89 Force 50hp, one click when trying to start

[lytemup]

Hi, I've been trying to diagnose my starting/electrical prob with the archives, but I'm a bit stuck. I have a 50hp force ('89). When I try to start I get one click. I also get just 1 click when I try to trim the motor up/down. I have bypassed the safety kill switch and am sure i have a good battery (tried 2, both I know are good). I get 12v on one of the big red wires to the solinoid, nothing to the other when trying to start. I tried jumping the two together and the voltage goes to zero. Seems to me I have some sort of a short and prob not solenoid problem, especially condidering the trim problem. I checked every ground I can find a they all seem ok. my outboard is very clean with no corrosion in on the engine. Any adice would greatly be appreciated! Thanks!<br /><br />wanted to add this: when the ignition is tured to start, i get 12v at the yellow wire on solinoid. a few millivolts register on the second large red wire that goes to starter.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: 89 Force 50hp, one click when trying to start

If all your connections are tight and clean and the battery is good I would take the starter apart. Try tapping on the side of the starter with a wrench. See if that makes it better. I had the same thing happen yesterday with my chrysler. Tried two batteries and only a click. I took the starter apart and there was so much crap in there that the brushes did not even spring out of the holders. I cleaned everything up with WD40 and wiped the copper parts down real good on the commutator (I think that is what it is called) and tested it. I bet the motor will do 20 MPH on the starter alone. The toughest part was holding the springs and the brushes in place while assembling it. Thin fishing line worked real well for this

 

[lytemup]

Re: 89 Force 50hp, one click when trying to start

thanks for your response. i figured it out. user error of course. when i originally de-bugged the bad safety cut out (earlier today), i checked the batteries, or so i thought. I must have checked one twice or something, anyway, one is bad. so I had a bad cut off switch and a battery in one day (well at least one winter). thank again