Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Help! I getting my boat out for the first time in 2 year. "STROKE"

Okay! charged the battery, changed the oil and filter, put new plugs in it. When I attempted to start it the dash lights can on, but the engine didn't turn over. It is like nothing happens The boat is a Bayliner, with a 4 cylinder Volvo Pentax out-drive.

Did you test the battery after charging? Some will hold a minor charge (enough to light the dash) but not enough amps to crank the starter. If you hear clicking when the key is turned, but nothing else, might be time for a new battery.

If the battery checks out OK there's a wiring issue from the ignition to the starter.

There is no clicking, nothing.

I'd still check the amperage output on the battery before doing anything else. Any of the chain auto shops (Autozone, O'Reilly's, etc.) will do it for no charge. The clicking sound comes from the starter solenoid. It doesn't always click with a semi-dead battery.

I have a small thingy with a spiral wire to check the battery charge. It came from WalMart for about $8. I think Minnkota. It will tell you the amount of charge in your battery.

Do your dash lights dim, when you try the motor? If not, it may be a switch/contact problem.

I bought a new battery, still the same thing. Dash-lights work, doesn't start. The light don't dim.

make sure ALL of your terminals that you are attaching to your battery are
a) not loose, broken, or corroded
b) if corroded, take ScotchBrite or sandpaper to each terminal- clean both sides until all corrosion removed.

I've seen a few boats where there are so many connections to one battery that a couple fall down in the bilge only to be forgotten next season- left disconnected, an owner is left scratching his head on why things don't work. Make sure this isn't the case with your boat.

if the boat was stored where ANY moisture was present, it's possible the starter is corroded or seized. If all is good with battery, terminals are all connected and clean, sometimes a light tap with the proper adjustment tool (tinkin hammmer) will free the starter up. I have an old Suburban that sat for a while that the starter did that, until I finally decided to change it out.
Jim