starter problems?

[oldpontoon]

I?m new to boating and I apologize if I use the wrong terminology. Learning as I go here. I have a 1983 (I think), 90 HP Johnson outboard that has a starter that turns but the shaft does not always come up to hit the fly wheel and fire up. The motor is on a 26 ft JC pontoon so I tried to cover all my bases before I got this monster in the water (I need to have a friend haul to the ramp). I charged the battery and fired the boat up on dry land using a motor flusher. The motor fired up the first time. I stopped and started it five or six times with no problems.
I put it in the water, starts fine. Stop to swim and tried to start it again. The starter would spin at was looked to me a good speed but the shaft came up only a few more times to start enough make it home (I was having a time hooking up to the right tank so the boat choked on me a few times). I checked the battery poles and realized that the negative pole was loose and I tightened it. No change. I checked the connections to the solenoid and cleaned them manually (what can I used to give them a good cleaning) but they did not seem that dirty or corroded. Still no change. I tried to start is so much that I wiped the battery out so I need to recharge it. As I?m disconnecting it, I see that the wire that hooks up to the negative pole is frayed about 50%, could this cause the starter not to fire up fully?
I?m pretty handy and never done this but is it possible for me to learn how to repair the starter? If so can someone direct me to where I can see pics or videos? (if that is something that exist?) I know I can change the starter if I need to but would I save by having it restored, or doing it myself? If I need a starter, what data do I need to use to find the right part?
Thanks for any advise.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: starter problems?

The frayed ground will definately give you trouble. Go over all your connections and wires and make sure they are tight and clean, you may want to run some sand paper and contact cleaner on them, or cut them out and change them altogether. A weak battery can cause your problems. Check your connections to be sure they are tight and make sure the battery is fully charged. You may even want to use jumper cables direct to the starter to isolate it from the rest of the system. There is a special bendix lube that should be used on the starter. Is pretty thin so the bendix slides easily on the shaft in all temperatures. Check the voltage at the starter when it it turning over. it should not drop below about 11 1/2 volts. Just because it is spinning fast can fool you.Check its rotation. Viewed from the top it should rotate counter-clockwise.Post your results after this test and we can go from there.

 

[oldpontoon]

Re: starter problems?

When you say to use jumper cables you mean to connect the cables from the battery to the starter directly bypassing the solenoid? Correct?
The battery is on charge, I'll clean the connector, get bendix and try the jumper cable deal and will give you an update.
Thanks

 

[F_R]

Re: starter problems?

If the Bendix gear is sticky or rusty, it won't engage properly. However, much more often it is because of sluggish starter operation. The Bendix flys up to engage the flywheel only in response to the starter armature suddenly and rapidly starting to rotate. You are on the right track when you suspect battery and/or connections. If it isn't that, it's probably the starter motor itself.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: starter problems?

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[oldpontoon]

Re: starter problems?

Thank you evryone for your responses. You were righton the money. Had the battery load tested and it was no good. Bought a new one and changes the connectors to the battery itself. Cleaned the connectors to the stater etc..........fired up like the old lady should. Perfect! One problem solved......now I see a little gas insode the motor and it drips into the water. Does nto seem like a majoe leak but I'm goign to need help here. Can I post pics? I don't knwo all the parts so Iwould like to show you where the gas seemsto collect.
Thanks
Marc

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: starter problems?

sure you can post pics. use the blue post reply button, then type what you want. scroll down to manage attachments, clik. here you can upload from computer or a hosting site like photobucket.