70 HP Force will not start

wiffle

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7
HELP PLEASE!! I have a 1991 70 HP Force. When I try to start it there is just a click at the solenoid. I put a new starter on it a couple of weeks ago. I thought that this was just a bad solenoid so I put a new solenoid on it but it still just clicks.

I checked the input side of the solenoid and I have 12V coming from the battery. I check the little yellow wire on the solenoid and when I turn the Key to start position I get the full voltage. I checked the out put side of the solenoid and it barely had any voltage when the key was turned. I tried to jump the post on the solenoid with a screw driver and it sparked just a little but still did not activate the starter. I checked the gound on the solenoid and it appears to be okay.

As a last resort I took the positive cable off of the battery and then went to the solenoid and took the output cable going to the starter and hooked it to the input side of the solenoid with the positive lead that runs straite to the battery. I then touched the positive lead to the battery post and the starter jumped.

I'm not a mechanic, but this does not seem like it should be this compicated, yet it has me compltely stumped.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,196
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

Can you turn it over by hand?Remove the plugs and spin it in neutral. You say the starter jumped.Did it turn it over or just click?Sounds like the starter is dragging.Even new they can go bad.Unhook the starter and do a voltage test through the solenoid.If t come up good check the starter.Take it apart the magnets could have let go.J
 

wiffle

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

Thanks!!

Sorry for the delayed update but it rained all day yesterday and I just got back to work on it this morning.


i did remove the plugs and it would spin in nuetral when i turned it by hand. I unhoked the starter and checked the voltage and it did have voltage. I'm now taking the starter apart to see what i have.

Will let you know when i have it up and running
 

wiffle

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

Well, i took the starter off and opened it up. I'm not really sure what i would be looking for but every thing lookes pretty good. It was clean and the brush assembly looked okay. The magnets were in place.

I also opened up my old starter and it was pretty dirty so i cleaned it up for good measure.

I put them both back on and tried to get one to work. Neither one did anything.

When I do my voltage checks I get nothing at the hot lead on the starter when I try to start it, but if I unhook the lead and test the lead when it is not connected to the starter I get full voltage when trying to start. I really hate to drop another $150 dollars on a starter is there any way to have a starter tested other than what I've already done?
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,988
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

sure sounds like a wiring/solenoid issue, NOT a starter issue.

Recheck all wiring to a diagram.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,196
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

Take your starter to Auto Zone,Pepboys any auto center.To get it tested. Got a starter shop near you??Fill out your profile you might be near someone who can help.
If you have 12volts through the solenoid when the starter is unhooked.Then none when the starter is connected.Check the connections.Get the battery load tested.Jerry
 

wiffle

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

ok, I took the starter to advance auto to test. they did a bench test and it did start spinning but only pulled 40amps,the manual says it should pull 80 to 165.

I know that is not good, but would a current draw that low keep it from not doing anything when I try to start it with the boat?



The Battery tested good.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,196
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

It should pull that when trying to start the motor.Hook up jumper cables direct to the starter.Then try it.
You sure the grounds are all tight??? J
 

wiffle

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

I took the starter off of the engine and ran jumper cables straight to it, it spun. I also checked all of the grounds and everything seems good. I just can't figure it out. Everything looks good except when the starter is mounted it just will not jump and spin. The cable going to the starter has voltage when not attached to the starter but as soon as I attach it there is no voltage and the starter is not doing anything.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,196
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

Sounds like the solenoid.Get jumpers and test it with them.
Hook it up like it's supposed to and then hook up the jumper to a hot lead.Then connect to the solenoid.Try that.Your battery hooked up right?J
 

wiffle

Cadet
Thread starter
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7
Re: 70 HP Force will not start

All of the components worked fine. I checked all of the connections and everything seemed tight. I finally just unhooked all of the hot wires and grounds one by one and wiped them off and rehooked them. It started right up. It was just a bad connection somewhere. Thanks for the help and suggestions it kept me motivated and I learned alot.:)
 
Top