Marine Battery or Cable or ? - Something Weird is Happening!

[@louistorrans8860]

Batteries can show good voltage but not have enough cranking or reserve amps. See it on electric golf carts a lot. Batteries charge up, show good voltage but run down fast due to one or more weak cells. A hydrometer should show which cell is struggling and not fully charged. The bad cell is not all that bad but not up to the same as the other 5. It's just a fluk you can hard crank, wait a bit and then it cranks. One cell is not doing its share of the work.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Ok, I get that. Thanks for tuning in!

[@stanwilson8089]

I'm a bricklayer in the UK,we have a lot of rain and in winter freezing weather.What keeps the frost from freezing the newly laid brickwork is to cover it with a sheet.Maybe if you use a cloth/cover over your batteries the direct heat from the sun would be minimised?

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for watching and commenting !

[@alcheckalski9716]

Making sure you have very clean connections is important. Adding a star washer or to dig into the connectors will help a lot. Every additional connection adds potential to create an issue. After cleaning the connections I would even suggest altering the connection you are showing at the 13:00 mark by eliminating the battery going through that buss bar. Connect the cable from the starter onto the top of the battery lead. The run those 3 accessory wires off the bus bar end.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey Al. Thanks. I actually did that in the first video, no change. but I still need to check and clean connections under the hood at the solenoid & starter. It's just been so frikkin hot!!! Hahaha Thanks again !

[@gillgetter3004]

Had a kayak with trolling motor on stern, battery in bow. I used larger cable then you have worked good?

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for watching and commenting !

[@TheSteelworker]

If it were mine, I’d check connections first. Then go with cheapest fix first and throw a new solenoid on. Then starter…but if I had to guess, I’d say your starter is on it way out. Good luck! And good video 👍

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey thanks for tuning in. Yeah its been a busy week and with the heat really hard to get it done. Thanks again !

[@mwatkins2464]

Starter is fine, doing as it should. It’s wire gauge that’s the problem and can be tested to prove it by running another wire like 12 gauge housing wire sistered up with what he has and if battery is a good one it will work every time. I’ve had to do this in my electrical jobs so many times since 1987

[@stevefine1704]

I keep a small 1500 amp jump starter in my boat for just such occasions when the trolling motor might run down the starting battery. Harbor freight sells them cheap and it makes that starter turn up the rpms higher to start outboard. Hope this helps.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Yes it did. Thanks for tuning in!

[@mwatkins2464]

If the battery cranks good when you use just the short cables then it’s definitely the wire size on the long cable. I know about how that all works I’ve dealt with problems like these for years when I was working. To prove it you can get some house wires like 12 gauge and double it on your long cables and it should work.( just for testing it) it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do when the cables are too small. No need in doing anything else that’s the problem. Good luck

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Wow you missed the whole video. Hahaha

[@mwatkins2464]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 no I watched but I do miss things sometimes when it’s so dang hot out here

[@chriscobb4939]

How much is lot rent I maybe interested in camper for a getaway

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

You'll have to call the office for that but I can tell you there's always a long waiting list. Thanks again !

[@herewegofans]

Are you still in Central FL? Your site says MADISON, AL? Great videos and looking to speak with you.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey Yes I'm still here. That must be the old outboard dude. What's up?

[@herewegofans]

@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 Please check your beer fund. I put my contact in. And thank you.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

@@herewegofans Hey. Yeah about that. It's nothing personal but I don't give out my phone number and email addresses. Like I said nothing personal but thats not what the beer fund is for. Its for people that want to buy me a beer! Hahaha. Anyway... Anyway I can help I will, but I prefer to communicate here in the comments section. It's really no different than email or texting but the best part is other people read them too. And they may have the same or similar problem so it helps them out also. Plus people that are a lot smarter than me will often offer their expertise in the matter which helps us both out. And anyone else looking for advice. So I'll send your money back and if I'm able to help out then you can buy me a beer! Sound fair?

