Starter motor won't disengage

Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
5
We just went ot put the boat on the lake. We started the motor put it in reverese drove off trailer 10 feet and motor stopped. Pulled boat back on triler, heard spinning sound. took cover off starter motor was turning. NOt engaged to gear just turning. disconnected battery. Touch battery and motor started spinning and went up to engagae motor - Key was not turned on.
Mercury 1989 70 HP outboard,
Any clue.
 

emckelvy

Commander
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
2,506
Re: Starter motor won't disengage

The starter solenoid might have fused contacts, stuck together from arcing.

There also could be a problem with the ign switch or wiring harness which is putting power to the solenoid all the time.

The way to narrow this down is to disconnect the yellow control power wire from the small terminal on the solenoid.

If the starter motor still runs when you reconnect the battery, the solenoid is bad and should be replaced.

If the starter doesn't run, take the yellow wire and quickly touch the small terminal where the wire normally connects. If the solenoid activates even with the ign to "off", most likely the problem lies in the key switch.

But I'd bet it's the solenoid itself causing the problem. Sometimes you can make them 'unhang' by 'mechanically agitating' i.e. beating the Living Tar out of the solenoid with a plastic mallet or other suitable rapping tool, but most likely it's gonna do it again. Solenoids are fairly inexpensive and not too hard to replace. Just make sure the battery is disconnected before breaking any electrical connections!

Check the iBoats store, www.boats.net, www.crowleymarine.com, or www.boatfix.com for replacement parts online.

HTH & let us know what you find.........ed
 
Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Starter motor won't disengage

Hi Ed

Ok I am on the port side of motor - I took cover off - disconneetced one of the main wires to mototr (coil I think). There was a black plastic cover over the wires etc. Now it looks to me like there are 3 solenoids under this cover (again coils). I found a yellow wire hooked to the center one. anyway I tapped on all 3 of the solenoids (maybe coils not sure - Now I'm kindof sure those are the coils) and hooked up the wire I took off and problem went away.
The question is are these the solenoids, and should only I have one for starter yes. Or what is it that I am looking at? that yellow wire I see goes to the other side of motor and I could not get cover off mototr - motor is up in air. Now what if I bumped something back to normal, if it is the solenoid and it's working now how can I tell if it's bad?
I know when I took it off lake opened case the starter motor was turning in lower position not engarged to crank over motor. The disconnecet battery and hook back up it would come up to big gear and motor was turning over....
anyway thanks
 

Wingedwheel

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Messages
1,071
Re: Starter motor won't disengage

The solenoid will have the large red wire from the battery hooked to one side. Once you locate that you can find your yellow wire.
 

emckelvy

Commander
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
2,506
Re: Starter motor won't disengage

Also, trace back the big wire from the main post on the starter (sticking out the side). This goes to the other side of the starter solenoid.

The other 2 solenoids are for your power tilt/trim, up and down solenoids.
 
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