Hey all,
Just bought my first mud motor, a 2002 18hp gdlt. Had the guy I bought it off of run it for me and it ran like a champ when he showed it to me.

Got it home and just bought a new battery for it. The battery place recommended a small atv/lawnmower/snowmobile battery. Assumed they knew what they were talking about so I bought it. Got the motor mounted onto a boat trailer to do some work on it and when I went to start it......nuthing nada zip.

I charged the battery and still nothing. The other odd thing is the post for the battery are square and the battery connection for the motor are circular.

Is this battery too small? I would think at least it would try to turn it over but I may be wrong...

Any help folks?
Lookinup

I would put a regular size or marine grade battery on it.

Are you absolutely sure that you have the battery cables hooked up good & they're still connected to the motor good also? Even if the cranking amps is too small, which I doubt (it's just an 18 hp motor), it should still at least try to turn over. Sounds like it's not hooked up good.

Good Ideas,

As I stated the posts on the battery are square, the hookups on the motor are round........i got them tight but its still a round ring on a square post....lol
I got a buddy coming over tomorrow to take a look. He is a wiz on small engines so I will tell him any suggestions I get on here.

Lookinup

X2 on pics.

I would try to put a bigger battery also may check if it has a mercury switch I don't what engine use them. Also make sure the kill switch is properly engaged.

Shit!!! I didn't even think about the mercury switch!!!! That'll do it for sure. Kill switch would let it turn over, but not fire.

I believe this model has a mercury switch...... according to go devils website.

How level does the motor need to be ref the merc switch?

I checked the kill switch and it appears to my untrained eye to be ok.

Cant post pics but here is a link to the battery i bought......see the square posts?

http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=503

Lookinup

The shaft needs to be either level or prop higher than level for the merc switch.

Yep - key is totally disabled on the GD untill you
raise the prop up out of water - then it will allow
engagement of the starter....

Thanks all,

Got it running right today! Combination of position on trailer and once we got it started, it wouldnt stay running. My buddy came over who is an engine wiz and we couldnt get it to stay started. Turns out the float was sticking, tap with the hammer and off she went.

Runs really good now with old spark plugs, dirty air filter and original fuel tank. Gonna replace them all plus go to synthetic oil and a new oil filter. My buddy is going to do a compression check for sheetz and giggles. He already wants to do a new exhaust, but this will be a hunting motor so it cant be too loud.

Thanks all for the help!
Lookinup

You cant sneak ducks in a mudboat, make that bish scream!

Its gunna perform better since it can breathe

that tappin to fix the float may haunt you one day, i would rebuild the carb or at the very least, run some sea foam through it. its gonna leave u at the VERY WORST PLACE it can too