Finicky starter

[Jim]

My starter works fine when starting a cold engine that has been sitting over night, but when I want to return to the dock after a short sail I have to bump the engine with the starter a couple of times before it will turn over. It will not turn completely over on the initial push of the button. I have to release the button and hit it again to get the engine to turn over. It always goes the second time, but it always scares me. If I had to, I could always pull the compression release to get it to spin. Someone has told me that I might have dripping injectors! Can anyone shed any light on this?

 

[Paul Akers]

Check the Archives

A dicussion on this occurred about 6 weeks ago. I was involved in that discussion, also. The same thing was happening to me until I put in a new starter button on the panel. It seems like the contacts may have been worn in the button mechanism. I changed it for $25 and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Gordon Torresen]

Bump?

When you state that you have to "bump" the engine a few times, I visualize the starter trying to crank the engine but coming up against resistance. If this is a correct image, you should check your anti siphon system for the engine cooling water. It could be that at certain angles of heel you are getting water back into the muffler, thence to the top of a piston. A bump or two with the starter can sometimes get rid of the water past the piston rings or out through a bad valve, allowing the engine to start. Actuating the compression release gets rid of the water pronto. If the engine does not turn at all while being bumped, it's a whole different kettle.