Noob boat owner

[RLaw]

Recently picked up our first boat. It has a 1979 Evinrude 70hp.

When I got home from work yesterday I was informed that the battery was dead. After charging it over night, I reconnected everything. Went to start the motor and nothing happened. Well, the only thing that happened was the sound of the choke engaging as I turned the key. I then disconnected all the wires and reconnected them to the battery. Same problem.

Desperately wanting to take the boat out, I attached a rope to the flywheel in an effort to start it manually. The motor turned over, ran for 5 seconds and shut off. I gather that was because the choke wasn't engaged? I tried it again a few times but only managed to shave layers of skin off my hands. The flywheel seemed harder to turn than my first attempt.

At this point I'm thinking the started is faulty. Am I correct? Could it be something else I'm overlooking? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Rich

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Noob boat owner

Recently picked up our first boat. It has a 1979 Evinrude 70hp.

When I got home from work yesterday I was informed that the battery was dead. After charging it over night, I reconnected everything. Went to start the motor and nothing happened. Well, the only thing that happened was the sound of the choke engaging as I turned the key. I then disconnected all the wires and reconnected them to the battery. Same problem.

Desperately wanting to take the boat out, I attached a rope to the flywheel in an effort to start it manually. The motor turned over, ran for 5 seconds and shut off. I gather that was because the choke wasn't engaged? I tried it again a few times but only managed to shave layers of skin off my hands. The flywheel seemed harder to turn than my first attempt.

At this point I'm thinking the started is faulty. Am I correct? Could it be something else I'm overlooking? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Rich

a bad connection is likely the culprit. either a corroded cable or something not making contact right.


also you said it ran a few seconds and quit. a few things...


if it is a portable tank,

did you prime the bulb until it got hard?

is the vent open on the tank?


also did you make sure to have a water supply for cooling (muffs or barrell)?

 

[RLaw]

Re: Noob boat owner

I will recheck the connections.

It is a portable tank.
The ball was hard/primed.
The lid was closed tightly.
The boat and motor are in the water.

The engine hadn't been run in 36hrs. It was warm 28 degrees here today , but I was still surprised it roared to life after one pull. I went to lower the throttle by the wheel and it conked out. I figured it was because the choke wasn't engaged. It wouldn't start after that.

 

[RLaw]

Re: Noob boat owner

Connections appear to be fine. I forgot to mention, when you turn the key, there is a double clicking sound coming from what i can only determine is the starter solenoid. Would that mean the starter motor is shot?

 

[Craftsman_85]

Re: Noob boat owner

Theres a big red wire attached to the top of the solenoid located right next to the starter. jump that wire to the post on the side of the starter if the starter doesnt react most likely the starters bad possibly a bad power cable also. You can use a voltmeter to check and see if your getting 12 volts on that wire going to the solenoid that will rule out the bad wire theory if the starter engages the most likely a bad solenoid

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Noob boat owner

get a set of jumper cables and bypass the solenoid to test starter.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Noob boat owner

I will recheck the connections.

It is a portable tank.
The ball was hard/primed.
The lid was closed tightly.
The boat and motor are in the water.

The engine hadn't been run in 36hrs. It was warm 28 degrees here today , but I was still surprised it roared to life after one pull. I went to lower the throttle by the wheel and it conked out. I figured it was because the choke wasn't engaged. It wouldn't start after that.

the lid may have been closed, but was the vent open?

it is very possible there is a bad soloniod... jumper like others suggested. my experience is that if the connestions arent all solid, it creates problems.

 

[RLaw]

Re: Noob boat owner

Couldn't find a vent. Took the cap off, and primed the ball again.

I used a rope to spin the flywheel and it started up perfectly. Went for a quick ride to charge the battery further.

Starter clicked on for a fraction of a second upon return (fish finder read 16v) and then went back to making two clicking noises, from the solenoid I presume.

I ran a jumper cable to the starter motor. Nothing happened until I was spinning the large nut on top of the starter with my fingers. Again, it jumped into action for a half second and then nothing again.

I still think it was one, two or three of the following items are the culprit:

1. starter motor
2. wiring
3. solenoid

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Noob boat owner

if you bypassed the solenoid with jumper cables properly, and it did not spin, then your starter motor is bad.

 

[Craftsman_85]

Re: Noob boat owner

Agreed that it sounds like a bad starter. But its odd that it spun for just a second. You can take the starter apart yourself theyre not difficult see if some of the magnet frayed inside either way try to clean it out a little and throw it back together also remember that alot of those starters ground themself to the motor try cleaning up the mounting brackets and where it mounts on the motor also check all grounds and cables for corrosion.