Check all connections and make sure they are clean and good and tight.
Tighten the battery connections with pliers (not just by hand).
Next charge the battery. If it is low (which it probably is from working on
the bilge) it will not have enough current to spin the motor over.
Or you can jump it off with the car/truck and make sure the engine spins
that way.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
"Tim Kelley" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm wondering if anyone has any input on a not-able-to-start problem
I now have with a 2002 Yamaha 115 4-stroke. When I turn the key the
starter solenoid gear extends and engages the outboard's flywheel,
but it won't turn the flywheel. At the same time the tach LED display
goes blank. I can wrap the emergency starter rope around the flywheel
and turn it. There is a lot of compression - so it's hard to pull
and I can't get it started this way either. But I know that the
engine is not seized up.

I checked the 4 fuses on the outboard. All fuses look good.

I was working on the automatic bilge pump float switch prior to these
problems. While doing this I disconnected and reconnected the power to
the outboard. Perhaps this did something?

Any ideas? Think I need a new starter? I did not check the batter
voltage yet - could that be why the solenoid engages, but doesn't
turn the flywheel? Any other diagnostics ideas?

Thanks,

TK
Anchorage, AK