Yamaha 40 not a GUG

[jimmy]

Very new to Boats/outboards. 1989 Yam 40. Fogged the engine last fall try to start today with charged battery and not a sound. Checked all the connections etc, any ideas

[boats.net]

Check the inline fuse on engine it may be blown.

[Jack Collins]

When ever you troubleshoot a problem you should start at one end or the other of the circuit. In this case it is easiest to start at the battery rather than the starter. Chargeing a battery really does not tell you anything about the battery. The cost of the necessary equipement to check a battery is beyond the means of most people so we use the next best thing which is a volt meter. A good but inexpensive digital meter can be purchased for $10 or less. I am assuming the battery you mention is a car battery and not a deep cycle battery. A fully charged car battery should show 13+ volts on a volt meter. If this is true then the next thing to check is the voltage at the solenoid bypassing the switch and the fuse. This is done to save you some time in finding the problem. With the key on but not in the start posistion you should see the same battery voltage between the hot lead and ground that you saw when you checked the battery. If the same voltage is not present then you know the problem is in either the switch, the fuse, or the associated wiring. If the voltage at the solenoid is the same as the battery then you know the problem is either the solenoid, the starter, or the associated wiring. Since getting to the connections on a solenoid is sometimes difficult if you are not experienced then the first reply posted here, to check the fuse, would be much easier for you to do. Again if you buy a digital meter then checking a fuse becomes much easier.

[ressiv]

was the kill-switch good?

[jimmy]

Thanks, I have power at the solenoid and the kill switch seems ok.
Is the inline fuse on the engine easy to find.
Where can I buy a manual for this motor.

[Jack Collins]

The fuse you need to check is in a holder underneath the cowling of the motor, also check inside the fuse holder for corroded contacts.

[Dennisg]

Hi Jack, when you turn the key, you said "not a sound". Not even the selenoid clicking?? if that is the case try taking a heavy piece of wire (#8) or larger and , with the key on, hold one end of the wire on one side on the selenoid (large terminal) to the other large terminal on the selenoid. a word of caution here...expect some spark, and also expect the motor to turn over. just touch the wire for a instant if the motor turns over, then replace the selenoid.
This is a totaly unorthogox method to check the selenoid, but it is quick and simple.and it also will tell you if everything else is good, or if other problems exist. Another thing to do is to take the battery connections off the battery, clean them up with vfine sand paper(120 grit)and re connect them . I have had instances that they looked good , but for some reason, did not make good contact. (try this first)
Dennis

[Jack Collins]

Dennis, You are right about this method of checking but I don't advocate it for 2 reasons. There is a definite possibility of an explosion from any gas fumes which may be present and second if the starter is locked there will be a much higher than normal current draw from the battery. When a wet cell battery converts it's chemicals to electricity it gives off hydrogen gas, the more current demanded from the battery the more hydrogen is produced. Hydrogen gas is more explosive than gasoline and your making sparks in the vicinity. This problem is more common when jump starting a car but why take a chance.