Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Starter Engaging but will not turn Wheel
Posted by flboy0638 on 07/06/09 - 8:18 PM
#1
Johnson 90Horse 1997 motor
Friends,
I bout a new battery and same thing. My starter will not turn the spoked wheel on top. It turns just a tiny bit and the start smokes a little. Any Ideas or Suggestions before I dropped hundreds on a mechanic and new starter? Ill try anything!!! Please advise!
Kyle in Tallahassee FL
Posted by Guts on 07/06/09 - 9:40 PM
#3
Are you saying the flywheel will not turn? Take the spark plugs out and see if you can turn the flywheel by hand. on the top of the engine.. Don't burn up the starter.
Posted by RevengeFamily on 07/07/09 - 6:24 AM
#4
Kyle,
Guts is right, try turning the flywheel by hand.
The flywheel has teeth along the outside edge that the starter engages with. If the engine turns by hand, I would then check the voltage in the battery. A fully charged battery should be approx. 13.6volts. If your battery is close (12volts or better) then you need to put a volt meter on the battery as you turn the key. The voltage should not drop more than 2-3 volts. If the volts drop down below 9v you may have a battery issue. If the voltage stays up then I would next suspect a dirty electrical connection. Start at the battery, clean both posts. Then move to the engine and check the ground wire on the block. Then check your connections on the start solenoid. If after you've removed and cleaned all these connections it still doesn't co-operate, you may have a faulty starter solenoid. Inside the solenoid is a copper plate that closes the circut to the starter when you turn the key to crank. It may not be capable of carrying the high current to the starter. The starter requires a tremendous amount of current, if you starve it for current with poor connections you can overheat it and burn the insulation off of the wires inside it.
Norm
Posted by modenacart on 07/07/09 - 1:31 PM
#5
A volt check is not enough for the battery, get it checked at an auto store to rule it out completely. It may have enough volts but not enough amps. Does the starter make a clicking noise like a machine gun?
Posted by flboy0638 on 07/07/09 - 2:41 PM
#6
Update:
I started my motor today with pull string. Was very hard. I then tried a new battery. Starter still was malfunctioning. Batter was at 13.2
Anyways, My start wil INDEED turn the flywheel but barely.
Sorry for the delayed response.
Edited by flboy0638 on 07/07/09 - 2:44 PM
Posted by Joe Kriz on 07/07/09 - 3:16 PM
#7
If you can rope start it and your positive the battery is good, then you need a new or rebuilt starter.
Posted by flboy0638 on 07/07/09 - 4:50 PM
#8
modenacart wrote:
A volt check is not enough for the battery, get it checked at an auto store to rule it out completely. It may have enough volts but not enough amps. Does the starter make a clicking noise like a machine gun?
no clicking sound
Posted by Derwd24 on 07/07/09 - 5:47 PM
#9
The only other Q's I'd ask are the cables sized properly, lugs crimped tight and all connections clean?
Edited by Derwd24 on 07/07/09 - 5:50 PM
Posted by modenacart on 07/07/09 - 6:02 PM
#10
flboy0638 wrote:
modenacart wrote:
A volt check is not enough for the battery, get it checked at an auto store to rule it out completely. It may have enough volts but not enough amps. Does the starter make a clicking noise like a machine gun?
no clicking sound
On a car starter, I would assume the same with boat but not sure, the clicking can mean either low voltage or low amps. Doesn't sound like this is the problem. Most likely starter. The manual should have values for a resistance check or a voltage check across the starter.
Posted by Guts on 07/07/09 - 8:42 PM
#11
What is the compression in the cylinders?