Thread: Help...boat question b4 I pull my hair out?

Sure it was your starter ? Hot Battery ? Got it lined up or does it spin without rising to engage?

dont have it wired backwards do you

Hey, quick tip i learned while getting rescued off of Bull SHoals for the same problem
OIL. spray some light oil, wd-40, gun oil, even fish attractant works, down onto the starter shaft.
the worm gear gets dry, lifts halfway to the flywheel, and spins without engaging.

Originally Posted by clfarms1

dont have it wired backwards do you

Been there done that, cranking battery got reverse charged and had the battery screwed up.

I had a similar problem on one of my motors and we fixed it by taking the spring off the starter shaft and stretching it out and reinstalling. Turns out the spring had weakened over time and was not pushing hard enough to cause the motor to throw the gear into the flywheel.
Put it back on and it never failed again. When the guy helping me told me what he was going to do, I thought he was nuts because it seemed to me that would make it harder for the gear to engage the flywheel. Worked though, thankfully.

Originally Posted by constructskeeter

I just put a new starter on my boat and still no cranky, cranky. My 8 spline gear on top of the starter won't run up to engage my flywheel?

Most likely the starter bendix is hanging up. Spray some Break free around the spline and pull up manually and exercise the spring. Then try it with the key and it should engage. Good luck

I don't know what kind of motor you have but I had a 40 horse Nissan outboard that would do something very similar from time to time. I found that there was a short in the wiring harness that is bundled up alongside the engine in the wiring bracket. I simply wiggled that harness when I had problems and it would start fine for weeks until it would short out again. Evidently is was a ground problem that was easily fixed by giggling the wires. Finally I rewired that wiring harness... or had it done by someone who knew what they were doing... and I never had another issue.

The only other thing I might suggest is your neutral switch may be bad causing it to think it's in gear when it's not... check your linkages and your neutral switch.

Originally Posted by shineehineekid

Hey, quick tip i learned while getting rescued off of Bull SHoals for the same problem
OIL. spray some light oil, wd-40, gun oil, even fish attractant works, down onto the starter shaft.
the worm gear gets dry, lifts halfway to the flywheel, and spins without engaging.

Happen to me on Bull Shoals ain't know place to have problems!! Lead Hill!! What he said!!! May need a flat screwdriver to get it broke loose!! Just real light tension!!!