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won't start

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apollo25

New member
hello,
to my future help. i have a omc stringer electric shift. with a ford 351 engine ran recently but now she wont start. new starter, new starter solenoid, tested alt. checked all positive and neg. wires. i first changed starter due to it not disenguaging. started up no prob. next day out on the water didnt happen. starter solenoid was makeing a click noise every time i turned key at helm. changed solenoid today and nothing. i am dumbfounded please help!!!
 
Check your connections, positive and negative and sometimes starters may require shims for proper engagement to flywheel. Batteries may be faulty. Could be flywheel since you mentioned starter would not disengage. Thats all I can think of unless you purchased a faulty starter or slenoid. Good luck. Island Boy
 
Baring a Hydro-loc, as per what Chief mentions (and do not over-look that possibility), here are a few suggestions.

The SBF 5.8L starter motor requires no shimming that I am aware of. These fasten to a circular pattern within the Flywheel Cover (unlike the SBC GM). IOW, they self align.

If this starter motor is the OEM style (from the days of the stringer drive), these use a Bendix Drive (not solenoid and lever arm).
This means that there MUST be enough Current (Amps) in order to quickly spin the armature, that in-turn engages the Bendix unit into the flywheel ring gear.
(low amps will not do it)

However, from what you describe, that does not sound like your issue. Sounds to me that the armature is not spinning at all.
Please confirm!

Are you getting one click..... or rapid multiple clicks?
One click only may indicate that the armature is not receiving power, yet the solenoid is working.

Normally, when a solenoid rapidly "click-click-clicks", it is caused by the armature requiring more current than what the battery can supply to both the solenoid AND armature simultaneously.
When the solenoid is activated...... the armature pulls full load......, the current at solenoid now drops below what normally keeps it engaged, and then it "disengages"......., and you end up with perpetual cycles of "click-click-clicks"!
The cure: Full battery voltage and amperage, and ALL GOOD Cable Connections!

So yes, I agree with the previous posts......., check all connections..... both Positive and Negative..... cable terminals included, and make sure that your battery is up to snuff!
A battery shop can perform a load test for you.
(a voltage reading alone may not do you any good)

Back to Chief's comment.... can you turn the engine over by hand?

.
 
I thought he said he checked the battery i'm wrong.

I re-read the first post.

I always see if it moves with the belts. All i look for is a inch

I am also hoping it ain't the drive. They freeze up and you get the same as a frozen motor.

Follow the neg cable to the main ground, disconnect battery and clean that connection.
 
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