Starter Question

R

rost495

Well-known member
Ok, sorry, but another dumb question I"ve never done..... was working on 2 boats this weekend, helping a friend.... took the battery wire off the starter early in the day moving things and rewiring. End of day to start the motor it kept clicking at the starter and nothing. So I assumed battery needed charging. This AM I tried again and still a clikc, and then an arc, which was the 25 amp fuse blowing on the power source for teh selonoid. Could NOT figure it out till I found the starter wire coiled up and not connected to the perko....

Do I need to look at anything before I go further? 12 Ga wire from the fuse to the starter switch and to the selenoid.

Thanks, Jeff
 
There's no such thing as a dumb question.

Did you have the 12ga wire on the right-hand terminal? I'm not sure what that left one is, but I always gotta get out my glasses and read the stupid thing when I hook them up. I hooked up two of them this week. my 4 cyl GMC sonoma has almost the exact same (looking) starter that my 500 caddy boat has! Replaced both this week.

Does the motor turn freely? It's not froze up is it?
 
Its on the right terminal, its just that I didn't have the other end of the big wire hooked up to anything, I guess the 12ga to the selenoid was also trying to power the starter motor is why the fuse blew..

I just want to know if I did any damage by giving power to the selenoid while the starter main wire was disconnected.

IE I"m thinking I might should replace the selenoid from the switch again if it got hot... though its brand new and looks fine and I think the fuse protected the wire, though it really should have been a 20 amp or less fuse...

THanks, Jeff
 
rost495 said:
Its on the right terminal, its just that I didn't have the other end of the big wire hooked up to anything, I guess the 12ga to the selenoid was also trying to power the starter motor is why the fuse blew..

I just want to know if I did any damage by giving power to the selenoid while the starter main wire was disconnected.

IE I"m thinking I might should replace the selenoid from the switch again if it got hot... though its brand new and looks fine and I think the fuse protected the wire, though it really should have been a 20 amp or less fuse...

THanks, Jeff
Click to expand...


Jeff,
The big wire spins the starter, the smaller 12G wire engages your starter solenoid. In other words one gets it spinning and the other makes it jump into the flywheel.
 
Yeah, I got all that, just did I damage anything by having only the small wire attached and trying to spin the starter(of course it wouldn't spin.....)? Or just connect the big wire and go to town now?
Thanks, Jeff
 
rost495 said:
Yeah, I got all that, just did I damage anything by having only the small wire attached and trying to spin the starter(of course it wouldn't spin.....)? Or just connect the big wire and go to town now?
Thanks, Jeff
Click to expand...

You should be fine but if not you can replace the solenoid. Buy another starter and keep it in your truck tool box. These starters are cheap and nothing is better then spare parts.
 
I think instead of spare parts, motors, starters, alt etc.... maybe I should look into a spare boat.... :wink:
 
Jeff,
you joke but Matt and I are going to do it. I am going to built a DD boat as a back up.

My spare part list that I keep on the boat. Rotor, modual, pickup, cap, plug wires, plugs, fuses, all vacuume sealed. Spare belts, hoses both fuel and coolant, fuel filter, oil, gear oil, carb jet kit, assorted SS bolt kit, exhaust clamps.

Tools
Complete tool set, complete electrical tool set, Cable ties ss and plastic, 100' rope, two fire ext, large med grade first aid kit.

spares in the truck. Carb, alternator, starter, complete distributer, fuel pump.

Sense most of the systems on my boat have back up systems I do not need to carry the items in the truck.

If it is duck season I will add a few MRE's, extra clothing, water, spare shotgun shells, bottle of Evan williams.


What can I say I have been stranded and it sucked, so now I am a boyscout.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top