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

Originally Posted by constructskeeter

Ok, checked all 3 batteries by putting a load on them, all checked good. I took jumper cables and tried to hook to battery then directly to starter but when I tried to hook the ground to motor block it was hot before I even touched the hot cable to anything....never figured that one out. I did have a boat mechanic tell me my ignition switch could cause it too. Getting up early tomorrow to take the boat somewhere to get them to fix it. I'll definatly post what the problem was to help others out, this has been a fight and apparently it's smarter than I am cause it has me stumped.

WhooooHooooo. I'm all better now that you checked the batteries. I think taking it somewhere is the best thing to do. Without looking at it, every fix posted here is just a guess. I say money well spent to get her looked at!!!! Better than getting stranded on the lake one day !!! :-)

I would still check the connection to the cranking battery and yes, it could be in the switch. Heck it could be anything!! The new starter could be bad also. MONEY WELL SPENT to find out!!!!!

Lol

Have you figured anything out yet?? Take the starter off and see if the pinion can be spun up by hand. It should be free to spin up the shaft if I'm not mistaken. This is why everyone is saying spraying lube on it. When the starter spins the force sends the the pinion up.

Are you still down here in SW Arkansas? If your going to be over this way pm me. You can bring it over here by the shop and we'll take a look at it.

Have you check the starter solenoid ( not sure on spelling) if it is going bad it will spin the shaft but will not engage it

Originally Posted by constructskeeter

Thanks for all the comments guys. Even though it's a brand new starter I'm going to try some light oil in the morning if not later tonight due to weather in the morning. It's a 1990 model 150 mercury xr4. It spins fast, just won't twist up to engage the flywheel.

I have a 1991 150 XR4 and the same thing happened. Bendix is hanging up.

Once again thanks for all the help guys. This morning I fixed it and spent the rest of the day on the water setting brush. I had put new batteries on my boat and it was wired backwards at the battery. I had someone look at it and saw it was spinning the Bendix the wrong way. I had checked that already but for those that don't know it spins opposite of what you would think. I saw it spun in the clockwise direction as the gear drive did to run up to engage the fly wheel. Apparently it spins the opposite direction. After all that I managed to set 6 piles(cedar) today in hopes of finding fish over them this next season. It's amazing how many guys on here posted trying to help me, thanks everyone!

Clfarms1 is the winner with the right answer. Glad you got it figured out.:thumbup:

Glad you got it man! That kind of stuff is so frustrating.