Starter issues?

[Jagerace]

Alright, so I just tried to start my boat for the first time since mid Oct. When I turned the key the bindex would spin but would not go up and engage with the flywheel. So I took the whole starter off the motor, lubed the bindex shaft and cleaned all the gunk from around it. I reinstalled the starter, turned the key and the bindex made it to the flywheel but would not turn it over.

I figured it might be my battery so I put in on a charge overnight. This morning I went out and tried to start it again. Now the bindex will engage with the flywheel but only turn it about 1/8 of a turn then hesitate and turn about 1/8 again.

I took the plugs out and cranked the motor and the starter spins the flywheel just fine. I put a meter on my starting battery and got 13.6 volts.

At this point any help would be greatly appreciated.

FYI

1979 Mercury 70hp 3 cylinder.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Starter issues?

Alright, so I just tried to start my boat for the first time since mid Oct. When I turned the key the bindex would spin but would not go up and engage with the flywheel. So I took the whole starter off the motor, lubed the bindex shaft and cleaned all the gunk from around it. I reinstalled the starter, turned the key and the bindex made it to the flywheel but would not turn it over.

I figured it might be my battery so I put in on a charge overnight. This morning I went out and tried to start it again. Now the bindex will engage with the flywheel but only turn it about 1/8 of a turn then hesitate and turn about 1/8 again.

I took the plugs out and cranked the motor and the starter spins the flywheel just fine. I put a meter on my starting battery and got 13.6 volts.

At this point any help would be greatly appreciated.

FYI

1979 Mercury 70hp 3 cylinder.

With the plugs out the engine should turn over by the starter at 300+ rpm. If it's not making that, try it with a fresh battery first then rebuild the starter with a rebuild kit.

Your symptoms point to lack of cranking amps. A freshly charged battery still may not be producing enough current if it's gone bad during the layover.

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

I called the local marine shop yesterday and they said there was not a rebuild kit available for that starter. They said I would have to buy a new one and quoted a price of $180. I don't know if they were just trying to make more money or what.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Starter issues?

I called the local marine shop yesterday and they said there was not a rebuild kit available for that starter. They said I would have to buy a new one and quoted a price of $180. I don't know if they were just trying to make more money or what.

They are right, there is no Merc Rebuild kit. Go to eBay and do a search in eBay Motors under Boat Parts then Merc then Starters. You'll find plenty of them. I get the kits for about 45.00 each.
Here's the item id: 5d2736f23a I buy them 5 at a time and they always seem to have 5 available. Great seller and fast shipping.

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

Thanks for the info!

They are right, there is no Merc Rebuild kit. Go to eBay and do a search in eBay Motors under Boat Parts the Merc then Starters. You'll find plenty of them. I get the kits for about 45.00 each.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Starter issues?

Have you ever rebuilt a starter before?

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

Guess I'm not smart enough to use ebay, all I can find are used starters. No kits.

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

Have you ever rebuilt a starter before?

No, but I have a mechanic friend that can help.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Starter issues?

First find out if it's the battery or the starter, either by swapping out the battery (an automotive battery is fine for a test) or by measuring battery voltage during cranking (with the plugs in)

These starters stand on end, and have an end of armature, wedge shaped brush configuration. Brush debris eventually fills em up and shorts out the brushes.

If the armature doesn't need turning, throwing in a set of brushes is a breeze. Get the brush holder, too, as they often break when you remove them, especially if they've been real hot. Having a shop turn the armature isn't a big deal either if the shop is set up for the end type armature. Some smaller ones don't have the setup.

hope it helps
John

 

[basstracker219]

Re: Starter issues?

was it even turning over?

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

I took the starter and my cranking battery to Orileys before work this evenin. The battery tested just fine. As far as the starter goes it tested just fine. Other than I noticed that the bindex wasn't riding all the way up to the end of the shaft. The kid who tested it for me didn't know much about it other than that it engaged when he tested it.

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

Well I had my starter rebuilt and that solved my issues with the motor not turning over. Now I cannot get the motor to fire. I have tried squirting mix fuel into the carbs with no luck. I have also tried putting gas in the sparkplug holes. I'm not 100% sure I am getting any spark. Can I take a plug and hold it to the engine case and see if it has spark? The plugs I have a NGK permi gaps, not sure what to do because they are gapless plugs.

If one coil is out would that keep the motor from firing? I will test for spark first thing in the morning.

Any suggestions would be great.

 

[achris]

Re: Starter issues?

Well I had my starter rebuilt and that solved my issues with the motor not turning over. Now I cannot get the motor to fire. I have tried squirting mix fuel into the carbs with no luck. I have also tried putting gas in the sparkplug holes. I'm not 100% sure I am getting any spark. Can I take a plug and hold it to the engine case and see if it has spark?

Yes...

The plugs I have a NGK permi gaps, not sure what to do because they are gapless plugs.

You should see a spark jump across the surface of the plug, between the centre electrode and the outside of the plug. Easier to see the spark on these plugs than 'conventionals'.

If one coil is out would that keep the motor from firing?

No... if one coil is faulty it will stop sparking on that cylinder. the others should be fine.

I will test for spark first thing in the morning.

Any suggestions would be great.

Do your spark check and if you get no sparks from any cylinders, check that you have the safety kill switch in the up position.

After that, we break out the meters.

Chris........

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

Thanks for the advise. I will test for spark first thing in the morning.

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

According to the spark tester I purchased I have no fire from any coil wire. I will research where to go from here.

 

[Jagerace]

Re: Starter issues?

Looks like I am stuck as I do not have the meters to correctly diagnose the problem. I also do not have the tool that will allow me to remove the flywheel and access the other leads I need to test.