Outboard Motor is being stubborn...HELP!

[Hillbiehle]

I was up in Voyegeurs Nat'l Park. After the 90HP 2stroke Mercury ran like a champ all day (all year), the key wouldn't turn the engine over at all (no sound/nothing). I could hear the primer work when I push the key in. Checked everything and then a few hours later, started on cue after I turned the starter motor a 1/4 turn. This happened a second time, and I tried turning the starter, and nothing. 6 hrs later, it starts right up without doing a thing. It seems that running the engine all day it runs fine. But if you leave the boat set for a couple of hours afterwards for dinner etc, then the engine becomes stubborn. Would the ignition swith be the problem? The starter not getting a good connection? A reset button that is resetting itself? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[NEANGLER]

Sounds like it could be the switch going bad or a wire connection/problem. It could be hard to find the source if you are not electrically inclined (like myself ) so it would probably be best and quicker if you took it in.

[Umma Gumma]

Next time it happens, leave the key ignition switch on "On", and try starting the motor by jumping the positive and negative connections on the starter solenoid using a screw driver. You don't have to start the engine, but on connection if you notice the starter engage (it will be impossible not to notice), you can at least pin point it to an ignition/solinoid problem or a starter problem.

[TSCTSC]

Yeah...sounds like a solenoid problem, tho I dun know what it is. But my honda civic 5 years old had that problem that u described. Solenoid.

Also, make sure that u are not in gear. Sometimes, if ur throttle is old, u might have to wiggle it to catch it juz right for the motor to start, Had that problem on my old boat. After a while, I just sold it cos I din like having to drag 2 hours with the boat, reach the lake and not being able to start it, and have to shore fish.

[Hillbiehle]

Great idea on the screwdriver suggestion. I will certanly do that. If I was smarter I may have thought of that in the first place...but I didn't..LOL.

I did check the shifter to make sure it wasn't engaged, and it wasn't...but that was my first thought as well.

[eurolarva]

Try tapping on the starter when it wont start. Brushes may be developing a flat spot. Check all your connections and make sure they are tight and clean. If you see any corosion use sand paper or file and clean them then make sure they are tight.

[missedoneagain]

I had this problem last week. It was my ground cable. Everything looked clean, but I cleaned all grounds anyway and the problem was fixed. Worth a try before you start changing parts. Sometimes it is the simple things.

[BigWadeS]

Just curious, what did you use to clean your wires?

[missedoneagain]

Wire brush. Otherwise sandpaper would work.