Starter Troubleshooting

[htr2133]

Pros,

I have been working hard to get mine and my father's boat ready for fishing season. Dad's mid 90s Johnson starter just spins and the gear doesn't come up at all to engage flywheel. His starting battery is less than 1 yr old and he charged it for 24 hrs (2 amp) before we tried to get the motor going. I can't even manually pull it up by hand.

My questions: 1. Should I be able to pull it up by hand?, 2. if i jump from car battery and it works, where should I start looking next for the issue as that would rule out starter and point to wiring/connections, right?, 3. would it ever be advisable for a rookie to take the nuts off the bendix shaft to inspect why I can't get the gear to come up?

Thanks,

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

The gear is on a thread, if you try to pull it up you would be trying to lift up the whole motor!
Try turning it while holding the shaft with a pair of pliers. You should be able to rotate it one way and it will start lifting up the thread.

DOnt take the nut off. Check it spins up with pliers holding shaft then if it does Try the battery cables and report back

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

The Bendix gear should be quite free but as Bosunsmate says runs up a spiral thread.

You dont say what capacity the battery is. 2amps for 24 hours may not be sufficient to recharge a largish battery . The condition may well also depend on how it has been cared for since last used. If just left in a discharged or even partly discharged state it may respond to a higher charge rate or may be irrevocably damaged.

If the starter spins vigorously then look at the Bendix gear but if not check all the connections including the negative/ground.

Try a different battery, a known good one. If that works then its the battery that's at fault . If it doesn't then its a connection, the solenoid or the starter.

 

[racerone]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

Use a set of booster cables directly to the starter.-----If it now operates properly your wiring on the motor is supect.-------Those starters are easy to inspect / repair.------I install new brushes all the time at $5.00 a set.

 

[htr2133]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

thanks guys, will check to see if I can work the gear up the shaft as instructed and will also jump directly to starter and see what we get and will report back.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

A drop of oil or a speck of grease on that bending worm gear about once a year should ensure it's moving freely....

 

[boobie]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

A model# would help ????

 

[htr2133]

Re: Starter Troubleshooting

just wanted to let you guys know that a couple new connectors on the batt. cables and a 15 amp quick charge on the starting battery and we were off and running.