[pcrussell50]

when i turn the key to crank it, no cranking, but the following happens:
-sometimes i hear a faint click
-the green oil tank level light flickers or goes out
-sometimes the choke works

motor starts and runs fine when i jumper from battery positive to positive starter lug. so, bad solenoid? what else?

-peter

[JB]

Could be the solenoid, but more likely just bad connection of the battery cables to the engine or the battery.

[99yam40]

I agree with JB, if the light flickers and choke works only sometimes it sounds like a bad connection.

[pcrussell50]

Originally Posted by 99yam40

I agree with JB, if the light flickers and choke works only sometimes it sounds like a bad connection.

arrgh! what a loser i am! you and jb were dead on.

i cleaned the ring terminals that go on the battery and voila! cranks right over.

the reason i'm so mad at myself is that even though i am new to boating, i'm no stranger to engines and such. i'm an amateur sports car racer, and i build my own race engines. there is no excuse for me to overlook something so basic.

-peter