Starter problems after power pak replacement

[KrisC]

After replacing the power pak on my 1975 85hp Johnson I am having starter problems. My power pak was preventing my motor from getting any spark. I replaced it and my motor gets spark now and will crank, but my starter will only engage about 1 out of every 3 times I turn the key and then it sometimes only engages for a fraction of a second. I had not experienced this trouble before replacing the power pak. Any ideas?

 

[DJ]

Re: Starter problems after power pak replacement

KrisC,<br /><br />Lubricate the starter drive with WD-40. <br /><br />Rotate the drive, up and down, by hand, while spraying some lube on the shaft.<br /><br />Also, remove the negative battery cable from the engine block. Clean the connection thouroughly (including the bolt) and reattach.

 

[KrisC]

Re: Starter problems after power pak replacement

Djohns19,<br /><br />I might have mis-phrased my problem. The starter does not do anything one out of three times. It doesn't make any noise, doesn't spin, it doesn't do anything at all. It is just like turning the key with no battery connected at all. A while back it was hanging up in the fly wheel and I looked up some old posts and they recommended the WD-40 trick. It worked, but now this is something totally different. Thanks

 

[drackley]

Re: Starter problems after power pak replacement

You may have a bad ignition switch or starter solenoid. Run a jumper wire from the positive <br />battery connection and touch it to the small terminal on the solenoid. If it cranks, then it's your ignition switch or now that I think of it possibly the neutral safety switch. Also try holding the key on and wiggle the gear shifter.

 

[DJ]

Re: Starter problems after power pak replacement

A bad ground will act exactly like you described. It costs $0 to check and clean that connection. <br /><br />It was a known complaint with that series of engines.

 

[KrisC]

Re: Starter problems after power pak replacement

Thanks a lot guys, I will check both things and see what I come up with.