Starter on 90HP Force

[bkhealey]

Hi, I think my starter is toasted but wanted to make sure. The battery has a 90% charge and connections are clean. But when I try and start the motor it acts like it isn't getting anything. The starter just turns once and that's it. Then stays engaged to the flywheel. I looked at the connections on the starter and they are tight and clean. Would anyone else have an idea?

Thanks

Brian

Update: I took my volt meter and touched the positive input on the solenoid and that was good. But the output end would show good then drop to 0. Then the starter turned once and stopped as the volts dropped to 0.

 

[92cobra]

I'm in no way a expert but sounds like the starter is fried?or there's a bad connection somewhere.

 

[tommarvin]

You can bench test your starter, remove it and touch the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal, connect the ground to the ground, does the starter turn fast.
It's very easy to test a solenoid with a multimeter, you-tube has a very clear video on testing.it.
You need to do a load test to test a battery, you can have volts and a bad battery HF has a load tester for 22 bucks,,you should have your battery on a battery maintainer 24/7/365 days when your not boating, again HF has a deluxe battery maintainer for around 20 bucks.
Remove ALL your negative battery cables, yes even the negative battery cable connected to the block Jiggz with a stainless cut washer and bolt ,clean/wire brush all terminals shinny, thin coat of dielectric grease on all terminals and nylon locking nuts, never wing nuts .
If your starter bench tests good, and your solenoid tests good it's the neg ground or your battery is bad.
If your boating budget is enough for two batterys and a battery switch I would get another max battery from walmart, 100 bucks two year warranty, It's stops all battery problems.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Before you do anything!!
​Pull the plugs and see if it turns over then.
Turns over?? Do a compression test.(low comp can cause these symptoms)
Doesn't turn over? Drop the lower and see if it's locked??

Then after inspecting the cables and connections, pull the starter and take it apart.
It's amazing how much crud settles in the bottom on the springs and brushes.

IF??? you do use a battery maintainer. Don't buy a cheapo.
Bought one from HF and it burned up my motorcycle battery.

 

[bkhealey]

Thanks for the Replies. I will pull the starter and test it. The battery is 18 month old Cabela ATM. I cleaned all the cables. The Engine was rebuilt 2 years ago. Bored out and all new pistons so doubt it compression. I have a good battery maintainer and it has been on the battery all winter in my house.

 

[mla2ofus]

My 90 HP Force started doing the same thing. I removed it, disassembled, cleaned everything and put some grease in the shaft bushings. Haven't had a problem since and that was 8 yrs ago.
Mike

 

[bkhealey]

Yeah I am pretty sure it's one or the other. Thanks,

 

[Jiggz]

Most troubleshooting is about elimination process. If after removing the plugs and the engine cranks over fast but will not do so when plugs are installed, do the following. Making sure the engine is prep'ed for running. (If engine will not crank over with plugs removed, you need to dismount the lower unit and try again)

1. Make sure the starter pinion drive is at its off location at the bottom of the starter shaft. Apply light coat of light grease (graphite is recommended) on the starter shaft.

2. Using a large enough screwdriver (3/8") short the two large terminals (make sure you hold the screwdriver by its insulated handle) on the starter solenoid. - If the motor cranked over fast enough and started the engine then you have a solenoid problem.

3. If motor did not start in step #2, then get jumper cables. Jumper the starter straight to the battery terminals. If the motor cranked over fast enough and started the engine, then you have a loose negative or positive cable. Pay close attention to the negative terminal. Looking at it or even just checking it without disconnecting is not enough. You need to disconnect it wire brush it clean until shiny and then do the same with the mating surface on the engine block. Re-install it with a lock washer and coat it lightly with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion.

4. If none of the above fixes the problem, dismount the starter and then overhaul it. That means disassemble, clean and inspect.