2003 gtx starter will not engage.

[spotthedog]

Hi all,
I have a pair of 2003 gtx. Ran great last season. Bought them from a one owner, about 85 hours on one, 115 on the other. Life being what it is, this is the first time to get them back in the water. Stored in a heated garage in Nashville. I did not put the batteries on a tender, so one failed to charge up. I ordered two batteries; Deka Sports Power ETX-30L Replaced them thinking life is good. One fired right up immediately, the other did not. Solenoid is engaging. Tested the voltage, 12.85. Polished the battery terminal connectors. Click. Connected a 50amp charger. Click but no start. Swapped out the battery with the one that did start. Click but no start. The manual I have says to replace the starter, you need to pull the motor. I am thinking that the solenoid is OK since there is a very loud click, but I have not tested. My thoughts are that if I could get the starter to turn over a few times, I would be good. Any help here would be appreciated, thanks for any thoughts here. If I do have to pull the motor, any preventive maintenance that I should also perform?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Take a ball peen hammer and tap on the starter. Not trying to break it, just jar it a bit.

Pull the plugs, make sure the cylinders are not full of water.

 

[Coastiejoe]

If the above doesn't solve the issue, then the next thing to do is pull the pump. Your bearings may have seized. If so, the engine can't crank.

All this assumes that the solenoid is in fact engaging. You can jump the solenoid with a screwdriver. This would give power to the starter. If it cranks. Bad solenoid most likely.