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Starter woes

T

tbrodes

Regular Contributor
"Ahg, engines sound GREAT! But

"Ahg, engines sound GREAT! But, my port starter went from weak to just a CLICK. So, I had an extra selenoid, swapped it out, and still just a singular click. Is my starter bad? I am going to be checking grounds and such...but PLEASE give me some ideas! I want to go fishing!!"
 
"If each engine has its own ba

"If each engine has its own battery and they are not connected to each other I would first check the battery voltage.Sounds like no/low power to the starter/solonoid.

Another option is to tap the starter itself with a block of wood and see if you can jar it into the "start" function while someone is turning the key..

If neither is a cure, you may have to pull the starter and do a load test."
 
"Could be ground...is it the s

"Could be ground...is it the solenoid(s) that click?

Put a 12 volt test light between ground and the stud connecting the solenoid to the starter. If it lights up with the key in START but the starter doesn't spin, problem in the starter.

You can remove the back cover and clean out the brush holders using BRAKE CLEANER. I've seen them accumulate enough junk to key the brushes from making contact with the commutator."
 
"I agree with Don check the si

"I agree with Don check the simple thigs first.
Two batteries and a switch, go to the second battery.
Make sure battery is fully charged.
Had this happen to us this past holiday, just switched to all until motor started.
Ran back to slip, switched back to #1 after shutdown and bingo restart."
 
"just yanked it off the boat..

"just yanked it off the boat...took back cover off and it was full of crap. Used brake cleaner and got the stuff out. Going ot bench test it now...will report back. Mark, where would the grounds be...?"
 
"I agree with Mark,
checking

"I agree with Mark,
checking to see if 12 volt current is getting past the solenoid - to the motor <u>is</u> the the simplest thing.
Make sure that the meter / test light has a good ground back to the battery.

Fred 156-M"
 
"...where would the grounds be

"...where would the grounds be...?

Usually, negative battery post to the engine block.
I have run a dedicated ground cable , right from the battery to the starter motor mounting bolt.

Fred 156-M"
 
"Mark, you sir are a GENIOUS..

"Mark, you sir are a GENIOUS...bench test worked! Now lets see if it works in the boat...standby"
 
uhg. Bench test was flawless.

uhg. Bench test was flawless. Used battery that power the engine. Fully charged and battery charger on. Still just get a CLICK when I turn the key on the boat....what the heck!
 
"Hello Ted,
Not trying to tel

"Hello Ted,
Not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but something that is very important is the connection between the battery and the starter. Make sure the cables and grounds are all tight.

I had a battery cable come loose, just a fraction, and I couldn't get one motor started, just a "click"...very embarassing as I was in a canal lock with a bunch of boats waiting for me to get out !!!! Went out on one engine and then found the loose battery cable.The battery was fully charged but that darn loose cable did me in
blush.gif
"
 
ahg! This is truly driving my

ahg! This is truly driving my insane. My boat does not have grounds going directly to the battery...

where is the ground on the solenoid??? I am about to call the dreaded marina... HELP...and thank you for all the help thus far!
 
"The large battery cable, &#40

"The large battery cable, (RED +) goes to the big threaded stud on the starter...... The BLACK - cable from the battery should go to the engine block for ground.(normally a threaded stud)

If you have two engines and one is OK just copy the wiring on the good one}."
 
"solenoid: You have an extern

"solenoid: You have an external one and the tubular starter attached one, correct? Did you replace the external one? They can click and still be bad. Its about a 2" cube, with maybe 3 wires to it."
 
......goes to the big threaded

......goes to the big threaded stud on the <u>starter</u>


OOOOPs..I meant the <u>solenoid</u>
 
alrighty guys...

heres what

alrighty guys...

heres what I have. Red cable from battery to stud as well as thre wires to stud (red orange and pink) Then i have the starter iginition wire to the small stud below. I am missing a ground somewhere...i know there is power (dont ask).

what am I doing wrong. This is getting old quick!
 
"Ok..Then the Battery + Ca

"Ok..Then the Battery + Cable goes to the large stud, (normally copper). the lower stud is connected to the starter motor. The other wires you have are possibly for oil pressure gauge/fuel pump. There is no need for a grounding wire from the solenoid. The battery should be grounded on the engine block and thus the starter and solenoid are already well grounded.

You mentioned you have power, (don't ask) then I would suspect you may have seen a few sparks if the + Cable from the Battery touched bare metal on the block/starter/solenoid..
biggrin.gif
...When hooking the starter back in, you should have the negative battery cable disconnected. It would be the last thing you connect after the starter is reinstalled."
 
"righto....all that is correct

"righto....all that is correct, minus the working part. still a just a singular click when I turn the key..."
 
"Ted:

did you ever get that

"Ted:

did you ever get that test light between ground and the feed to the starter motor (lower big stud on starter solenoid)?

Could be the starter solenoid's disk is burnt.

Also, does the "click" occur when you let off the key?"
 
"no light. The click I hear is

"no light. The click I hear is when I turn the key. It is singular. POwer from the ignition to the selnoid must be apparent as when I turn the key I get the single click. Plenty of power for battery to starter. Do I need to ground the selenoid itself? On the big stud I have the red positive, and a group of 3 wires. Then I have the starter wire onto the "S" stud below the big stud. The thinsg works like a champ on the bench. this project is taking way to many beers..."
 
"OK, drastic measures, since y

"OK, drastic measures, since you are running low on beer. Put a pair of gas pliers between the two big studs on the starter motor. You should see sparks and the starter should turn. Sniff for gas fumes first.
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"
 
"If that makes the STARTER tur

"If that makes the STARTER turn, then use the gas pliers between the top large stud (with the big red wire) and the S terminal (usually yellow w/ red stripe smaller wire). Now, the starter should turn the engine over..."
 
"With no light (thinking y

"With no light (thinking you have a good ground on the light) there may not be enough current passing thru the disk in the solenoid. It may work fine on the bench because there is NO LOAD on the starter when its on the bench.

You can verify this by putting the test light between the two big studs. If it lights with the key turned to START, no current flowing thru the solenoid. Time for another solenoid.

You can check the disk inside of the solenoid by disconnecting the battery and removing the solenoid. Remove the nuts holding the studs and then those two shiny screws in the solenoid pic above. Carefully remove the black shell. The disk is spring loaded and under the shell. When the solenoid engages, the disk makes contact between the two big studs. Some of the disks can be "flipped over" if you need it working tonight.

Another option is to swap the solenoids between the engines."
 
"Gents,

I left my light at

"Gents,

I left my light at home with my triumph with lucas electronics...understand why! hah.

Just ran out and bought a cheap test light. Showing power to the stud. Also power to the lower stud where the copper tube/screw goes into the starter. Power is where it should be everywhere. whats the deal!! AHGGGG this is worse than the triumph!!!"
 
"..."triumph with lucas el

"..."triumph with lucas electronics"

Ugh! Lucas, the Prince of Darkness. Wanna know why the Brits drink warm beer? 'Cause Lucas makes their refrigerators!

Geoff"
 
"hahaha very true geoff!! OK s

"hahaha very true geoff!! OK so, in a fit of frustration I just was kicking the starting with my foot as I reached (stretching like none other) for the key. It made a lame attempt at starting....what the hell does this mean?? There is power to everything everywhere...."
 
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