Evinrude electronic starter issue

I am having a little issue with my outboard starter! It works at first but after I get to a spot where I'm fishing and want to crank it again to move to a different spot, it only spins and doesn't engage to start the outboard! Could anybody give me an idea of what the issue could be?

 

Sounds like the battery is low on charge.

 

The little gear of the starter motor is attached to something called a "Bendix". It pushes the gear up so it engages. Your does that only when cold, so the shaft is probably bone dry, rusty or very dirty. Clean it, put some grease on and it will work!

 

Presumably it works initially, or he wouldn't leave the boat ramp. Sometimes worn teeth on the flywheel or starter will cause intermittent non-engagement of the starter.

 

Ok thanks CDK, I will open the starter and give it a good cleaning and lube! Hopefully that'll take care of it!

 

As an emergency, you can try rapping the starter with a wrench or something, and then try starting. That sometimes shakes it loose so it will engage the flywheel.

 

That is exactly what I have been doing and it does work but it's a nuisance to have to be opening up the outboard cover each time, So I'm really going to open it up and give it a good cleaning if that'll help, thanks SamSam!

 

A cleaning probably will not fix this, if it's got the parts in it I suspect. You'll need to get a new drive assembly (Bendix) or a new starter, with the drive included.

It could be an alignment issue, but this wouldn't be a common issue. The drive being worn is my bet and some cleaning and lube isn't going to fix it. This is a fairly simple R&R process, if you've played with a starter before. If not, get a service manual for your engine and it'll have an exploded view that will show all.

 

Yes, I see in your avatar that you have the engine cover sitting on the splash well.