first time boater needs help

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flatbottombill

Recruit
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
1
I purchased a used alum 16' flat with an Evinrude 25HP circa 1980. I had to buy a new battery and I was off and running. One day out of the blue, it won't start. The motor will not turn over even a little. My question is this... Does the battery need to be charged regularly for starting purposes only or does the motor get its spark from the battery as well. I assumed that the motor had some sort of magneto to generate spark. So, do I need to charge my battery every time I come in. Please help. Thanks. Safe boating to you all.
Bill
 
JB

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: first time boater needs help

Howdy, Bill.

Welcome to iboats. :)

Go to the Engine FAQs and do "Outboard won't start". That will narrow it down.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.
 
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dajohnson53

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
1,627
Re: first time boater needs help

flatbottombill said:
I purchased a used alum 16' flat with an Evinrude 25HP circa 1980. I had to buy a new battery and I was off and running. One day out of the blue, it won't start. The motor will not turn over even a little. My question is this... Does the battery need to be charged regularly for starting purposes only or does the motor get its spark from the battery as well. I assumed that the motor had some sort of magneto to generate spark. So, do I need to charge my battery every time I come in. Please help. Thanks. Safe boating to you all.
Bill
Click to expand...

Like JB said, that FAQ could help a lot. One thing I'd do first is test the charge on the battery - if it's not charged you either have a drain somewhere and/or the engine is not charging it. If it's dead, charge the battery up w/ a trickle charger (or jump from your car!) and see of the motor starts.
 
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F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: first time boater needs help

A motor from around the 1980s should be able to run with a dead battery by rope starting it. It gets it's spark from magneto coils as you suggested, although it is much more complicated the what we think of as a "magneto". It actually is electronic capacitor discharge ignition and gets it's energy from dedicated coils under the flywheel, called "charge coils". But I know that is going to confuse you because the "charge coils" refers to charging the ignition system, not charging the battery. Charging the battery is done by "alternator coils". Both "charge coils" and "alternator coils" are mounted on a common "stator". Confused yet?
 
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pgdignan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
142
Re: first time boater needs help

Is the battery dead as well? :confused: or are you just unable to get it to start by the manual rope pull method.
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: first time boater needs help

even if the motor is charging when running, you have to maintain the battery, when sitting. the best way is to charge the battery as soon after a trip as possible, then recharge every 2 weeks. or put a float charger on the battery after recharging. if you are running trolling motor or other electronics, the motor will not keep up with the discharge.
 
samo_ott

samo_ott

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
5,125
Re: first time boater needs help

Yes, we need more info. Can it be pull started? Does it turn over at all?
 
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