TomCat Yamaha 100 won't start

G

GxK

New member
Just before we launched our TomCat 24 the other day for another season, I discovered the port Yamaha 100 would not start. No ignition buzz, no engine instruments, no tilt power, no nothing. Clearly, an electrical failure somewhere as the batteries are freshly charged.

Tomorrow, we start a systematic search for the problem. Any suggestions where to look first? Any guesses as to what the problem may be?

--Georgs
 
You should have a main engine fuse under the cowling..so start checking there...and work your way back to the battery and then the control box..key switch.
 
I think starting with the battery terminals is a good idea. Grab the cable, wiggle it sideways and see if it moves on the battery.
The battery cables must be tight enough to not move on the battery terminal.

If you have wingnuts, tighten them with pliers. Hand tightening wing nuts is not good enough.

See if the tilt works on the good motor without the ignition switch on. If so, and it does not work on the no start motor, then something is interrupting the electricity between the battery and the motor.
 
Larry H":12rfg5w4 said:
...

If you have wingnuts, tighten them with pliers. Hand tightening wing nuts is not good enough.

...
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This caused one of my brief "engine failures" as well. Be careful the other end of the pliers do not contact the other terminal.

Also - note the cut off switch at the helm make sure that is OK.

Then check fuses.

Then multi meter along the electrical path.

Good luck.
 
Also, make sure you are really in "neutral" on that engine. Sometimes the shifter can be just a little bit out of position, there is a microswitch in the shift mechanism. If that happens, it'll seem dead. Matt, the same thing that happened to you near the rocks, in another thread! :cry

charlie
 
Not having power tilt suggests that the problem may be with the main power (battery circuit) On my Yahama the tilt will work even without the ignition key or clip.

See the posts above about connections and tachometer--start with the batteries, wire brush, cleaner, and finally a corrosion preventer. I go with hex nuts over the wing nuts.

Also put a digital volt meter on the battery as you try tilt. Do other instruments in the boat work.

Now to prevent this problem--you need to spend the winters in Florida--and boat every day!
 
thataway":1mpqgbzk said:
Now to prevent this problem--you need to spend the winters in Florida--and boat every day!
Click to expand...

Thanks to all for your suggestions, and to Bob for the best idea of them all.

Heading down to the boat now. The fuses and ignition clip were checked right away. As the tilt doesn't work, we'll start with the main power source and circuit.

--Georgs
 
Yep, this is how it starts, the slow descent into senility:

After six months on the hard, one forgets there are TWO battery switches that need to be turned on for both engines to start.

:oops:
 
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