Loose positive terminal inside ETEC-60

[mastreb]

Went to launch the boat today. I dipped the boat in the water, put the engine down, and went to start it and it seemed dead as a doornail. It suddenly wouldn't lift either. It had seemed fine when I lowered it, not weak at all, so I suspected a short. My voltmeter confirmed 12.75VDC at the battery, which means its not low. I tightened the screw-down terminals, and retried starting to no avail. I then took off the motor cowl and heard the engine "beep" on in the helm pedestal behind me. I was then able to lift the motor, but the starter clicked rather than starting (a classic sign of lack of cranking amps).

So I traced the cable and it became immediately obvious that the positive cable terminal inside the motor was loose. This is a bolt/lug/nut assembly where the nut was loose. I tightened it down with a wrench, and sure enough all problems were solved.

This particular connection is made when the engine is installed, and it must have been never much more than finger-tight from the dealer. It's tight now, but check yours. It's on the port side of the motor and very obvious.

[Wayne nicol]

thank you sir
will check mine in the morning!!

[cptron]

Thanks, will check mine in morning also. It seems to be hesitating when starting after it has set awhile. I thought the battery might be going weak but will check and see if a loose connection is the problem.

[Ormonddude]

Clean the hull out of them once a month or so or use dielectric grease to keep them from fouling

[Boblee]

Crikey had a similar experience on the weekend, not in the boat but in the truck, after spending some time on battery issues around the campfire and extolling my new batteries at duck opening went to start the truck after it had sat there for two days with the fridge hooked up to the two 100AH batteries and click.
Tried a few times and nothing, thought I was going to be in for a real razzing until I tried again and it turned over perfectly so checked the battery and noticed the holding bracket hanging loose, the terminals looked ok and battery tested 12.5v, haven't checked it yet but reckon it will be loose terminals from the corrugated road.
Hopefully