[@herewegofans]

@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 no worries. Do you only work on your engines? I have several old outboards I need so help bring life back too. Was inquiring if you are for hire. Keep the beer money, it's beer money. I'm not salty at that, again asking if you are for hire. Thanks.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

@@herewegofans Once in awhile I will but just recently I said no more other peoples stuff for awhile! Captain Ron kept bringing me motors and then I did that guys 6 horse. Anyway, I can't get caught up on my own motors. I don't mind once in awhile and its fun and I get some videos. Do you live here locally.

[@owensbama1923]

Nothing wrong with that battery. It is working like it should per your meter. If it drops to like 7 and back up then battery is bad. I believe its the starter.

[@newmoon54]

Yes. The brushes may be making good contact sometimes,, and of course, because the armature spins fast, it sort of forces the brushes and commutators to make a slightly better fit with each other. But the solenoid could also be the problem,,, I've bought brand new solenoids and they went bad within a few weeks!!! China should stick to making MooGoo Gai Pan, Shrimp Chow Mein, and pork spare ribs!!!!!! LOL!!!!

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@mrsuarez430]

I was having an issue while I was out fishing for cubera on last Sunday night my engine wouldn't start and boats power would blink turns out it was the power switch for the battery shut off switch looked perfect until I trouble shooted to no avail checked again broke in my hands bridged it to go home popped in a new one problem solved... Might want to check if you do have one

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey Thanks!

[@georgekeats1478]

I once had erratic electric starting problems….quickly discharged battery……hesitant starting……then great starting. In my case it was the starting cables. They corroded up through themselves. The conductor in the cable turned to dust. Check the connections for cleanliness and sufficient contact between cable and post.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@newmoon54]

The brushes may be making good contact sometimes,, and of course, because the armature spins fast, it sort of forces the brushes and commutators to make a slightly better fit with each other. But the solenoid could also be the problem,,, I've bought brand new solenoids and they went bad within a few weeks!!! China should stick to making MooGoo Gai Pan, Shrimp Chow Mein, and pork spare ribs!!!!!! LOL!!!!

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks for tuning in! I'll do some swapping!

[@desmondmarais5044]

Check your Battery cables i had the same problem. then i found a break in the cable insulation and it had oxidized. Sometimes it would start perfectly other times it was sluggish.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for tuning in. Yeah need to check all!

[@buddybaumann528]

Check resistance on the positive wire from battery to the solution on motor. Resistance in the wire will temporarily reduce power from a battery

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Will do! Thanks for tuning in.

[@OutBoardTink62]

New solenoid if you havent already and cables short as possible proper gauge you know its that simple well most times it is ,LOLLL! theres many others things but not as obvious and simple...

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Yeah Baby!

[@samtate1260]

My wife’s pop up camper she says put it up so I started cranking it up and only one end comes up dam yellow jackets made the biggest nest I ever seen but they were gone thank God but they ate a hole where the bracket cranks up the back end that is why it would not work right what a mess Great job see you in the next one 👍🏻🤘🏻

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks again !

[@volunteermaupi4809]

I love reading all the comments about ur problem! I am an electrial engineer with the Dutch navy, working on special forces crafts. In my opinion the problem is caused by the cables, in this setup they are to small, you need more heavy gauge ones. The aged starter, aged contacs in the solenoid etc etc only add to the problem To answer your, what the hell is going on!! question.....Lead acid batteries become somewhat dorment when not used for some time. Normaly not a problem, batteries have more then enough cold crank amps to supply power needed in normal cases. But in this case with the thin cables, it seems, the dorment state just doesnt cut it. After aplying a load to the battery for the first time you can see on the voltmeter the voltage is getting back up, during that period the chemical procces in the battery that provides the power is getting much stronger! It doesnt show in the voltage so much, but the cold cranks increase by 10 to 20 % pushing the setup on your boat into a engine turning over! The short version?? Get bigger cables!! Greetz from The Netherlands

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks for tuning in. It's funny how I never had any problems with that battery, starter, or solenoid and all, until I move the battery 10 feet away. I think I might just put everything back where it was! Hahaha Thanks again & Stay tuned !

[@volunteermaupi4809]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 when it comes to cables...the shorter the better!

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

@@volunteermaupi4809 Wait til you see the next episode! Thanks again !

