mercruiser inboard starter issue

[wellcraft rookie]

I have a 1987 Wellcraft 192classic with a 4 cylinder mercruiser inboard engine. Here's my issue. I bought the boat. hooked up the muffs and water at home, started it no problem quite a few times and had the engine running beautifully so I headed out to the water. put boat in water, went to start it then realized through my excitement I drove it there (2 miles) with battery switch on and key still in ignition
(not in on position ) went to start it and the starter clicked. I had a mobile mechanic come to my house and he said what I knew already that the starter was fried and needed to be rebuilt. He charged me $300 took the starter and disappeared. after 3 weeks I got a hold of him and got him to just drop it off. He said the entire thing was fried and he rebuilt the entire thing. I installed it myself. It seemed pretty obvious 4 big wires to big terminal and small wire to solenoid. it started right up but once given gas there was a ping in engine that wasn't there before and when i went to kill it the motor wouldn't shut off. after jiggling key on and off it finally died. I tried it again a few times always same result until on the 4th try i turned key and lost all power. after doing some basic trial tests i find that if I unhook the solenoid wire and the battery's that I have full power again once I hook battery's back up but the second I touch the solenoid wire to it's terminal I have a loud click and a spark then all power is lost again. Anyone know my issue and how to resolve it?

 

[makomark]

I'd suspect something is amiss in the wiring and you have a significant current draw....4 big wires to the big post seems like too many for the factory setup....it is possible somebody selected the big post for their source of 12VDC....

do you have a clamp on amp meter?

 

[Bt Doctur]

most times what you describe is caused by a bad ground cable. being a 470 with the alt conversion you should have:
battery cable
engine system power
alt feed
trim pump feed

 

[fastjeff]

It appears that guy screwed you royally!

Jeff

 

[kghost]

First off if you looked here for a NEW starter for your motor you would have found it for ~ $195 +/-

Look here.

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/m...4/6218037-thru-6916778/starter-motor-assembly

Also if you were to look on Ebay there are many new for much less.

Look here

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...0&_nkw=18-5907+-+STARTER,+50-72550R2&_sacat=0

Here is a schematic for your motor,

The orange wire from the old rectifier is now the wire from your alternator. I assume you have a one wire alternator so that out put goes to the positive post of the battery or the large stud on the starter.

 

[fishy1]

First off if you looked here for a NEW starter for your motor you would have found it for ~ $195 +/-

Look here.

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/m...4/6218037-thru-6916778/starter-motor-assembly

Also if you were to look on Ebay there are many new for much less.

Look here

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...0&_nkw=18-5907+-+STARTER,+50-72550R2&_sacat=0

Here is a schematic for your motor,

The orange wire from the old rectifier is now the wire from your alternator. I assume you have a one wire alternator so that out put goes to the positive post of the battery or the large stud on the starter.

I would stay far far away from sierra starters if you are going to put your boat in water. It will rust, and stop working within 3 months. I have twin 470's both original starters went out within a month of each other. And the first replacement lasted 3 months, the second one started sticking after 2 months. Its not the starter itself that is bad, but the starter solenoid that is not made for marine or water use. Keep away, or plan on multiple replacements over the season.