need a little help with my starter.

[tklatt12]

I have a 1995 90 hp Force outboard. I went to start it the other day and my starter wasn't working right. The piston with the nine teeth that jumps up to hit the teeth on the flywheel wasn't moving. I moved it a bit with my fingers and tried again. It was real sluggish to start and acted like it didn't want to. Then I saw a bit of smoke by the starter housing and the next time I tried to start it nothing happened at all with the starter. I could only hear a clicking noise but nothing was happening with the starter. I changed the battery thinking I might not have enough power but that did nothing, all I could hear when I went to start it was the same clicking noise. I tested the power and I did get power to the cable that connects to the bottom of the starter unit. I figured the starter was fried. The original starter was an ARCO 5393. I order an off brand that stated it would replace the ARCO brand. I installed the new starter when it arrived and I got nothing but the same clicking noise when I went to start the boat. Any ideas of what I can do next?
Thanks for the help.

 

[papyson]

you should hear one click when the solenoid picks if you hold the key in the start position....then you should read a minimum of 10.4 volts on the starter post to ground....(a fully charged battery should read approx 12.7 before you start trouble shooting)....if the slicking sound is repetitive when you hold the start key then you are getting enough power to pick the solenoid and then when the starter add load then you do not have the power to do both and the solenoid drops..then it re picks...just like a car with a bad battery or connection...

see if you can see a voltage difference between the positive post on the battery and the positive post on the starter...do not put the meter lead on the cable on the post of the battery..put it on the post itself...you may have to get someone else to turn the key when you do this...feel the cable near the positive post for heat...this is the spot that corrodes and adds resistance...also make sure the cable will flex right up to the lug.....

you can also take a jumper cable and jump from the positive post of the battery to the starter terminal to isolate the problem..make sure the key is turned off so you wont start the motor..

 

[Jerryjerry05]

If your getting power at the starter when turning the key then it's likely the ground is bad?
Or the power cable is defective?
Or the new starter is defective?
Possible the solenoid is bad(not likely but possible).
Using a jumper like Papyson suggested is a good idea but you need a GOOD set of cables.
The off the shelf stuff you get is most times crap.
Good for a slow charge but a good jump, no.
Load test the batteries, check the connections.