Motor stuck trying to start?

[carlcmc]

I have a 2004 Johnson/bombadier 40 hp 2 stroke motor. The batter had not been charged for two weeks. We drove out and launched the boat and on the first try to start it ran out of juice in mid crank.

I brought it home and on hooking up the battery cables and the charger the motor wants to continually turn over.

I took the hood off and the starter wheel is up in the main fly wheel even with the battery disconnected. Shouldn't that fall back down to the lowered position?

Any thoughts on why this is happening and what to do to correct it?

[Valv]

Weird thing for sure, but since it's a 2004...take it to dealer and have it checked, it's in warranty.

[Slyster]

I am just sure that it's just the compression tension holding the spring loaded piece up! Just manually do the fly wheel a turn.

[Macgyver55]

The starter should release anytime you release the key.

This may not be the problem but it is worth a try.... Its not all that uncommon for low voltage (from the low charged battery) to arc inside the solenoid and cause the contacts to fuse together when you try to start the motor. Sometimes a light tap on the solenoid will release it. And, make sure the starter drive is free on the shaft allowing it to return when the key is released.

[carlcmc]

thanks for the info. forgive my ignorance. what is the solenoid and what does it look like under the hood?

[Macgyver55]

Too simplify as much as possible, it is a magnetic switch, operated by low amperage (key switch) that when contacted will carry high amperage. (to the starter)

Now you, have to in turn, forgive my ignorance. I'm not familiar with your particular motor. (don't have anything that new) but an easy way to find it, is to trace the battery cable in (from the battery +) to the first junction it comes to under the hood. It should look something like the picture below. The terminal with the cable coming from the battery should be the only one that has voltage until the key is turned. After that 3 of them will usually have voltage, one is a ground. If you are unsure how to test for voltage, see if you can recruit some help. I hope this helps and I'm not steering you wrong. It may not be the problem but its worth a look.

[carlcmc]

Wonderful. I used a hammer and tapped the top of the starter flywheel several times and *pop* it went loose and screwed back down. Everything is perfect now. Thanks a million.