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Author Topic:   click click

waterwal posted 07-03-2003 09:31 PM ET (US)
I've been busier than I've been in years. I'm in grad school, and my program requires a summer teaching practicum. So, when I finally got a chance to get home and try to take the boat out a couple of weeks ago and the 1984 Evinrude 90hp on my Montauk wouldn't start, my heart broke. I tried it again this evening, and it still wouldn't start. I need thoughts from you all because I really want to get out this weekend now that I have some time off....
Ok, the battery is full. The gas is full. The primer bulb is firm. It still won't turn over. The click is there when I turn the key..but that's it..only that anti-climactic click. I fear it's the starter, in which case, I'll need the mechanic to work with it. I just wanted to check out there if any of you had any contrary thoughts. The only experience I have similar to this was once last year when the exact same thing happened, but for only a couple of hours. My mechanic told me that sometimes (rarely) an air bubble works into the fuel line and blocks the fuel. It supposedly works itself out. However, given the time that I waited before trying again, this doesn't sound like the problem.
Any ideas?
If it is in fact another air bubble, is there any proactive way to work it out?
Any help would be fantastic. thanks!
kingfish posted 07-03-2003 09:49 PM ET (US)
It does indeed sound electrical as opposed to fuel-related. Before you haul it off the the mechanic, if you're *sure* your battery is in good shape and fully charged, check the battery cable connections on the battery posts. Clean all corrosion and after all surfaces are clean and bright, squeeze some dielectric grease on the surfaces that will be in contact with one another, tighten connections and try again.
kingfish
Jarhead posted 07-03-2003 11:04 PM ET (US)
I'd be surprised if kingfish didn't nail it.
Sure sounds like a bad battery connection to me.
UnderDog posted 07-04-2003 01:00 AM ET (US)
Hello Waterwal, I had a similar problem with my evinrude, the pinion had jammed on the flywheel instead of dropping down after it tried to start. all I would get is a click click of the starter but the gear was jammed so it would not turn. its worth a look and its a very simple fix. just back the gear down with a pair of pliers then lubricate the starter shaft.
good luck and let us know the outcome
Keith
UnderDog
lae posted 07-04-2003 02:28 AM ET (US)
Load test the battery or tap on the starter with a screwdriver or something and try it again.
Andy Holmes posted 07-04-2003 07:05 AM ET (US)
Put a voltmeter on the battery, hit the starter and watch the meter. If it stays at 11+ volts the battery and cable is not the problem. Check starter next as described above.
Jamie 20 outrage posted 07-04-2003 08:05 AM ET (US)
These are all great replies. One thing more if what they say doesnt work, Either turn the flywheel just a little by hand or put a socket and wrench on the flywheel nut to make sure engine is not frozen. I am sure it isnt. Another thing to do is take some jumper cables from your car and go directly to the starter just for a test. This will tell you if your cables or solenoid are bad, or whether is is your starter. Good luck.
Lars Simonsen posted 07-04-2003 10:01 AM ET (US)
If all that fails, pull start the motor (make sure the gear to the starter isn't engaged into the flywheel first). My 1990 90 Evinrude on my montauk was so easy to start with the pull starter that I never really feared a starter malfunction. If you want to take the boat out bad enough, pull starting the motor will allow you to accomplish that goal.
andygere posted 07-04-2003 01:39 PM ET (US)
One more thing the check: The battery cables themselves. Follow the cables from the battery all the way to the motor and be sure they are in good shape. I had one rot apart on my Montauk, but the dammaged section was hidden in the rigging tunnel and it took a little while to find it. If the insulation on the cable gets cut or pinholed, it doesn't take long for the copper to corrode away to nothing. A new set of cables solved the problem. Also, check the condition of the cable connections on the motor itself. If they look rusty or oxidized, disconnect and clean them with a wire brush or emery paper.
triblet posted 07-05-2003 09:24 AM ET (US)
When you rotate it with a wrench, disconnect the spark plugs
first.
Also, you can patch around the boat's battery cables with
a pair of jumper cables.

Chuck
Steve Leone posted 07-07-2003 01:53 AM ET (US)
Click Click is either primary voltage (not enough getting to the starter via the solenoid), a bad starter, or a frozen engine. Measure the voltage at the battery. OK? Then measure the voltage at the solenoid. A substantial drop indicates a bad connection somewhere. Steve Ps: Keith, I am rebuilding the 140. It will be making a new home on an oil boom boat for Shore Terminal in Richmond.
waterwal posted 07-12-2003 09:23 PM ET (US)
Thanks all for the great advice. Unfortunately, it ended up being the solenoid, which I had feared.
andygere posted 07-13-2003 01:52 PM ET (US)
Nothing to fear about the solonoid. It's about $35 and 15 minutes to change out. Pick up a new one, disconnect your battery, and change the wires over one at a time. It's much cheaper than replacing the starter! If you are worried about getting it right, snap a digital photo of the old one before you disconnect anything, then you'll have a diagram for putting the new one in if you need it.

