Starter

WHat does the starter selenoid do? Does it give an extra kick to strter? Starter spins but does'nt engage gear. I checked the selenoid and it had 1-2 ohms when closed.

Re: Starter

Solenoid is a just a switch that completes the positive battery connection. It's not feasible and would be expensive to run large battery cable a to the front of the boat to a switch. A solenoid makes it possible to use small gauge wire. It just provides power to one side of soleniod which closes the switch and completes the connection to the starter. When the starter get power it spins and the bendix raises the spinning starter gear. If the starter is spinning the solenoid is good. If you can get the starter apart you may try cleaning uup the gear shaft and put some dry lube around the gear shaft they sometimes get corroded and hang up. If not the starter is due for a rebuild

Re: Starter

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