1984 Nautique Starter Issues

I have a 1984 Nautique that will not engage the starter when I turn the switch. I can cross the solenoid and it will engage the stater. Is the problem my switch or the solenoid?

Terry,
I forgot to mention the NSS ()neutral safety switch). It's on the trans and will open the circuit from the ignition switch to the start relay if you aren't in neutral or the switch is bad. Ohm it out to check.

I saw your other post. 10 volts is bad. Where did you get that reading? Are your battery terminals clean? Are your cables in good shape?

If you are only getting 10 volts at the dash (and therefore the Ignition Switch), you need to start there. If you check the voltage right at the battery posts, what do you get?

You need to check your connections then. You're losing voltage from the battery to your ignition switch. Try cleaning the connections. Some have even run a new feed to the dash.

I get 2 volts to a white bar on top of the solenoid. I can remove the two wires and check them and I get 12 volts with them disconnected from whatever that bar is.
/Users/Terry/Desktop/IMG_0551.JPG

HW is spot on.

I made some assumptions that may not be correct. If the voltage "at the dash" was actually just your dash gauge reading, then you still should fix that. Either your gauge is bad or you have a voltage drop somewhere leading to it.

While holding the key to the "Start" position, use your volt/ohm meter to check voltage at:

#1. S post on starter relay (if 12V is present, relay is bad) If 12V not present, move on...

#2. Neutral safety switch at the transmission. Check both in and out terminals. If you are getting 12V at both, you have a bad wire between NSS and your Relay. If you have 12V in but not out, then your trans is either not in neutral or your switch is bad. If you don't have 12V in, then move on...

#3. Ignition switch "S" terminal. If you have 12V here but not at the NSS, then your wire is bad between the two. If you don't have 12V at the "S" terminal, move on...

#4. Ignition switch "B" terminal. If you have 12V here, then your ignition switch it bad. If you don't have 12V, keep tracing this back .......

Hi i have an 88 Nautique 351 and am using this post to check an issue with my starter.
Starter is about 1 year old, batter is about 3 months old.

It will turn but the gears only engage the flywheel for a split second and then it turns without touching the flywheel. I get one click when I turn the ignition on.

When removed, it all works fine using the same block ground. But when installed, it will not engage the flywheel..

I have:
1. Sanded and cleaned the ground connection between starter and block.
2. Run power directly to starter from the battery to ensure it gets 12 volts.
3. have 10.8 volts at the S post on the starter relay on the back of the engine
4. have 10.8 volts at the solenoid which is directly on top of the starter - but even when running a wire straight from the battery it doesn't help engage the flywheel.

On the post "While holding the key to the Start position", I have a few questions:
Is the Solenoid box on the diagram actually the second solenoid/relay that sits on the back of the engine or is it the solenoid that sits directly on top of the starter?

Why should the S post have less than 12 volts?

What voltage should I have at the starter relay S post?

What voltage should the neutral safety switch have on either side?

David

Thank you for the fast response. I checked and it is a
Marine deep cycle battery and I have had no issues starting it for several months.
I bought it new a few months ago and it has faithfully eaCh time.


Seemns like under a load it won't engage shatter flywheel

I have jnr

David

Thank you.

I just hooked up my car battery (largest most powerful battery I could find and was from NAPA) and the same issue is happened.

I turn the key, the starter click and the starter motor turns without engaging the flywheel.

Any other ideas?

If my picture uploaded I know I have some explaining to do as to why the new port side exhaust and will do so in the proper topic,

David

There is the small possibility that you have a couple chipped off flywheel teeth.

The teeth looked ok. I turned the engine by hand to see if it would help but no difference

With power off the Starter appears to engage when direct from car battery and will not turn

With power on from the deep cycle and using the car battery direct to the starter it will not engage the engine

David

Yes all with starter spinning and car battery only

Here are the readings without starter spinning and key and ignition breaker on:
11.8v either side of breaker on engine rear
Zero on rear engine relay post going to transmission switch and zero at transmission
11.8v big black cable on relay going to starter
Zero at relay post on red wire going to starter

David

So sounds like it is the solenoid on the starter.

does it have to be a marine solenoid or can it be an automotive solenoid?

Ok after a lot of work and a lot of learning here I have 11.8 v at the red wire going into the magnet when starter is spinning but still not engaging the flywheel.

The battery is showing 12.6 v.

I have 12.5v at the large black cable going into starter without spinning starter and 11.4v when spinning the starter.

I tested the magnet and starter off motor and they work.
One thing I noticed that with breaker off and key off, and the magnet removed from the starter, depressing the magnet arm powers the starter. Not sure how it is getting power with the key off and ignition breaker off.

I cleaned the magnet posts and nuts and screws. There was some corrosion and made sure it and the starter can actuate easily back and forth.

Is 11.8 v at the magnet enough to indicate that it is no longer a voltage problem?

David