Tracing and Repairing Starter-Motor Circuits nition switch is OK. If you don’t find 12 volts here, trace the harness as for the other wires. If no damage can be found, the problem is inside the control box. Figure 8-9a on page 134 shows the solenoid terminal being checked for 12 volts with the ignition switch in start. Figure 8-9b on page 134 shows the positive wire to the starter solenoid being checked for 12 volts with the ignition switch on.
Other Outboard-Engine Starter-Motor Problems In addition to slow starting or no starting, some severe mechanical problems may also cause a no-start condition. The possibility of extreme engine overheating and water getting inside your engine is real. The symptom for either condition is a loud “clunk”
as the starter-motor drive gear engages the flywheel, only to encounter an engine that will not turn over. In the case of a manual-start motor, the pull cord simply won’t budge more than several inches as you pull with all your might. If either of these deadly symptoms is present, you have an internal engine problem that goes beyond the scope of this book. For a solution to these and most other outboardengine problems, I strongly recommend my book, Outboard Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair. This concludes the starter-motor section of this book. By following the tips and guidelines here, you should be able to trace your way through just about any starter-motor and starter-circuit problems you encounter, and keep your boat on the water instead of in the shop.
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