Mercury 1989 70 hp starter issue?!

[Tomtucker18]

Hi, I was recently drifting down a lake on vancouver island fishing when realizing I needed to start my engine to move spots! Oh, gues what... It didn't start! Through ingenuity and will me and my fishing partner got home after my hat flew off with the throttle wide open and now my new sunglasses are at the bottom of alice lake!!

Anyway!!! I have got it home and hasn't started since. I checked the solenoid and it clicks as does the enricher valve but when I turn the key nothing happens. If I try to jump the cranking motor the pinion spins but it doesn't rize up into the flywheel... Hence the no start!

Does this mean I have to replace my cranking motor, or my solenoid or what?!
Sometimes I wonder if all this boating is worthwhile and then I remember all the good times I have not the staring at I boats trying to diagnose a problem which is still fun too!!!
Many thanks to any help you may have!

 

[racerone]

You take the starter apart for inspection first before laying out the cash.---------It may just need cleaning and a set of brushes.--Very easy to do yourself !

 

[Tomtucker18]

I took the starter off today and on inspection the toothed wheel on top is quite sticky and it will spin when input power straight yo it but it won't ever go up into the flywheel.. Any idea? Is it time for a new starter? I was assuming the solenoid would be on the bottom of the starter too... Sorry for what for some may be an obvious set of questions I am new to boat engines... If it is the solenoid problem go I rrplace all three?!?

 

[emckelvy]

Very common for the tilt/trim & starter solenoids to fail, I've replaced quite a few of them! The contacts deteriorate due to arcing that is inherent in the way they operate, then the bad contacts won't pass current. Thus the clicking and no starter action.

Before condemning your starter, restore your electrical circuit to normal by replacing the solenoid. Make sure your battery has a full charge, and then see if the starter will work. If the starter was working fine before the solenoid quit, there's no reason to think the starter won't work after solenoid replacement.

Here's a cheap aftermarket solenoid on eBay, even the Merc replacement part isn't that expensive, either:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360479388359

Make sure your battery connections are clean & tight. Also the connections at the new solenoid and at the starter as well. Make sure the ground wire on the starter is clean & tight on both ends.

If you're still having trouble cranking-over after you replace the bad solenoid, make sure your battery is up-to-snuff. You can have it load-tested at most auto parts stores. After attempting to crank the starter over, feel all wires, especially at the ends. If any of the wires feel much hotter than the rest, there is a poor connection at that wire (or a bad wire).

If it finally comes down to the starter, and you have a local shop that rebuilds marine alternators & starters, they can probably fix it up for a lot less than a new starter.

BTW a new 66015 starter motor lists for $356.59 from Merc but is available many places on the 'Net for less. I found used starters, guaranteed to work, on eBay for as little as $30, so that's an option too.

HTH & G'luck.............ed