omc v4 help needed, slow cranking

**flabum1017** · 03-09-2017, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by 58Evinrude

Jumpers are ok going from battery to battery, but for carrying the load to a starter they aren't the best, just cause they aren't bolted at the connections.

I have a set of 2 gauge battery cables just for this type of testing. I'll bypass the boat, use the test battery cables 3' long attached straight to the engine and the battery sitting next to the engine. (being a boat mechanic, I have this already set up). with a 1000 amp battery and 2 gauge cables, if it don't spin right, there's a problem in the engine or engine electrical.

Speaking of batteries.... what CCA is the battery you are using?

**58Evinrude** · 03-09-2017, 10:45 PM

Yup, I've made up something similar for my testing. I run to the solenoid, then power it to crank the motor.

**DanUmbarger** · 03-09-2017, 10:59 PM

I also have a set of 4 ga. cables hanging on the wall for just this type of problem.

**nohasslekindaguy** · 03-10-2017, 07:48 AM

Thanks. Those are all really good tips. I didn't notice any side to side play in the crank. I was using a new marine starting battery, I believe it's 525 cca. It's the biggest I could find locally.

**rjdubiel** · 03-10-2017, 09:50 AM

Nohasslekindaguy, to your knowledge has this motor ever started? Have you seen it start? If its not the battery cables I am really thinking the starter is bad. That is assuming your battery is good. When I got my viper with a 140 omc on it, I got it home, hooked up the battery it had with it and it did the same thing, just turned slow, went and got a new battery, 1000cca, same. The starter looked new, the bendix had hardly no marks on the teeth. I had an old one that came with the boat, put the old one on and good to go! started the motor no problem.

**Euroski** · 03-10-2017, 11:22 AM

Before you spend $$$ do a voltage drop test on the cables. Using a digital voltmeter... for testing the (+) cable put one lead on the battery (+) post and the other on the starter (+) post and crank engine. Then make a note of the voltage on meter. Testing the (-) put one lead on the battery (-) post and the other on the engine block and crank the engine and also note the voltage. Post your results here!

**phillnjack** · 03-10-2017, 12:32 PM

the battery I use now on my evinrude 70hp is 660 cca I had a perfect 500 cca that would start it, but at a much slower spinning rate.
if the starter dont spin fast its draws even more power and will quickly drain a battery due to heat.
to ask a 550 to start the older v4 is asking a lot I think.
my friend has a 850cca battery for his v4 and that spins it over nice and quick.

what does the actual service manual call for with that motor ? I would think above 600cca .
I do know they realy are a greedy starter motor for amps to start a cold V4 crossflow engine.

**nohasslekindaguy** · 03-10-2017, 12:46 PM

Thanks again for the help. No, I have not seen it run. It was bought as is. Previous owner used it 2 years ago and said it pushed the boat about 70mph. I don't remember seeing a cca spec in the shop manual. I think they rated a battery in amp/hours or something like that. I wasn't familiar with it. I may need to go bigger on the battery but I am going to make a new set of cables first. I will also check the voltage drop. That was a good tip.

**58Evinrude** · 03-10-2017, 01:04 PM

Its hard to find marine batteries bigger than about 525 cca. Thats what I use, and they start all my cross flows and loopers, including my V8.

**rjdubiel** · 03-10-2017, 01:19 PM

I had a light weight odessy in it when i got my viper with the V4, though that was the issue since it did the same think after a charging. So I went to Interstate for a standard starter marine battery, I thought it was 1000 cca but now that I look it is 800 cca. But that did not show any difference, so i changed the starter to the old one and it worked. Battery cables are somewhat cheap if not too long, change those out, make sure you have a good ground. But I am still betting starter.

**nohasslekindaguy** · 03-10-2017, 03:03 PM

I will try all your suggestions and will let you know what happens.

**flabum1017** · 03-10-2017, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by 58Evinrude

Its hard to find marine batteries bigger than about 525 cca. Thats what I use, and they start all my cross flows and loopers, including my V8.

The marine batteries we sell here at work are 700 cca for a 24 series battery and 1000 cca for a 27 series battery.

**58Evinrude** · 03-10-2017, 06:09 PM

I guess they figure we don't need high cca batteries here in the great white north?

**Euroski** · 03-10-2017, 06:13 PM

Check this out from www.batteriesplus a 955 marine cranking amps. I need one for my boat this year. AGM and 48yr replacement warranty and under $200!

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sli34magm