96 Sportster Starting Issues

[Thunderkat13]

So I rush home from work today to take the boat out.. I trickle charge the battery just to keep her full. (Yes its disconnected from the boat) I am in a hurry so i dont bother dry starting the boat at the house, instead I load the cooler of beer, the lifejackets and the new tube and hit the road. I pull up to the ramp at the lake back down towards stop put the plugs in unhook all the leashes and back her up into the water. The boats floating as I go ahead to fire her up. I go through my routine, turn gas on, attach lanyard, ensure the boat is in neutral with 1/4 throttle and choke on to get her warmed up.. I press the start button after hearing my two chirps and get a loud clunk noise from the starter/flywheel area (Im assuming).. so I go again.. clunk clunk but nothing is happening, the motor just isnt turning over. I pop the hatch and check all my grounds, and leads, and everything is snug as a bug.. I keep trying for about 10 minutes when i realize I can not solve this problem at the ramp... So I pack up and head home. I get to the garage and tinker a little and by a little i mean I disconnect the battery, check it, full, and reinstall it and press the start button a few more times (on the 6th) the boat fires over and idles perfect....
So my question is what could have caused this issue... The boat was running amazing 2 weeks ago, when I washed,waxed, and topped off all fluids. (Oil and Gas). So Im working posting this video to let you guys hear what the sound I was talking about.. (May have to be uploaded tomorrow from work, not working yet)

Any help is greatly appreciated, I love this boat but just hate it not being 100%

 

[pincusa]

I'm guessing you had a bad battery connection and don't have the power to crank the engine. Check to see how corroded your battery posts and connectors are. Instead of removing the battery connections, install a disconnect that will switch off the battery.

 

[Thunderkat13]

The post of the battery are spotless..... no corrosion at all..
as for battery conection, I had a solid connection or atleast I think I did.. I didn't get a battery dead click noise when i pressed the button I got a loud clunk as if the starter wheel was not meshing with the flywheel..
Does that created a better picture in your head?

 

[Thunderkat13]

Video of the noise ...

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[Thunderkat13]

Video of the noise ...

Loud Noise

2nd Video boat fires up after I cut camera off
Loud Noise then suddenly starts

 

[Dr Honda]

OK… If your battery was very weak… the computer would reset and you would get error beeps. (I just put in a new battery in my boat, and that's what was happening) So, I would say:

1) Your starter is on it’s way out, and need replaced or rebuilt.
2) Something in your pump got tight, and is making it hard to rank your engine. (try moving the flywheel by hand to see if it’s tight)
3) Your battery cables are building resistance. Just because they look clean doesn’t mean that they aren’t breaking down inside of the casing.

If it were my boat… I would first do #2… then do #1. Number 3 would be if the new starter doesn’t help.

Good luck

 

[Thunderkat13]

Ok.. I will look into all of the above starting with 2 1 3 and then moving on...
Thanks for the help, did the videos work ?

 

[hosshenry]

I agree the starter is going out. Its because of the moisture. It happens from time to time. Sometime if the cables are getting corroded they will get hard to bend. But in the video it sounded just like the starter. Wouldn't mess with the cables.

 

[Thunderkat13]

Took the boat back out today and didnt have any problems at all...
Started right up...
So I went ahead and ordered a starter just incase..
I was wondering if the new starter would need shims or not..