starter motor stays on

[ststeveo]

I turned over my 88 evinrude 225hp vro and it sputtured and started then stopped. I reprimed and turned it over again this time when the engine quit the starter motor kept going. I shut off the key and pulled the lanyard kill switch but he starter motor kept going. I had to shut off the battery to stop it. When I turn the battery on it starts right up again. I don't think its the starter or kill switch that is shorted because it only happens when I turn on the second starter battery. Is there a switch in the starter motor that is shorted?
Steve

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: starter motor stays on

This is a common paroblem. The starter solenoid is shorted out. The cure is to replace that starter solenoid.

(Starter Solenoid Sticking)
(J. Reeves)

Sooner or later a boater will encounter a situation wherethe key is released from the START to the RUN position, or to the OFF position and the boater suddenly realizes that the electric starter is still running. This is due to having the starter solenoid sticking in the closed (contact) position. Sometimes a whack to the solenoid will unstick it temporarily but usually it's necessary to remove the cable from the battery.

The cause? A weak battery or even a top notch battery that is running low in power causes a arcing within the solenoid that eventually welds the two opposing large terminals together.... the two opposing terminals being the large incoming positive battery solenoid terminal connection and the large terminal leading from the solenoid to the starter. The return spring with ther solenoid simply isn't strong enough to break that weld resulting in the continued flow of voltage to the starter.

The cure? If the battery is flawed, get rid of it and purchase a top notch battery. And also...... Replace the solenoid. Don't play with it, trusting that it won't happen again because it absolutely will, and that happening is usually in the worse possible senario.