Sucked up rope - engine won’t turn

[FLJetBoater]

So I sucked up an anchor rope tonight.....fun. Managed to get it in both engines. Immediately shut both down. It wasn’t wrapped in there very tight at all and I managed to get it all out quite easily from the clean out ports. However, now the starboard engine won’t turn over when I turn the key. I kept playing with it and if I turn it quickly like 3/4 times it will eventually turn and start up. I opened the engine hatch and each time I turn the key I can hear a small click back there. If I just keep doing it slowly over and over it will just keep clicking and never start but if I do the rapid turns it seems to catch and start. No issues on port side. Any thoughts?

 

[Julian]

Strange. Assuming the two are related I'd be checking the clean out hatch push buttons. Then I'd pull the kill switch and replace it a few times.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Strange. Assuming the two are related I'd be checking the clean out hatch push buttons. Then I'd pull the kill switch and replace it a few times.

With kill switch it would still turn right? Just not start. In this case it’s just a little click and no turn over.
Not sure what the behavior is for the clean out hatch buttons?

 

[biglar155]

This seems pretty odd that it's only on one side and that the motor eventually starts if you keep fiddling with the key.

A click with no rotation seems like a low battery voltage or a starter acting wonky. The wonky starter theory is furthered by the fact that jiggling the key gets it going.

Maybe a piece of rope is left in there somewhere binding it just enough to make it difficult for the starter to turn. It's just not enough to prevent the shaft from turning if the engine manages to fire.

Just "thinking out loud" here.

 

[Drift Away]

With kill switch it would still turn right? Just not start. In this case it’s just a little click and no turn over.
Not sure what the behavior is for the clean out hatch buttons?

If the kill switch is activated from the clean out ports it'll do nothing, not crank, you'll turn the key in get absolutely nothing as if you were neutral.

 

[Drift Away]

Time to get the goggles and a knife out and go swimming or limp back to the dock was one motor.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Time to get the goggles and a knife out and go swimming or limp back to the dock was one motor.

No we got both engines running....they seem to be fine when they’re actually running. It’s only getting it started.

 

[FLJetBoater]

If the kill switch is activated from the clean out ports it'll do nothing, not crank, you'll turn the key in get absolutely nothing as if you were neutral.

Interesting. I’ll take a look at it and see.

 

[FLJetBoater]

This seems pretty odd that it's only on one side and that the motor eventually starts if you keep fiddling with the key.

A click with no rotation seems like a low battery voltage or a starter acting wonky. The wonky starter theory is furthered by the fact that jiggling the key gets it going.

Maybe a piece of rope is left in there somewhere binding it just enough to make it difficult for the starter to turn. It's just not enough to prevent the shaft from turning if the engine manages to fire.

Just "thinking out loud" here.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the batteries were a bit low. We were starting and stopping over and over trying to see what would work to start it and what wouldn’t. If it stops raining I’ll go hook up the charger and check the voltage. But, I would expect that to affect both engines the same?
I’m maybe more inclined to believe there could still be something slightly stuck in there preventing it from turning. I tried to pull the pumps a few weeks ago but couldn’t get them out after undoing the bolts. Might have to revisit that and get them winched to the truck....

what would cause a starter to act wonky all of a sudden?

 

[FLJetBoater]

This seems pretty odd that it's only on one side and that the motor eventually starts if you keep fiddling with the key.

A click with no rotation seems like a low battery voltage or a starter acting wonky. The wonky starter theory is furthered by the fact that jiggling the key gets it going.

Maybe a piece of rope is left in there somewhere binding it just enough to make it difficult for the starter to turn. It's just not enough to prevent the shaft from turning if the engine manages to fire.

Just "thinking out loud" here.

I just went out and tried again...Turned over fine first try. I’m baffled.

also I hooked up the charger And it said 100% but I pressed the start button to start charging anyway and it dropped and said 70%. Not sure why that would happen....

 

[mrcleanr6]

You cant really go by what the charger says. The batteries need to be load tested to see if they hold voltage under a load. funny this all happened when the rope got stuck. I somehow get the feeling its just coincidence this problem started with the rope. This sounds like a starter relay going, a bad or loose connection from the battery to the motor or you have a dead spot in the starter.

 

[FLJetBoater]

You cant really go by what the charger says. The batteries need to be load tested to see if they hold voltage under a load. funny this all happened when the rope got stuck. I somehow get the feeling its just coincidence this problem started with the rope. This sounds like a starter relay going, a bad or loose connection from the battery to the motor or you have a dead spot in the starter.

Is this a DIY thing or a dealership thing? I’m fairly handy. Replaced steering cables, etc. spark plugs oil changes etc. never toyed with a starter before.

 

[mrcleanr6]

What motors?

 

[FLJetBoater]

What motors?

2014....so the 1.8L

 

[mrcleanr6]

I Have an svho in my ski. Its been awhile since ive had the cover off but yamaha usually puts the starter relay in the electronics box where the ecu is located. Someone correct me if i am wrong. That should be an easy swap. That is what you hear clicking when the key is turned. The starter on the hand may be a little trouble or may not be. It depends on how much access you have to it in your boat. If access is easy then its usually just disconnect 1 wire and take out 2 bolts. These are just some options i an giving you to look into. These can be tested with a voltmeter while someone turns the keyswitch. Dead spots in starters are not uncommon though. I have had a couple over tue years do this. They stop spinning on the dead spot then you get nothing.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

So I sucked up an anchor rope tonight.....fun. Managed to get it in both engines. Immediately shut both down. It wasn’t wrapped in there very tight at all and I managed to get it all out quite easily from the clean out ports. However, now the starboard engine won’t turn over when I turn the key. I kept playing with it and if I turn it quickly like 3/4 times it will eventually turn and start up. I opened the engine hatch and each time I turn the key I can hear a small click back there. If I just keep doing it slowly over and over it will just keep clicking and never start but if I do the rapid turns it seems to catch and start. No issues on port side. Any thoughts?

@FLJetBoater .....click: 1. starter solenoid 2. low battery 3. ground (engine, ignition, battery)

 

[FLJetBoater]

@FLJetBoater .....click: 1. starter solenoid 2. low battery 3. ground (engine, ignition, battery)

I was getting 1 click then nothing. Was out all afternoon today on the boat. Started first time every time. Whatever it was seems to have gone away....I did however have my starter battery on the charger all night. When I hooked it up it said 100%, then I hit start charging and it went to 70%. Let it sit on it overnight and showed 100 when I came out this morning.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

I was getting 1 click then nothing. Was out all afternoon today on the boat. Started first time every time. Whatever it was seems to have gone away....I did however have my starter battery on the charger all night. When I hooked it up it said 100%, then I hit start charging and it went to 70%. Let it sit on it overnight and showed 100 when I came out this morning.

@FLJetBoater ......could be a loose ground wire that acts-up intermittently?