[@volunteermaupi4809]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 ur welcome! looking forward to the next episode

[@lorenkindschy7153]

Our pontoon does the same thing with standard length cables. Always starts out turning slow and then speeds up before it starts. Ive always suspected a weak starter. 1987 evinrude 50 hp.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks! Yeah I'll be checking it!

[@Wavezone304]

I start my boat with jumper cables from my car 😂.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

How do you get your car in the lake? Hahaha Thanks for tuning in!

[@Carl_Black]

Amp draw test in both cranking conditions?

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

And what are "both" cranking conditions? Thx

[@Carl_Black]

Hope this helps. Condition one slow laboring cranking. Condition two is when it sounds normal. You will need an amp clamp meter. Test the draw in several places along the wires. Close to each component you have on the power and ground.. Amp draw test can show you a component that is using too many amps and causing slow cranking. Or throw the parts you have on her, and see if it changes. I suspect a starter motor. Maybe a brush has poor connection in the starter.

[@wr0515i]

I'll come get that camper and fix it up

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

make me an offer!

[@mwatkins2464]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 $1500.

[@salteastsimon]

12.7 is good not running, 13.4 for running volts, could be a loose connection voltage drops and amps surge under a loose connection also a broken wire behind the insulation shielding

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for tuning in. Yeah, unfortunately or fortunately I should say, I'll never know just what exactly happened. In the next episode and a day of going crazy trying to figure it out, everything mysteriously went back to normal and no problems since. Crazy! Thanks again & Stay tuned !

[@salteastsimon]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 thats awesome but sketchy if it has the potential to mess up again! i work on electric motors for a living and ive seen corroded wires behind the insulation jacket so many times, or a loose crimp on a wire that would show good voltage until its put under load (starting up) then the voltage would drop or disappear to nothing or realy low volts

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

@@salteastsimon yes sketchy, but what can you do? Hahaha it goes with the territory! Thanks again !

[@doc3584]

I think you need to adjust or replace "the hen-way"! Be cool👍

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. I replaced it a few weeks ago! Haha

[@limbslapperone8810]

your starter is dragging . Take it apart and check your two shaft bushings. Look at your brushes while in there.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for tuning in. I was able to jump start it, no problem, so I think its fine. Thanks again & Stay tuned !

[@robertrabhudsonhornet5869]

It looks like to me the battery one or two cells are weak so the battery is going bad the volte should not drop as much as it is. A solenoid it works or it don't work they don't need to be energize

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Yeah crazy stuff going on. Check out the next episode! Thanks again !

[@danielrobert7181]

I tend to think that the phenomenom is either related to your starter motor and depends on where its shaft is positioned as you initially turn the key or on the phase of the compression cycle your eengine is at. Finally, your multimeter doesn't give you the full report on your battery, you still have to monitor its cranking power wich is done with a "toaster" type battery tester. Regards !

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for tuning in. Yeah Maybe I'll just put everything back where it was! Hahaha

[@stevenschumacher6972]

I know this sounds crazy but check for worn starter bushings that will cause exactly what yours is doing

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. No that doesn't sound crazy. I checked it and it seems fine. Thanks !

[@deanfulford69]

It's been a while brother good to see you

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Yeah. Where u been!

[@artstates960]

Something is drawing to many amps. Cable, connector, solenoid, starter? Good luck with the mermaid.

[@Ray56z]

Gotta watch those mermaids now days. Seen a woman sniveling about target moving the display to the back of the store. She showed the display and there was a mermaid suit with "tucking provisions' for the new women of today.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Haha Thanks again !

[@ericwallace6073]

I think it's battery! Batteries are weird they might test good but perform otherwise. It's almost like a rusty wheel ,a little stiff at first but once rust is knocked off it rolls free...I think your battery is doing something similar...try charging your battery to 100% or even a different battery

[@ericwallace6073]

It's the beginning of the death of that battery maybe!!!!

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for watching and commenting !

[@chriswatson6866]

Ever have fuel coming out of foot when trying to crank. 30 hp Johnson, all new fuel line. Won't start. I'm stumped.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for tuning in. Sounds like its flooding out and will drain out the foot. Do you have good spark. Is this a motor you just got. What year is it.

