Starter and choke issue

[NJboatdude]

89 Force 85 HP outboard.
Push ignition switch, no choke. Use a jumper wire to power the choke solenoid, it works fine.
Turn ignition key to start engine, the starter spins, not fast enough to go up and catch the flywheel. Using jumper wire off solenoid to the starter gives a sufficient voltage to turn the starter the way it should be and hit the flywheel.
Starter, solenoid, both relays, circuit breaker, battery and solenoid cables have all been replaced. New key switch is on the way. Battery was tested as good by auto parts store and produces 12.8 v on the volt meter.

What else am I missing??

 

[NJboatdude]

Can't figure out how to edit my original post, but I should also state that in the process of putting all these replacements parts in, all electrical connections have been cleaned and sanded to insure proper contact.

I am really at a loss here.

 

[dwco5051]

Did the parts store actually load test the battery or did they just check the voltage as it sat? Did you unplug the wiring harness from the motor and check for corrosion? It is time to start checking voltage at various points in the system while engaging the starter rather than just start throwing parts at it even though the choke problem may be the ignition switch.

 

[NJboatdude]

Did the parts store actually load test the battery or did they just check the voltage as it sat? Did you unplug the wiring harness from the motor and check for corrosion? It is time to start checking voltage at various points in the system while engaging the starter rather than just start throwing parts at it even though the choke problem may be the ignition switch.

Yes, they did load test it. I worked in auto parts for about 5 years and they put it on the real machine not the crummy volt reader.

I've been spending the last couple of days with the volt meter and the continuity tester on various parts of the wiring harness.

I guess I was hoping for a "hey have you thought about this" smoking gun. Engine started fine last fall but after I pulled it out of storage I haven't been able to nail it down yet.

 

[The Force power]

Yes, they did load test it. I worked in auto parts for about 5 years and they put it on the real machine not the crummy volt reader.

I've been spending the last couple of days with the volt meter and the continuity tester on various parts of the wiring harness.

I guess I was hoping for a "hey have you thought about this" smoking gun. Engine started fine last fall but after I pulled it out of storage I haven't been able to nail it down yet.

It is most likely the switch, you could spray some contact cleaner in the switch; sometimes that helps.
(btw the relays are only used for the power trim)

 

[jerryjerry05]

Sounds like the battery cables might be bad??
Check for soft spots, bends or swelling??
You have a battery switch?? They do go bad??

 

[NJboatdude]

It is most likely the switch, you could spray some contact cleaner in the switch; sometimes that helps.
(btw the relays are only used for the power trim)

I have a new one sitting over at West Marine to pick up after work. I'll do that one next.

 

[NJboatdude]

Sounds like the battery cables might be bad??
Check for soft spots, bends or swelling??
You have a battery switch?? They do go bad??

I don't have a battery switch actually.

Both battery cables and starter cable were replaced with high quality tinned marine grade ones that I special ordered. So let's hope to God that's not it LOL....

 

[foodfisher]

Pretty sure starter is grounded through the mounting. May be corrosion there.

 

[NJboatdude]

Pretty sure starter is grounded through the mounting. May be corrosion there.

I thought of that, have already sanded both the area of the mounting bracket that the wire grounds to as well as the contact that mounts to it. So it's clean as a whistle.

 

[jerryjerry05]

You said NEW STARTER
If the rest checks out? then the starter could be bad.
The Chinese are flooding the market with realllllly crappy products.
Starters, T@T pumps etc. All are crap.
Take the old apart and clean the contacts and see if that helps.
It's spinning but not enough to move the bendix: cables backwards or the bendix needs lube or the bendix is bad???

 

[Poormansboating]

I had same issues with my 85 I'm working on. It ended up be the starter. New starter and cleaned all connections. Good to go. I paid 80.00 or so from eBay I believe.

 

[Poormansboating]

As I'm new to working on boats I found that these guys on here really do help.

 

[NJboatdude]

You said NEW STARTER
If the rest checks out? then the starter could be bad.
The Chinese are flooding the market with realllllly crappy products.
Starters, T@T pumps etc. All are crap.
Take the old apart and clean the contacts and see if that helps.
It's spinning but not enough to move the bendix: cables backwards or the bendix needs lube or the bendix is bad???

I bought the starter on Amazon, so you could have a point there. Although both starters were/are doing the same thing....I can pull apart the old one and see what my options are. I did lube the shafts on both starters with 3 in 1 oil as well and worked it through the system.

Are you saying cables inside the starter being backwards? Because I'd read elsewhere on here that putting the battery cables on backwards and the like would not result in this necessarily. I'm happy to check the innards of the old starter to see what they look like.

Thanks to all for the feedback; I would take this to a mechanic honestly but I can't find one who will actually work on it. Everyone claims that Force parts are so hard to get but so far I haven't had an issue with it and I'm probably not needing the clutch dog replaced either, merely simple electrical parts most of which I have already replaced.

Also, I replaced the key switch last night and I have to double check the wiring because it was juuuuuust starting to get dark when I finished it, but it had zero impact on the choke or the starter.

Also, would a loose or disconnected ground wire somewhere under the console do this? I can spend some time checking through for that.

 

[Poormansboating]

I would thank a bad ground could cause it. Mine has a ground wire that hooks up to the top bolt on the starter...

 

[Poormansboating]

Did you replace the battery cable ends also...

 

[NJboatdude]

Did you replace the battery cable ends also...

I ordered and installed brand new entire marine-grade tinned battery cables.

 

[Poormansboating]

Well that rules that out then.what mine was doing sounds pretty close to what your was doing. The starter was engaging fine but would turn the engine over fast enough to crank.Then eventually it got were it wouldn't even spin fast enough to engage with flywheel. I replaced my starter and so far it has been good. I think I got it of eBay. If you want I can try and find the part # and where I got it. Sounds like you may have got a crap starter. It happens unfortunately

 

[Poormansboating]

That's the one I used and so far so good.my engine is a1989 85 hp

 

[puffitu]

Lots of Chinese crap out there-shop wisely