1999 50hp Carb. 2stroke Johnson electrical woes...

got stranded today; Went to start up to go home, it stopped like the battery was nearly dead. Basically, after turning off ignition and removing the key, the starter was still trying to engage. Couldn't get the trim to pull the motor up or get any tones/lights from the ignition. It was just like current was stuck going to the starter, but not enough to turn it over. Initially I thought starter, but for it to happen with the ignition killed, makes me think a faulty ignition switch/wire or my real guess is starter solenoid.<br /><br />Funny thing is, after I paddled and got towed back to the dock, for kicks I re-connected the battery, and things were working fine again. Of course now the battery was nearly drained from the starter getting 'stuck'. Had enough juice to get the motor tilted up though so I could get the boat back on the trailer. Ignition tones and lights worked fine, and starter seemed to work fine as well, but the battery was now too low for it to turn over...<br /><br />Any thoughts?

Re: 1999 50hp Carb. 2stroke Johnson electrical woes...

Apparently the starter solenoid stuck. Am I correct in assuming the starter pinion gear actually jammed in the flywheel and wasn't turning, or did the starter actually engage the flywheel and spin the engine? With the starter engaged (and stuck) there is a tremendous current draw from the battery which would explain why nothing worked. You either have a bad ignition switch (start terminal shorted internally to +12V) or the solenoid is sticky. Neither are terribly expensive but the solenoid is easiest to replace. If you want to wait it out and see if the problem returns, take a test light or voltmeter with you. When it happens again, check the voltage on the small terminal on the starter solenoid. One is grounded to the engine block. Check the other one. If there is 12V on that terminal, the ignition switch is suspect. If not, the solenoid is the problem.

Re: 1999 50hp Carb. 2stroke Johnson electrical woes...

ignition switch or solenoid would be first on the checkout list

Re: 1999 50hp Carb. 2stroke Johnson electrical woes...

I'd go for solenoid first. It's a sealed unit, and you will find it at the rear right corner of the motor looking from the boat. If you want to disconnect it, which is easy, make sure you disconnect the live battery terminal first, otherwise you could have a fireworks display!

Re: 1999 50hp Carb. 2stroke Johnson electrical woes...

that's pretty much what I was thinking.<br /><br />Thanks!

Re: 1999 50hp Carb. 2stroke Johnson electrical woes...

disconnect the battery! Then take a multimeter and put it on OHMs. Place the leads on the two large terminals of the starter solenoid. if you get a reading across the solenoid the contacts are stuck. If no reading, disconnect the S or I small terminal wire from the solenoids coil. Connect the battery. Put the multimeter on the DC volt setting and read the voltage at that wire to ground. If you get 12 volts DC with the key in the off position, check the ignition switch or wire. That wire should only show voltage with the key in the start position.