[@jskala3775]

Fuel pump diaphragm Needs rebuilt

[@AAE-cg1il]

I bet it’s the solenoid…………they start to behave intermittent when going bad………Its not behaving like a loose connection. The battery would be either good or bad……if it tests good (voltage) then it’s good. I’m convinced you need a solenoid…….

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Thanks for watching and commenting !

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

Try a different starter. Maybe after sitting it locks up inside?

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks for tuning in. Yeah will do!

[@iancameron198]

What lake is that your on.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Lake Sweattykaka right now. Hahaha. Last time I told someone they stole all my new parts! It's Fairview. Thanks for tuning in!

[@Ray56z]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 Yeah, google maps makes it easier for people to find you. When you were speed testing and using google with entering your bar and grill I just looked up that bar and grill in that city and it showed me your lake. Was wondering if you were right next to saltwater as you were the lake. I'd aimed to mention there's another app, Waze, exactly like maps, that doesn't require a destination entered to stay on, show your speed.

[@bobbyholmes3985]

Amp drops to much for some reason. Not voltage ck amps.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Intermittently ?

[@stanwilson8089]

Why not put the battery near the motor on shorter cables?If it starts,it will confirm that you need heavier cable.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Because I just moved it away from the motor and under the casting deck because it was baking in the sun! This is part 2. Thanks for tuning in.

[@Ray56z]

Blazing Florida sun can destroy everything sitting in the open. Brittles battery cases, swells up tanks, evaporating fuel leaving you with 75-80 to 1 mixture instead of 50 to 1, fouling plugs. I bought a new bucket, sat behind garage in full day sunlight. 3 weeks later I went to pick it up and shattered like a stomped on egg shell, just became a pile.

[@victorremick9721]

Battery has a bad cell You have plenty of voltage but not enough amperage.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

So, intermittent amperage? Thanks

[@iancameron198]

Starter drawing to many AMP,S

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Now we're getting somewhere!

[@smurfygoodtimes8148]

Yee Yee

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Haa haa

[@mikedougherty9165]

starter

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@victorremick9721]

Get a brand new battery not one from someone that said it,s only a year old and let you have it.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hahaha. That's not what I said, haha. It's years old, my sister and her husband bought it to use during hurricane season but never used it. It just sat in the garage on his workbench. I was using it to crank up the rv until the boat battery died and it's been in the boat for awhile now.

[@victorremick9721]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 Well get rid of it and get rid of your problem.

[@Ray56z]

Same voltage at battery and switch blocks on transom, I don't see how it's the cable size. It's dirty connections under the cowling like you thought, or something that warms up on first try then makes better contact on second attempt in the solenoid/starter. Electric-mechanical jacks on your 5th wheel, should be a crank in the front compartment that goes in the hole on the side of the RV just outside the motor for the jacks-right above the wash station. Can be a bit*h to use. The problem with the jack motor could be connections, don't get used often, or like mine doesn't work unless I'm hooked up to cable power. Try your generator on it. I installed a cargo carrier at the top of my 5th wheel prong, ran cable from my back power circuit box, have generator strapped on carrier. I got spoiled with having an onboard generator with that Cyclone. Came in handy wednesday when the power was off 5 hours in 104 degree temps, didn't have to drag generator out of my 3 car garage.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Yeah I've got to get under the hood and check the connections, between the heat and the 5th wheel its been a busy week. Yeah I know about the hand crank, thought I was gonna have a heart attack cranking it in the heat! Hahaha. It works off the 12 volt battery but the pin "hole" on the shaft broke. Should be an easy fix. Thanks again For Tuning In!

[@Ray56z]

@@THISOLDOUTBOARD1 Some reason mine works fine off the 110, also the generator, but even a brand new battery and inverter in the RV and it doesn't try to turn on. I've 110 available with a push of a starter button so I haven't tripped on solving it. I noticed that pin when buying this, wondered about it's size being so small.

[@Southwestcatfish]

Bad starter 😅

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

I will check it for sure. Thanks for tuning in!

[@howardschleinkofer4946]

bad starter

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hey. Yeah. Thanks for tuning in!

[@iancameron198]

When you say big mike.your not talking about Michelle Obama = BIG MIKE

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

Hahaha!