motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

[soloncamper]

Hello,

I own a 1979, 35 hp Johnson with electric start. When I turn the key, I hear a whining, but nothing else happens. I can easily pull start it, however. Forgive my parts knowledge, but the gears that engage the large flywheel on the top of the motor do not rise up to turn the flywheel, they just spin in place.

Can someone tell me the names of the parts I am talking about and any ideas on the problem.

Thanks

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

if your are talking about number 4 in this photo they call it a drive pinion. sometimes if you tap the starter it while you turn the key it will engage.

 

[boobie]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

Do you have a good battery and are all the connections clean and tight.

 

[F_R]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

What boobie said. That problem is due to the starter not instantly turning at a high speed. That is what makes the pinion rise (inertia). You might have a bad starter, but it is much more likely that you have a bad or discharged battery or corroded battery cable connections.

 

[soloncamper]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

I will check the connections. The battery is brand new I think (this is actually my fathers boat that I am helping him with).

Thanks

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

Bad connections, bad battery cables, bad battery, bad starter. Start with the cheapest option first.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

Brand new batteries can be bad and they do not come fully charged.

 

[Will Bark]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

Could be all of the above or it could be that the shaft of the starter needs a small shot of oil. Good luck

 

[pn]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

+1 on oiling the bendix gear i like pb blaster, just seems to eat away crud and then some grease, anyways you should be able to turn it(bendix) and see it rise and fall, if not then its crudded on. u sure it's spinnin the right way?

 

[F_R]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

It is a permanent magnet starter and can't spin the wrong way unless the battery is connected backwards. If that is the case you have more problems.

 

[soloncamper]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

Thanks for the advise so far. The battery is not brand new. After fully charging it, it shows about 12.5 volts. I tightened the connections, turned the key and it fired up. The drive pinion looks a little "gunky". I will clean that and lube it as well.

 

[F_R]

Re: motor won't start with electric start, but will with pull cord

Don't just tighten the connections. Take them apart and clean shiny bright, then reassemble and tighten.