1998 GT-40 Starter not engaging

Last year I had relay failure which Keno and a few others assisted/solved the issue.

Cleaned battery cables and all connections thoroughly.

Tried the positive battery terminal to red cabled solenoid connection - the starter does not engage.

If all cable connections (both ends of pos and neg, all the way from the battery to the block and starter) are clean, tight and in good condition (free of corrosion and damage), then check the I/o at the relay. Make sure you have full batt voltage at the (batt) input and start terminal from the key switch... and that you get some voltage out when the key is turned. I would give the starter a good tap with a hammer as that may free it up if it’s stuck. Beyond that, it’s most likely the starter causing your issue if all else checks out.

TRBeng you wrote:
"then check the I/o at the relay. Make sure you have full batt voltage at the (batt) input and start terminal from the key switch... and that you get some voltage out when the key is turned"
Could you be a little more visual/specific for me? I'm not certain what I/o means nor what/where the batt input is.

Thanks.

TRBeng maybe it was smacking the starter with the hammer. I did that, then it started.

gt40KS wrote: Certainly wouldn't be the first.   Though it's never happened to me I've heard of this many times in older automotive, but more so in marine.

Don't I remember you having a "slow" starter Joe?

After "hammer time" I figure it's time to think about a fluff and buff on your starter or a rebuilt or a new starter.

Thanks for everybody's help. I both have anxiety at times but at the same time enjoy figuring out- with help- my Nautique issues.

oldlegbone wrote: This happened to me last year and I got an Arco starter. Fixed every issue and weighs less than half of what the old monster did which makes the installation pretty easy. If you can get the right one from overtons the coupon code water30 gives you 30% off for today and tomorrow.

One slight problem here, you had a big old monster that was original in your 87 that you replaced with a permanent magnet lightweight starter and he has a 98 that came with the permanent magnet starter as original equipment unless somebody swapped it out over the years

Charles,
If the starter fails to energize/crank the engine again, I'd be inclined to open it up and check/clean up the commutator and check the condition of the brushes.

gt40KS wrote: I seem to recall someone offering up the suggestion to me a couple years ago of buying a new one to get a me running reliably now.   Then take the old one and rebuild it in my spare time so I'd have a back-up.   Not a bad idea for you Charles.

I like the way that guy thinks

Sounds like you are on the way to recovery.
My Brother has a 460 Ford powered Keaton Jet boat, he took on water and the starter got wet for several hours causing starter failure. We were camping for several days and just wanted it to run on this trip.. While he turned the key I hammered on the starter case and it started. If I did not hammer it did not turn.
After this trip a rebuild made his reliable again. ( he hates to turn wrenches so it went to a shop) For that weekend if he wanted to run we had to hammer. Not hard enough to damage anything, I think the vibration gets the brushes to connect but that is a guess.
The old hammer trick has been working for years but does not fix anything.

So KENO - and others - my starter is still intermittently not engaging. Given what we've discussed/done about is the starter rebuild seemingly the logical path at this point?

A rebuild or get a new one and then you can play "I wanna be like Pete" and tear the old one apart and see what ails it.

The permanent magnet starters are fairly straightforward to take apart and get back together too, but unless you're comfortable with the process then get it rebuilt or get a new one, then do some learning with the old one.

Since you've already checked all the other stuff like connections and the engine mounted relay, you might just try replacing the starter mounted solenoid also. You can get them separately and they're an easy swap. That would be the one mounted to the starter, not the one on the back of the engine.

So as a followup to this...

We began a a long traveling trip and I did not buy a starter. I got home and literally once again began cleaning all my connections, which I had done before, but this time with a vengeance. The boat is cranking.

I suspected from many of the posts from those knowledgable helpers here who obvious know/suspect things....that there was suspicion that it was not my starter, that I was not doing something that I could be doing to make this boat start without getting a new starter and solonoid.

Fingers crossed, but it has started wonderfully the last 2 times we used the boat, since getting all the connections very bright and clean.

Where is the best spot to check voltage from turning the key switch?