Please bear with me, I am new to both boating and to engines. I've learned a lot in my short time with a boat but have a LONG way to go.
I've uploaded a short video of me trying to start the motor here.
Long story short: I'm hoping someone might be able to identify what some recent weird behavior from the boat means, as far as why the motor isn't starting.
The motor's behavior when starting the engine has been weird for approximately 2 months, prior to it completely not starting about one week ago.
I doubt this matters much but for completeness - I live in rural Guatemala and parts are hard to find here. The usual best way to get things is to find someone traveling from the USA soon and ask them to bring parts in their luggage.
The original "problem":
Beginning 2 months ago, every time I needed to start the engine, I had to turn the key twice. I would turn it once and hear a loud CLICK under the motor helmet. I'd wait a couple seconds, turn the key a second time, and the motor would start.
I'm quite dumb, but I'm at least smart enough to have taken the helmet off to watch what was going on. It turns out the loud CLICK from the first key turn was Small Gear #1 (see RED in Pic below) popping up and engaging/interlocking with Giant Gear #2 (see GREEN in same pic). The second key turn would get the whole motor running. You can see this happen in the video linked above.
Being new to boating and not the brightest bulb, I didn't think this was too much of a problem. I just thought, OK, I guess I'll just turn the key twice, no big deal.
Problem worsens:
About one month ago, after still needing the first key turn to pop up Small Gear #1, I started sometimes needing to turn the key multiple times afterwards to start the motor.
Eventually I realized -- if on the second turn, if I left the key turned while starting (that is, I turned the key to start the motor and held it in the fully turned, ignite position), it would ALWAYS turn on eventually. It would take anywhere from perhaps half a second to just over a full second. The motor would be completely silent for that 0.5-1.0 seconds, then start like normal.
Again, I just thought, OK, I guess I'll just turn the key twice and hold it a while on the second turn, no big deal.
Problem starts getting legitimately bad:
About one week ago, that 0.5-1.0 seconds started lengthening. It might take 1.5 seconds, or 2 seconds. The day before the motor fully crapped out, it took a solid 4 seconds of holding the key before the motor started.
And here we are now:
Now, no matter how long I hold the key, the motor will not start. It's definitely not the battery. I'd be shocked if it were the spark plugs or the pencil coils, both are quite new (less than 6 months old).
I haven't been able to find anything via Google about people with experiences of needing to hold the key in ignition for multiple seconds before it would start. Does anyone have any experience with this, or guesses or conjecture?
Perhaps I just need to buy a new starter? The part number appears to be 410-12382 (Amazon link to what I think I need).
Thank you. My apologies for the novel.
I've uploaded a short video of me trying to start the motor here.
Long story short: I'm hoping someone might be able to identify what some recent weird behavior from the boat means, as far as why the motor isn't starting.
The motor's behavior when starting the engine has been weird for approximately 2 months, prior to it completely not starting about one week ago.
I doubt this matters much but for completeness - I live in rural Guatemala and parts are hard to find here. The usual best way to get things is to find someone traveling from the USA soon and ask them to bring parts in their luggage.
The original "problem":
Beginning 2 months ago, every time I needed to start the engine, I had to turn the key twice. I would turn it once and hear a loud CLICK under the motor helmet. I'd wait a couple seconds, turn the key a second time, and the motor would start.
I'm quite dumb, but I'm at least smart enough to have taken the helmet off to watch what was going on. It turns out the loud CLICK from the first key turn was Small Gear #1 (see RED in Pic below) popping up and engaging/interlocking with Giant Gear #2 (see GREEN in same pic). The second key turn would get the whole motor running. You can see this happen in the video linked above.
Being new to boating and not the brightest bulb, I didn't think this was too much of a problem. I just thought, OK, I guess I'll just turn the key twice, no big deal.
Problem worsens:
About one month ago, after still needing the first key turn to pop up Small Gear #1, I started sometimes needing to turn the key multiple times afterwards to start the motor.
Eventually I realized -- if on the second turn, if I left the key turned while starting (that is, I turned the key to start the motor and held it in the fully turned, ignite position), it would ALWAYS turn on eventually. It would take anywhere from perhaps half a second to just over a full second. The motor would be completely silent for that 0.5-1.0 seconds, then start like normal.
Again, I just thought, OK, I guess I'll just turn the key twice and hold it a while on the second turn, no big deal.
Problem starts getting legitimately bad:
About one week ago, that 0.5-1.0 seconds started lengthening. It might take 1.5 seconds, or 2 seconds. The day before the motor fully crapped out, it took a solid 4 seconds of holding the key before the motor started.
And here we are now:
Now, no matter how long I hold the key, the motor will not start. It's definitely not the battery. I'd be shocked if it were the spark plugs or the pencil coils, both are quite new (less than 6 months old).
I haven't been able to find anything via Google about people with experiences of needing to hold the key in ignition for multiple seconds before it would start. Does anyone have any experience with this, or guesses or conjecture?
Perhaps I just need to buy a new starter? The part number appears to be 410-12382 (Amazon link to what I think I need).
Thank you. My apologies for the novel.
