Expert: tyler boehner - 2/17/2008

Question
Have a 79 evinrude lark just got the boat. It had been sitting up for about 6 months and was running fine when was put up. I put a battery in and hit the key and starter would barely turn it(was dragging). Take the plugs out and would turn it fine. Got a rebuilt starter put it on first thing it tried to crank, went dead got it back going then the same. After about 4 times did the same thing as the old one. Talk to the place i got the starter they said didn't sound like it had 12 volts going to it. Went to wal-mart got some good battery terminals. Put them on same as the first time about 3 times of cranking started dragging again. About 2 hours later it start up turn it off a couple time same thing(dragging). What would make this happen motor or starter. Kindda worried i need to return the boat.:-(

Answer
First of all, check the battery voltage at the starter when the starter is cranking.  Make sure you have good voltage at the positive side of the starter while cranking over to make sure you aren't loosing voltage somewhere along the way between the battery and starter.  Second, it may be flooding out and hydrolocking the engine.  If the engine floods out really bad, the cylinders will fill with gas and make it hard cranking.  When it starts to drag, pull out the spark plugs and turn it over again.  If gas comes out, more than just a mist, you don't have a starter problem, you have a carb problem.