While out the other day, engine off to cast net and went to restart and got a high pitched sparking sound. Waited a few moments and it cranked right up. Went to crank today and got the same sparking sound but this time it would not crank. Battery had plenty of juice and connections were solid. If I can’t get it started will have to get a repair on the
lift or be towed to ramp. Hope somebody has a quick check list.
Yamaha F150 4stroke 2004.
Is starter gear coming up to touch fly wheel? Sometimes gear gets build up/rust and does not spin all the way up. Wire brush and lubricant on shaft will fix. If gear is free, and starter itself making noise Allied in North Charleston right next to Interstate Battery can bench test and rebuild if necessary, you will just need to pull it and carry it to them.
Get a jumper cable and jump from the battery positive direct to the starter. If it works, starter is good and wiring is bad, if not, starter is bad. Wrap a rope around the flywheel and hand crank it if you’re stuck.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I had the same sound on F225 and it was a bad starter relay.
Thanks for the advice. I dropped it at Charleston Marine and will hope for the best.
TALLYHO
19ft Seahunt Navigator
150 Yammy 4s
FYI - for future info. That high pitched sparking sound may well have been a connection arching and throwing sparks. Back in high school, we had a Marquis with a Johnson 135. While skiing, she refused to start. Finally, we heard arching when we turned the key and she fired up. Later, we found the source of the noise. One of the connections to the battery was badly melted and deformed. Apparently, that connection was bad. When asking for several hundred amps through that connection to spin the motor, it heated up to the point of melting. The melting actually re-established the connection and she cranked up and worked well. (New connection, after all.) But, the lead battery post was badly deformed and damaged the plastic battery case. It was not leaking, but, it was seriously compromised. Further, I expect it was throughing sparks. Ignition sources are generally not a good thing.
Long story short, if you think you hear arching, take it seriously.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
Charleston Marine just advised problem was with the battery cable which had cracks and corrosion. I had only looked at my connections;thus, I suggest an occasional thorough inspection of the entire cable.
TALLYHO
19ft Seahunt Navigator
150 Yammy 4s