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Author	Topic: click click
waterwal	posted 07-03-2003 09:31 PM ET (US) I've been busier than I've been in years. I'm in grad school, and my program requires a summer teaching practicum. So, when I finally got a chance to get home and try to take the boat out a couple of weeks ago and the 1984 Evinrude 90hp on my Montauk wouldn't start, my heart broke. I tried it again this evening, and it still wouldn't start. I need thoughts from you all because I really want to get out this weekend now that I have some time off.... Ok, the battery is full. The gas is full. The primer bulb is firm. It still won't turn over. The click is there when I turn the key..but that's it..only that anti-climactic click. I fear it's the starter, in which case, I'll need the mechanic to work with it. I just wanted to check out there if any of you had any contrary thoughts. The only experience I have similar to this was once last year when the exact same thing happened, but for only a couple of hours. My mechanic told me that sometimes (rarely) an air bubble works into the fuel line and blocks the fuel. It supposedly works itself out. However, given the time that I waited before trying again, this doesn't sound like the problem. Any ideas? If it is in fact another air bubble, is there any proactive way to work it out? Any help would be fantastic. thanks!
kingfish	posted 07-03-2003 09:49 PM ET (US) It does indeed sound electrical as opposed to fuel-related. Before you haul it off the the mechanic, if you're sure your battery is in good shape and fully charged, check the battery cable connections on the battery posts. Clean all corrosion and after all surfaces are clean and bright, squeeze some dielectric grease on the surfaces that will be in contact with one another, tighten connections and try again. kingfish
Jarhead	posted 07-03-2003 11:04 PM ET (US) I'd be surprised if kingfish didn't nail it. Sure sounds like a bad battery connection to me.
UnderDog	posted 07-04-2003 01:00 AM ET (US) Hello Waterwal, I had a similar problem with my evinrude, the pinion had jammed on the flywheel instead of dropping down after it tried to start. all I would get is a click click of the starter but the gear was jammed so it would not turn. its worth a look and its a very simple fix. just back the gear down with a pair of pliers then lubricate the starter shaft. good luck and let us know the outcome Keith UnderDog
lae	posted 07-04-2003 02:28 AM ET (US) Load test the battery or tap on the starter with a screwdriver or something and try it again.
Andy Holmes	posted 07-04-2003 07:05 AM ET (US) Put a voltmeter on the battery, hit the starter and watch the meter. If it stays at 11+ volts the battery and cable is not the problem. Check starter next as described above.
Jamie 20 outrage	posted 07-04-2003 08:05 AM ET (US) These are all great replies. One thing more if what they say doesnt work, Either turn the flywheel just a little by hand or put a socket and wrench on the flywheel nut to make sure engine is not frozen. I am sure it isnt. Another thing to do is take some jumper cables from your car and go directly to the starter just for a test. This will tell you if your cables or solenoid are bad, or whether is is your starter. Good luck.
Lars Simonsen	posted 07-04-2003 10:01 AM ET (US) If all that fails, pull start the motor (make sure the gear to the starter isn't engaged into the flywheel first). My 1990 90 Evinrude on my montauk was so easy to start with the pull starter that I never really feared a starter malfunction. If you want to take the boat out bad enough, pull starting the motor will allow you to accomplish that goal.
andygere	posted 07-04-2003 01:39 PM ET (US) One more thing the check: The battery cables themselves. Follow the cables from the battery all the way to the motor and be sure they are in good shape. I had one rot apart on my Montauk, but the dammaged section was hidden in the rigging tunnel and it took a little while to find it. If the insulation on the cable gets cut or pinholed, it doesn't take long for the copper to corrode away to nothing. A new set of cables solved the problem. Also, check the condition of the cable connections on the motor itself. If they look rusty or oxidized, disconnect and clean them with a wire brush or emery paper.
triblet	posted 07-05-2003 09:24 AM ET (US) When you rotate it with a wrench, disconnect the spark plugs first. Also, you can patch around the boat's battery cables with a pair of jumper cables. Chuck
Steve Leone	posted 07-07-2003 01:53 AM ET (US) Click Click is either primary voltage (not enough getting to the starter via the solenoid), a bad starter, or a frozen engine. Measure the voltage at the battery. OK? Then measure the voltage at the solenoid. A substantial drop indicates a bad connection somewhere. Steve Ps: Keith, I am rebuilding the 140. It will be making a new home on an oil boom boat for Shore Terminal in Richmond.
waterwal	posted 07-12-2003 09:23 PM ET (US) Thanks all for the great advice. Unfortunately, it ended up being the solenoid, which I had feared.
andygere	posted 07-13-2003 01:52 PM ET (US) Nothing to fear about the solonoid. It's about $35 and 15 minutes to change out. Pick up a new one, disconnect your battery, and change the wires over one at a time. It's much cheaper than replacing the starter! If you are worried about getting it right, snap a digital photo of the old one before you disconnect anything, then you'll have a diagram for putting the new one in if you need it.