaking through. Like it wasn't using the voltage

from the battery properly.

Any ideas or a layman's explanation as to what he's talking about ?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: New Member - 1st post. Starter issue ?

Never heard of leaking through the starter!!! Or not using all the voltage?????