starter? problem

[wingnuts]

Launched the ski boat for the season yesterday, engine started to overheat, a peak under the motor box revealed a disconnected hose and 6 +- inches of water in the hull. Reconnect hose, bilge pump out the hull and all set for the season! Or so I thought. Back at the dock, I checked to make sure the starter was still working and it was. Later in day, engine wouldn't turn over. Turn the key and it goes "click" and then light rapping noise.
Engine is a 350 ci Indmar direct drive. Any thoughts?

[ITD]

Check the battery connections and make sure battery is charged. Sounds like a bad connection or dead battery. Good luck.

[wingnuts]

Battery is good, all connections checked and appear fine. Starter is positioned very low to hull, can't figure out what else it could be. Any one else have an idea?

[NightWing]

Sounds like water got into the starter. Even though the connections look good, you might have some corrosion. You might try wiggling or tugging on the connections while someone turns the key. The rapping noise is probably the Bendix drive trying to engage, either because it is faulty or it isn't getting enough juice.

[ApS]

"...bilge pump out the hull and all set for the season! Or so I thought. Back at the dock, I checked to make sure the starter was still working and it was..."
Chances are, the battery terminals aren't right. The guilty one will be hot to the touch after trying to start it. Try turning on docking lights (if you have them) or pressing the horn button while simultaneously cranking the starter. If the lights greatly dim or go out—or the horn falters—the problem's at the battery.

Some reasons it's not the starter:
1) Starters get soaked in automobiles and still work.
2) The bilge pump activity took some juice out of the battery.
3) It's easier to start a warm engine with what little remained of a charge in the battery.
4) A battery will show 12 volts on a meter (and beep a horn or light a bulb) when it really doesn't have the power needed to run a starter. Wal-Mart will have a 12V "load meter" selling for between $12 and $30 to indicate the battery's condition. Anyone with a 12V battery should get one, IMHO.

Before looking at the $tarter:
1) Charge the battery anyway.
2) Remove the battery connections and wire brush them bright or replace them. (They're not expensive and available everywhere). Tighten them securely. Applying grease to each will extend their service.
3) Do the same with the starter connections just because you've got the tools right there, and to be sure.

Hopefully, your battery didn't get submerged and "overfilled"; otherwise, I think everybody's right here. :)

[wingnuts]

Thanks for suggestions, I don't have dock lights but I've run the blower and the bilge pump so it seems I have juice, maybe not enough. I'll try a load meter tonight.

[Dave R]

If your battery has wingnuts, replace them with hex nuts, even if you can get the engine going. Wingnuts are a bad idea on a marine battery; great "handle" though...

If the starter is indeed bad, look into having it repaired rather than replaced. I have found that a starter/alternator rebuild shop will repair them for substantially less than the cost of a new one. I have used a shop in Hampstead NH with excellent results.

[AC2717]

sounds like battery is not strong enough to turn over from what you said but it would be worth looking into the starter solenoid to, if that got wet chances are it could be foul.

[SIKSUKR]

Geez Dave,I hope you meant you used a shop in Hampstead and not "sued" a shop with excellent results..

[Dave R]

Geez Dave,I hope you meant you used a shop in Hampstead and not "sued" a shop with excellent results..

That is what I meant. Sometimes I type dyslexically...

[NightWing]

1) Starters get soaked in automobiles and still work.



Splashed with water, yes. Submerged in water, rarely.;)

[wingnuts]

Thanks for suggestions. I was convinced it was the starter because the hull was flooded and the starter submerged and it had started on land and when launched. Also the trickle charger indicated the battery needed little charging. Lesson learned: never trust a trickle charger to tell the condition of the battery.
I replaced the battery with the boat lift battery and it fired up no problem.

[Blue Thunder]

If your starter was submerged, don't expect it to last long.
BT