My tohatsu has a start problem at the moment. It struggles to turn over as if the battery is flat. The problem was solved before by dismantling the starter motor and carefully cleaning the commutator with fine emery cloth. The problem however reared its ugly head again off sconce in the solent and so I had to get a tow back into yarmouth
I have come to the conclusion that the starter motor is knackered as it cannot produce enough power to turn over under load. The brushes may just need changing but not too sure.