Engine will not crank and required charging time

[Omatako]

First run a jumper cable from the +ve battery terminal to the starter motor +ve post and try starting. No luck? Try the neg to neg connection and try starting again. This will eliminate a dodgy main cable.

Then try a jumper wire from the solenoid connection to the +ve starter post. If the wiring is faulty it should now show a reaction.

If still no reaction, try a jumper cable between the two posts on the starter. If the starter spins the solenoid is faulty.

If all of this fails to show something then take some of the other advice above and by a multimeter. Not all electrical problems need one though.

I had a battery cable that looked new and when I finally discovered it was dodgy and took it off, it was so corroded inside the sleeve it was like holding a stick. Like all other things electrical, one day it worked, the next it didn't.

Finally after the overheating issues you mention, try turning the engine by hand - and pray it isn't siezed.

[ekenna]

Update
Last night went down to the boat. I moved the pulley driver by hand to check that it was not siezed. I started with the battery and worked through the wires to the solenoid checking the voltage. I checked the voltage at the wire that runs from the key switch when it was turned in the start position. I then checked the voltage on other terminal on the solenoid that goes starter. These all shows the 12.5 volts that were on the battery. Still nothing from the starter. I tried the decompress lever. Still nothing. Then I tapped both the starter and the solenoid and then decompressed and it started. I know this means I need to replace either the solenoid or the starter soon. So where am I going to get a starter for a rebuild universal 11 hp?

[JiffyLube]

I don't know where you can get a new starter, but I know old ones can be rebuilt.

Originally Posted by ekenna

Update
Last night went down to the boat. I moved the pulley driver by hand to check that it was not siezed. I started with the battery and worked through the wires to the solenoid checking the voltage. I checked the voltage at the wire that runs from the key switch when it was turned in the start position. I then checked the voltage on other terminal on the solenoid that goes starter. These all shows the 12.5 volts that were on the battery. Still nothing from the starter. I tried the decompress lever. Still nothing. Then I tapped both the starter and the solenoid and then decompressed and it started. I know this means I need to replace either the solenoid or the starter soon. So where am I going to get a starter for a rebuild universal 11 hp?