outboard won't turnover

[siwash]

So took it out on the weekend and ended up having to use the electric all day.. 25 HP Evinrude (electric start).. It was converted to electric start by previous owner. It'a an older motor (late 70s). Buddy of mine says I need a new starter as battery seems fine and is charged.  It doesn't even turn over.  

 

Why else could it be? Thanks!  

[smitty55]

Could be the starter itself, or it could be a switch or a solenoid or an open connection. Was the starter acting up at all before? Also, does it not still have the starter rope?

[siwash]

6 hours ago, smitty55 said:

Could be the starter itself, or it could be a switch or a solenoid or an open connection. Was the starter acting up at all before? Also, does it not still have the starter rope?

Starter was not acting up before.. motor has run well all summer..Starter rope no longer exists. So the switches can just go on those things?   If I had to do process of elimination, should I start with starter?

[Terry]

Does the solenoid click/ make a noise when you try to start it 

I would check to see it there is a fuse in line for the smaller wire on the solenoid 

you can bypass or jump the solenoid, run booster cables to the start and see if that turns it over 

[siwash]

Absolutely no sound at all... no click - it's almost as if the battery is completely dead.  It's not.. We checked with another battery.. charged it up, etc..

Edited September 27, 2023 by siwash

[BITEME]

What Terry said x2

[bushart]

Any time I get dead power like you describe---9 times outta 10 in my life it's been a ground issue

Make sure your ground connections on both ends are clean and not corroded.

Bad grounds can drive ya crazy

 

[BITEME]

X2 on that one too

[Rizzo]

you guys are so smart

[siwash]

Thanks for your help, guys... gonna start by cleaning the connections. I guess some sandpaper would do the trick? 

[bushart]

Mostly what I have used over time

check connections as well as the posts for clean

[Sasquach]

You can also check to see if the kill switch is engaged. (Safety switch usually connected to your wrist) 

[BITEME]

9 minutes ago, Sasquach said:

You can also check to see if the kill switch is engaged. (Safety switch usually connected to your wrist) 

forgot about that one.... that's a palm to the head moment

[smitty55]

55 minutes ago, Sasquach said:

You can also check to see if the kill switch is engaged. (Safety switch usually connected to your wrist) 

Lol. I'm on the Kipawa forum and one member was up for a week and on the first day after doing some slip bobber fishing they went to leave and the motor was dead. Fortunately they actually had cell service and phoned the lodge for a tow. Once they got back to the docks he noticed the kill switch was on. Well of course he got razzed all week and he actually changed his handle on the forum to killswitch.

[Terry]

Yeah but I thought they kill ignition not stater 

[lew]

1 hour ago, Terry said:

Yeah but I thought they kill ignition not stater 

I think your right Terry, the motor will still crank but won't start with the kill switch off.

[Sasquach]

I believe that the kill switch is wired to the ignition/key switch on the evinrude/johnson control unit. Once the kill switch is off, the ignition/key switch is disabled and will not send signal to starter.

[Terry]

I just walked out to my garage, removed the kill switch. Turned the keg and the motor turned over with the starter 

and yes it’s a Johnson 

Edited September 27, 2023 by Terry

[AKRISONER]

Had a moment at the ramp for a tournament this year…motor wouldn’t even make a noise. Ran to the truck grabbed tools, checked all of the connections and even swapped my power over to my electronics battery to eliminate a bad battery…still nothing.

wiggled the throttle control…it wasn’t in neutral apparently…felt like a total moron.

[siwash]

cleaned the connections as best I could last night.. still nothing.. going to now check if this is the solenoid and/or the starter... not sure if this thing has a fuse - I cannot find it so I will have to dig up a schematic of the motor to get. abetter understanding of where everything is located! 

Edited September 28, 2023 by siwash

[BITEME]

get the meter out

[bushart]

If you've got power---I think someone mentioned the jumper cable direct to starter is probably your next step to eliminate switches etc

[siwash]

could the kill switch assembly be fried?  I guess cable to the starter will help me with process of elimination. 

[BITEME]

The answer is yes

you need a meter to chase voltage or lack of 

[John Bacon]

On 9/27/2023 at 12:47 PM, BITEME said:

forgot about that one.... that's a palm to the head moment

Did they have kill switches in the late 70s?  And if they did would it affect the starter motor?