| Author |
Message |
    
Jim McLean
New member
Username: jimmy20
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 10:04 pm: | 
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New guy here, so bear with me.
I pulled the boat out today to get ready for the spring and summer. I put the battery in it, and got no power to anything except the outdrive tilt. Not even the instruments or engine buzzer were working. Obviously, the engine had no juice either. I troubleshot down to a plastic-coated "block" mounted on the starter that the "hot wire" ran from the starter to the rest of the engine through. It has one end of it mounted under the battery lead on the starter post, and the other end has the wire to the circuit breaker on top of the engine mounted on it. There was a small metal "filament" sandwiched in it that was broken. I jumped that filament and all was normal. The engine fired right up and ran great.
Can someone tell me what that item is and if there is any problem running the engine with it this way. It seems there should be enough circuit protection in the system without this. My last boat did not have this device installed, and all was well(but it was 20 years old).
Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can provide.
Jim |
Bt Doctur
Advanced Member
Username: bt_doctur
Post Number: 217
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 10:13 pm: |
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I think it`s a 90A link. And your right, earlier versions did not have this. Remove it and your better with the direct connection. |
Bt Doctur
Advanced Member
Username: bt_doctur
Post Number: 218
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 10:15 pm: |
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http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/Merc_Schematics/140%20GM%20181I-L4%201972-1978 /3332138_5157668/STARTER%20MOTOR-ALTERNATOR.pdf |
Jim McLean
New member
Username: jimmy20
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 10:04 am: |
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Thanks for the response. I just wonder why it went out. It looks like a weak point in the system, so that makes me leary right off the bat. The last thing anyone needs is a weak point that will make a fun day on the water longer due to maintenance. Again, Thank you.
Jim |
Bondo
Advanced Member
Username: bondo
Post Number: 958
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 10:08 am: |
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Ayuh,......
That's just Another, Lawyer driven Safety feature.....
I usualy just give them a "Float Test",+ attach the wire directly to the Starter....... |
captduck
Visitor
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - 10:55 pm: |
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i just replaced mine. It was only $23. i had the same symptoms as you. It was there for a reason. I replaced to keep everything as original. Not bad for the price to keep as it came from factory. it is a 90 amp starter fuse assembly. It blew for a reason! |
Jim McLean
New member
Username: jimmy20
Post Number: 3
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 06:32 pm: |
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Does anyone know what it is actually designed to protect, and what could have made it blow. Now I'm just curious bacause I'm anal about the little things...sorry. My wife loves to pick on me about it. |
Todd Moore
Advanced Member
Username: concritter
Post Number: 138
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 06:45 pm: |
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Yoo Bondo,
So did it float?hahahah.....You are just too cool....Todd |
Bondo
Advanced Member
Username: bondo
Post Number: 987
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 09:13 pm: |
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Nope,..... Not a 1,..... Yet anyways..... |
Guy Gaspar
Senior Member
Username: guyjg
Post Number: 1973
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 10:40 am: |
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Jim:
Fuses are designed to "LIMIT" the current in a wire to the max. capability of the wire, just like a house. If a component in the circuit draws current over the limit...it blows. Causes: worn starter, dirty or corroded wire connections create resistance, etc. |
Jim McLean
Member
Username: jimmy20
Post Number: 4
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 08:54 pm: |
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Hence my irritation with the problem. The boat is only 1 year old. I wonder if it happenned when I reconnected the battery wire to "de-winterize" it. I checked all my wires while I was troubleshooting to find the problem in the first place, and all connections are good. I put a light coat of grease on the engine connections when I winterized it. I guess it was just one of those things.
Well, thanks for the replies, guys. May as well let this thread die a quiet death now.
Take it easy, Jim |
