Outboard won't start, only clicks

[ClevelandBoater]

I am having trouble starting my Mercury outboard it seems to only click when you turn the key. I read a few forums online and investigated some of the past or known issues of the situation. I made sure all of the battery connections are tight my batteries are 100% fully charged and I have adequate voltage going to the solenoid. I also had my wife turn the key while I slapped the starter and solenoid lightly with a hammer. After looking at it more it looks like the spindle shaft off the starter is engaging correctly though it does not have enough power to turn the flywheel fast enough along with the fact that it is not returning to the starter when you stop turning the key. I have to give it pressure to return back to the starter. Any information would be very helpful.

 

[ondarvr]

Bypass the solenoid and and jump it to the starter, if it still doesn't work look at the starter.

 

[gm280]

This is an easy one to figure out where the problem is. Since you stated that you have 100% charged battery and even cleaned all the terminals, take a jumper wire fro the positive terminal of the battery and jump to the starter, bypassing the starter solenoid. If the starter is good, it will spin over like a top. If it doesn't then you have one of two possibilities as your problem. First, the starter is bad. Second you have a bad ground wire to the engine casing from the battery... If the starter does spin over when jumpered, you have a bad starter solenoid... JMHO!

 

[Bill kubiak]

I had the same issue with my 40 hp, turns out the battery was NG. I would charge it until the battery charger said full, but apparently it did not have the amps to crank the engine. I test jumped it with another battery and it spun right over. Bought a new battery and problem went away.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Clean all the contacts at the starter and solenoid as well.

 

[ClevelandBoater]

My goodness thank you guys for such a speedy response!
So after supplying power, well, from the current two onboard batteries, directly to the starter, the starter will spin. It sounds like it starts slowly them speeds up...key word sounds like, because I can't tell if it truly gaining momentum other than the sound. It does not engage the flywheel though. It just status down and spins. The solenoid connection when powered will lift the starter shaft. So when it does engage the flywheel is when the clicking happens. It does not have the juice to turn the flywheel!!
Bill, your say battery? Should I get a battery jumper and see if that works or get another battery? I'm lost guys.... I should be fishing! Thanks again!

 

[ClevelandBoater]

Clean all the contacts at the starter and solenoid as well.

I feel like a dummy. Batteries were fully charged according to my charger. I had adequate voltage at starter. The problem! : loose ground connection on second battery. I believe. I disconnected every single positive and negative connection on that boat and wire wheeled them all to new. Hooked them all back up and she fired right up!

Thanks so much you guys for offering your advice. I truly appreciate it. What could've been an expensive and time worthy repair or replacement turned into a two beer fix.

Fish on!