Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

[Spenceror]

Purchased a 1982 35HP Johnson which has not been used for several years. Engine has both ropestart and added electric start modes. Impossible to pull rope for complete cycle of compression. Using electric starter, motor also stops just before full compression (TDC) on both cylinders. Spark plugs removed and flywheel can be moved by hand with no scraping or binding and rope or motor easily at high speed. Smooth mechanical motion. Initial compression approx. 105 on both cylinders. Light oil spray increased to about 120. Carburator getting gas at choke, air can be forced down spark plug holes on exhaust when piston at bottom of stroke<br />1. Installed new starter, new solenoid, new start switch and using new DieHard truck battery. FLYWHEEL WOODRUFF KEY SHEARED OFF.<br />Repaired damage, flywheel fit and tightened to 105lbs. Fully charged Battery 12.5 volts connected directly to starter with short cable and drops to 8.5 Volts measured with meter. It must be pulling at least 50Amps (BIG ARC). Without plugs starter motor pulls only a few amps. Flywheel tight, level with no upward play and not scraping. Connecting rods and pistons tight. The engine did make one backfire before flywheel key broke. Could the rings be binding under compression or the reed assembly be defective.? I'm totally lost at this point. <br /> hrb@ziplink.net

 

[MGuckin]

Re: Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

Might not help with your problem but, I had a key shear off while trying to start also. (1976-35 HP Johnson). Replaced the key and it did it again. Took it to my local wrench. Timing was way off. He reset it and no problems since.

 

[JB]

Re: Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

Howdy, Spenceror. I think MGucking put his finger on it. Your symptoms speak of timing too far advanced.<br /><br />Check that your magneto stator plate hasn't gotten stuck at full advance. If not, retime the "link 'n' synch" between throttle and ignition.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[ajp]

Re: Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

I bought a 1969 Johnson 115 HP on a deckboat for a song. The owner got tired of trying to make it run. <br /><br />The story:<br /><br />1st - Burnt up starter. He had it rebuilt. <br /><br />2nd - New battery<br /><br />3rd - Burnt out powerpack.<br /><br />4th - Sold boat.<br /><br />I got it with a new starter, new battery and then bought a CDI powerpack for $229. <br /><br />Symptoms - Slow starter crank but would then slowly speed up. Caused low voltage to the powerpack. <br /><br />I then found the source of all the problems this guy had.<br /><br />On most outboards the factory puts all the cables and wires through a rubber tube from the gunwhale to the moter to make it look neat. <br /><br />This tube on this boat was brittle and full of water. The positive battery cable was coroded with about 12" of covering shield gone and the copper cable almost completely shredded. The water was probably conducting the juice. <br /><br />Replaced the cable and full power to starter, and powerpack. It was amazing the difference in starter speed. ZING.<br /><br />Moral of the story. <br /><br />Outboards need good battery power to the engine, or all sorts of problems can occur. <br /><br />Check your cable.<br /><br />FYI - Always check the simple first.<br /><br />Good boating.<br /><br />Arlan

 

[Backlash]

Re: Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

Hey Spence,<br />Maybe I've misunderstood your problem but, if the flywheel won't make a complete turn through the compression cycle with the plugs in but will do so with the plugs out.......<br /><br />Are you sure you're using the correct spark plugs? Are the pistons hitting the plugs?<br />Backlash

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

>Remove plug wires and ground to block. Try cranking. If it cranks easy, its a timing issue.<br />>If it still cranks hard when wires off, remove plugs. If it then cranks easy, look at plug application (wrong plug)<br /><br /><br />Good luck!!<br />>

 

[Bear]

Re: Starter Motor will not completely turn flywheel.

Maybe I don't understand. As Backlash says, do you have the right spark plugs? <br />Is it possible that someone dropped a nut or something in a spark plug hole?<br /><br />If you can turn it with the spark plugs out but not when they are in place I'd say there is something wrong there. <br /><br />/Bear