Starter problems
 

Quick question,,, project boat Wellcraft V20 with a 1996 Mercury 150 carbureted motor. When I try to start the motor I get a click at the starter solenoid and the barrel of the starter smokes a little bit around the strap. Is it a bad starter solenoid or bad starter or just a bad ground somewhere? The motor is free because I tried pulling ot with the pull rope. The starter is not engaging at all. This boat has been sitting for atleast 4 years. I have 2 new batteries and I am attempting to start with both batteries at once. Is there a way to test without having to purchase a new starter? Buy a new solenoid and try it?


1982 Wellcraft V20
1996 Mercury 150

I don't like to here about engines not starting, but I had a problem with my 50 hp merc I started thinking what could it be then I said let's start at the most obvious What I would do if I was you is check at the battery's Are the terminals clean and tight, make sure you are good at that end, check the connections on the starter make sure there clean and tight also
Put a multimeter at the battery and see what the volts are then turn the key to start it and see what the volts drop to, you can hit the started with a hammer to free it up Good luck let us know But start at the beginning The most obvious

sounds like the starter isnt grounded. Try using a set of jumper cables to supply a good ground for diagnosis purposes

if the starter is smoking its probably not the solenoid. Like spare said use jumper cables and a good battery. U can take the starter off and jump it also. Clean all the connections, u would be amazed what a little corrosion or loose connections will do.

Smoking is never a good sign. It means you have high resistance someplace, usually in the windings of the motor. It "could" be in a bad connection from the battery to the starter, but truthfully I'm dubious. Try like Spareparts and Oteps said. Take a set of jumper wires and test the starter. The case of the starter is ground, so just put the negative jumper clamp pretty much anyplace that you have a good bare metal connection to the starter. Tap the hot wire of the jumper cables to the post where you normally would have the hot wire connected to. The starter gear should jump out and engage the flywheel. If it doesn't, or if it runs out slowly, you have a weak starter motor and it needs to be replaced. Check out eBay before you buy from Wests or wherever. Chances are you'll find the starter you need at a greatly reduced price. :head: