HELP! My Optimax wont start...

[amr72]

I had an electrical problem last week (bad shore power cord and switch left on at the helm resulted in damaged batteries). Anyway, I replaced all three batteries (two starts and one house) with new ones that exceed the minimum requirements for CCAs and now one of my motors will not start. I took the cowling off and when I turn the key, the starter's small gear wheel which pops up and spins the fly wheel to start the motor does just that--it pops up and spins-but VERY SLOWLY-not nearly fast enough to start the motor. My question is, does this sound like an electrical issue or a starter issue? Could I have fouled something up in the battery switching, short in the harness, or some other electrical problem? Anyway some help would be appreciated...

[deeper]

switch batteries around if it does not start switch starters. isolate problem then repair.

[prober]

Are you sure you replaced all wires correctly?

[fountain-boy]

sounds like you missed a ground wire going to one of the batteries.

[ScarabChris]

Yeah or just a bac connection with one of the battery cables.

[carbo]

fountain-boy - 10/15/2008 8:21 PM

sounds like you missed a ground wire going to one of the batteries.

Seen this a dozen times....look behind for the cable you missed reattaching. Or clean the cable ends better.

[potty dock]

Battery problem. starters don't usually go that quick, starter is spinning without enough centrifugal force to engage the bendix. Sounds like bad connection or low battery to me!

[timebandit]