Johnson 70HP OMC Buzzing sound from near switch and boat wont start.

[Lord Tywin]

I hear a buzzing sound sometimes when I try to start my boat. Usually I dont hear it, the boat starts fine andI have no issues. Then sometimes it just makes this humming sound and the starter or solenoid will not engage. I took the cover off the switch and see what could be a piezo buzzer wired to the switch. Is this a safety mechanism? Is it the overheat buzzer etc? I can take a picture and upload if that would help.

 

[Wkd179]

yes its the overheat and possibly other warning horn

 

[Lord Tywin]

So if the boat is cold and it seems to keep the motor from turning over, reckon it's a short? Can I bypass it and see if it turns over?

 

[Lord Tywin]

This motor uses oil injection but the pump is the same one as the fuel pump so I dont think it's that.

 

[Wkd179]

not sure why it won't turn over....warning horn is not in start circuit. probably you have a bad connect somewhere (battery engine block)

 

[racerone]

Get battery load tested.----Take starter apart for inspection ( easy to do ) and inspect battery cables.

 

[Lord Tywin]

The starter is fairly new and has been bench tested. I replaced the solenoid before I realized that power wasnt reaching it. I had lost the keys last winter and ended up replacing the switch. I decided to put the old switch back in (I found the keys literally the day after I put the new switch in) and it worked! The old switch post for the battery wire popped off the back of the switch the instant I put a screwdriver to the screw. After I put the original OMC switch back in, I tried it 25 times in a row and it worked every time!
Woo, hoo...time to go to the concert on the lake tonight!!!
And it wouldnt start again.
Same
Exact
Thing

Damn.

Turn the switch and sometimes it fires right up and sometimes it gives you a weak buzizng sound.

Battery cables checked and cleaned, scraped, baking soda'ed.

I always say that a starter on a boat is like brakes on a car. If it doesnt work, dont leave in it!

Does ANYONE have any ideas?? I live on the lake and cant leave my house since I cant trust my starter.

Thanks!

 

[racerone]

That motor can be started with a pull rope even with a dead battery.----So take one along.

 

[Lord Tywin]

That’s a great idea, I have some cord and will make a handle and give it a try! Thanks for the idea!

 

[Lord Tywin]

Big shoutout to my cousin who came to help me troubleshoot this issue. I was at the console, he was hovering over the motor. I held the key in the buzzing position and he bumped the motor and it turned over. We repeated that until he saw a spark. It was at the ground wire on the motor. The bolt was loose. Tightened it up and she fired right up!

I knew something had to be loose but I couldn’t man the console and watch at the same time.

Check your ground!!

 

[Willyclay]

Attaboy, it's usually the simple stuff. The challenge is finding it!