Electric start won't work starting the motor..

[Devil's-Tinner]

Hey Everyone.. need a little help here, as I am largely inexperienced in this field.
My electric start on my Yamaha 30hp 2-stroke wont work.. and I've ruled out the battery.
It doesn't make any cranking noises and there is no evidence that toggling the key has any affect on the motor...

This WAS working 10 days ago when I bought the boat...
When the motor is running (emergency pull start) The key will disengage the motor, and on the opposite end..the starter will actually try to engage. (don't ask me how I know this) Yesterday the side consoles choke switch was working once the motor was already running, but today I couldn't get it to flip on and off.
The motor runs seemingly well...

I hope I'm not missing something obvious.

~~Mitch

 

[JMichael]

Sounds like you have a remote setup. If this is the case, did you have it in neutral when you were trying the electric start?

 

[Devil's-Tinner]

Yes It was certainly "locked" in between forward and reverse... Im still at a loss..

 

[JMichael]

Sounds like it's time to break out the multi meter and start running some voltage and wiring checks.

 

[BoatingCop]

Sounds silly, but was the kill switch firmly attached (depending on what kind you have, if you even have one.)

 

[Devil's-Tinner]

Multi Meters, those can purchased at an auto parts store? what are some key points to be checking with that device?

Yes the Kill switch was attached! I even tried jiggling it around while trying to turn on the motor to see if the motor would try and start cranking over...

Thanks for the help thus far!!
~~Mitch

 

[sawmill]

Start at your kill switch and go back from there. Make sure your kill switch isn't bad by checking it, then go to you selonid to make sure you have power when you hit the key.

 

[JMichael]

Devil's-Tinner » Yesterday, 14:05[/url]"]Multi Meters, those can purchased at an auto parts store? what are some key points to be checking with that device?

Yes the Kill switch was attached! I even tried jiggling it around while trying to turn on the motor to see if the motor would try and start cranking over...

Thanks for the help thus far!!
~~Mitch

Autoparts stores should have them but I know Lowes, HomeDepot, Sears, etc carry them. You don't need an expensive one, a $10-$15 model should do just fine. You'll be using the Ohm's setting to check for bad connections/continuity checks, and the DC volts setting to check for power. I'd suggest starting at the power source (the battery) and see where you're loosing power at on the starter circuit.

 

[bcbouy]

maybe a stuck solenoid?sounds funny but try hitting it with a hammer.i had a car starter that did that and beating the starter with a hammer always worked.

 

[cgaengineer]

maybe a stuck solenoid?sounds funny but try hitting it with a hammer.i had a car starter that did that and beating the starter with a hammer always worked.

It helps stuck brushes too...

 

[shawnfish]

bcbouy » Yesterday, 17:56[/url]"]maybe a stuck solenoid?sounds funny but try hitting it with a hammer.i had a car starter that did that and beating the starter with a hammer always worked.

tap it at first and increase force every few hits, shouldn't have to hit it very hard if that is the quick fix. obviously if that works you need a new starter....

 

[user 6672]

bcbouy » 26 May 2013, 18:56[/url]"]maybe a stuck solenoid?sounds funny but try hitting it with a hammer.i had a car starter that did that and beating the starter with a hammer always worked.

I would only use a rubber mallet and light hit at most. If hit to hard you can crack the case and you'll need a new starter instead of a cheap rebuild kit..

 

[JMichael]

I'm still trying to figure out why you would beat the starter with a hammer if the solenoid is the part that's stuck. :lol: J/K I know what you mean but unless you're stuck out on the lake and have no other option, beating on it is not the best option IMO. Fix it right and fix it once. Check it out and find out whether it's the solenoid, brushes, wiring, etc and fix/replace the defective part and be done with it and the aggravation it's causing you. If you continue to rely on hitting it with a hammer, you'll find yourself stranded sooner or later because the hammer option won't work either.

 

[sawmill]

JMichael » Today, 08:32[/url]"]I'm still trying to figure out why you would beat the starter with a hammer if the solenoid is the part that's stuck. :lol: J/K I know what you mean but unless you're stuck out on the lake and have no other option, beating on it is not the best option IMO. Fix it right and fix it once. Check it out and find out whether it's the solenoid, brushes, wiring, etc and fix/replace the defective part and be done with it and the aggravation it's causing you. If you continue to rely on hitting it with a hammer, you'll find yourself stranded sooner or later because the hammer option won't work either.

:twisted: Maybe he likes to swim :lol:

 

[bcbouy]

if hitting it with a hammer works then you know whats wrong with it ,dont you? or you can chase wiring all day.

 

[sawmill]

bcbouy » 10 minutes ago[/url]"]if hitting it with a hammer works then you know whats wrong with it ,dont you? or you can chase wiring all day.

I know what you are saying is I have done it many of times. I have some old tractors and the needle valve was sticking at some time or other. Know how I could tell? The carb bowl is all dented up :mrgreen:

 

[Devil's-Tinner]

First off.. You guys are hilarious.

Heres whats been happening with the electric start... cleaned battery terminals and motors connection at the battery.. -thought this could be the problem..
Nothing was fixed by this.

-Then upon the advice of my dad, who was helping my over the phone.. "we" (I) put a screw driver across the positive power going into the solenoid, to the power going to the starter, with the key in the "run" position, the engine cranked over..(successfully scaring the crap out of me). SO we have ruled out the starter.. that works :shock:

He thinks this is entirely an electrical problem somewhere.. wants me to take a wire brush to connections, and put back on clean and dry..

Its so frustrating because this worked 3 weeks ago in the previous owner's driveway.
and the first time attempting to get it started in my driveway.. no dice.

~~Mitch

 

[sawmill]

Devil's-Tinner » Today, 15:14[/url]"]First off.. You guys are hilarious.

Heres whats been happening with the electric start... cleaned battery terminals and motors connection at the battery.. -thought this could be the problem..
Nothing was fixed by this.

-Then upon the advice of my dad, who was helping my over the phone.. "we" (I) put a screw driver across the positive power going into the solenoid, to the power going to the starter, with the key in the "run" position, the engine cranked over..(successfully scaring the crap out of me). SO we have ruled out the starter.. that works :shock:

He thinks this is entirely an electrical problem somewhere.. wants me to take a wire brush to connections, and put back on clean and dry..

Its so frustrating because this worked 3 weeks ago in the previous owner's driveway.
and the first time attempting to get it started in my driveway.. no dice.

~~Mitch

Put an electrical tester on the solenoid terminal that goes to the starter. Then turn the key to the start position where the starter should be rolling over. If this post is dead when the key is in this position you could have a bad solenoid