1972 Sea Ray

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Show me a pic of your old starter looking down on the top of it as it would be mounted to the engine
Won't be any guesswork

The only issue I see with rebuilding is that it MAY not be a marine starter now

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Does that help?

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

What size cranking amps should I have on a GM 350?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

What size cranking amps should I have on a GM 350?

About a hundred dollars worth! Seriously, just buy the highest rated one you can commonly obtain. Costco, Sears, etc. Be sure to invest in a little float charger to keep the thing alive during the prolonged down time. They really do extend the life of a battery, especially one that sits idle for so long.

Automatic Battery Charger - 12V

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

About a hundred dollars worth! Seriously, just buy the highest rated one you can commonly obtain. Costco, Sears, etc. Be sure to invest in a little float charger to keep the thing alive during the prolonged down time. They really do extend the life of a battery, especially one that sits idle for so long.

Automatic Battery Charger - 12V

Thanks for that info now just time to find that starter

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

workin on a starter... be a couple min

on the battery ANY batt will work but get the biggest one you can for the "what if" that may happen... a lawn mower batt will start it on a good day but on a bad day after you goofed and left the key on all night while fishing the big batt will be MUCH appreciated

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

New Mercruiser Marine Starter 3 0 3 0LX GM 3 0L Many | eBay
here ya go... says 3.0 but should fit your 5.7.... if you scroll down the page you will find this:
"Applications:
Mercury Marine, OMC, Volvo-Penta Fits Merc, OMC, Volvo V6 & V8 engines- GM Block using a 12 inch flywheel. High Torque Gear Reduction with straight across bolt pattern. "

They also say:
"We are electrical specialists; if you have any questions, please call us at 800-753-2242"
I'd suggest giving them a call just to make sure but I'm fairly confident this is the correct starter.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Starter, Rmfd - Sierra - iboats

here's a reman right here at iboats

more expensive but it's a more robust starter with no gear reduction to explode and isn't AFAIK made in china.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

I would definitely not buy the cheapo Ebay starter. Too many horror stories of cheap starters to be found out there. The correct cross reference starter for your original part number of 384198 can be found right here on iboats by a trusted manufacturer: OMC Sterndrive Cobra, Mercury Marine, Mercruiser Inboard, MES, GLM, Chris-Craft, Volvo-Penta Replacement Inboard Starter 30119 - Arco - iboats

But, I am with Boomyal on this. I would rather get it rebuilt locally by a shop with a good reputation. That way, if you ever have problems in the future you have that relationship to fall back on.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

I have been running two alternators from DB for two seasons without issue and have heard horror stories about everything.... I've heard of DB stuff failing but then the factory mercruiser starter blew it's gear reduction unit on my friend's boat 2 days ago.... he decided to roll the dice and try the DB

I personally would be less concerned with the brand and lean toward either of the links that I and Nivekt posted from Iboats because they AREN'T gear reduction starters if you can spare the extra $$$...... otherwise I think that the cheap DB is probably as good as any gear reduction unit

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Hey thanks all!!! That first starter it might fit but seems too good to be true for only $59 and brand new.

Te other two look great and I might just order that last one from iboats and still look into rebuild as a backup. Or just weigh the costs of rebuild in California area vs buying new or reman. Keeping in mind anything in California is expensive lol.

I did notice that the first starter for the 3.0 did say it had the long bolt and short bolt mount which is exactly like mine. Also adding more teeth to the starter instead of my original 9 teeth is okay then?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

o.... he decided to roll the dice and try the DB.....

Been running a Ford version of theirs for 7 years now. Like I stated earlier, that thing spins up a tornado compared to the original starter. ...and it is doing it against a 9.0:1 compression 5.0 SBF roller cam motor, a full point higher than the OEM 302.

However, I am surprised at the low price of $54.00. I paid $120.00 for mine back in '06.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

I did notice that the first starter for the 3.0 did say it had the long bolt and short bolt mount which is exactly like mine. Also adding more teeth to the starter instead of my original 9 teeth is okay then?

according to the add it will replace the 9 tooth starter....

I would be running DB starters on my boat too but I get a great rate with my local Oriley store and I bought two automotive starters for $20 each... then I took em apart and swapped the marine parts in to em... IIRC that was the nose cone and a plate for the starter... seems like there may have been a difference in the solenoid but can't remember for sure.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Okay maybe for the price I will go with DB although it has gear reduction and not familiar with that but for the price if it goes bad and I get old one rebuilt I won't be out $150 for new one plus a rebuild.

$59 or whatever it was priced at for the DB just seemed rather too cheap but maybe I better get I while it lasts. I'm going to call there number though to make sure that 3.0 DB starter you listed will work.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

They said DB will fit and work so I ordered it and at $54 and free shipping that's cheap. Will be here July 25!!! Now that leaves me more cash to spend on heavy duty battery which are not cheap

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Let me also ask I noticed this one has two larger posts on back where cables connect to and mine only had two small and one larger. So does my positive and ground cable connect to each of those larger posts? Or should ground be ran and bolted to either mount area or motor?

I believe my ground cable was connected near starter but into motor block so I wanted to be sure that was hooked up correctly.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

No ground cable on that DB solenoid. The top terminal accepts the cable from the battery. The bottom terminal is the juice out connection to the starter field.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Actually I get it its supposed to connect to that large starter cylinder. Like you had originally said starter field and looking at photos I clearly see that now.

My setup had Red on top as well, yellow on right small post, and purple on left post. Another red smaller on the top larger post as well.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray



Would this be a typical schmatics for my wiring setup?

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: 1972 Sea Ray

Also check this battery out, wholly smokes that is expensive!!! Anyone have one of these oboard?

PC2150 MS Odyssey Battery