OldWoodBoat
Recruit
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2009
- Messages
- 2
Hello folks. Was referred here from another site because of the knowledge base here. I'm having a problem (or set of problems, seems to be never ending...) with my '64 Starflite. It's a 75hp, with the battery/CDI ignition (no magneto).
The problem I'm having is I'm getting no power through the junction box to the starter. Well, let me back up a bit.
The boat has sat for a long time - I just got it back from my brother in law last fall. He had it for about 7 years, used it once. I tried tank testing it last week after obtaining a new cylinder head (found out the threads on #4 cylinder were stripped when I pulled the plugs to check their condition) and discovered that nothing happened when I turned the key. Here's where the fun begins.
I decided to try arcing the solenoid to start it, like you might try on an old Ford van. The starter cranked for all of about a second then went silent. That was a mistake - if the solenoid wasn't shot before it certainly was after that little stunt. I also burned out the voltage regulator, the condenser inside the junction box, and two 40 amp fuses.
So I buy a new solenoid, new voltage regulator (Neihoff replacement for the Delco-Remy part that was in the junction box), replace the burned fuses, and found a replacement condenser from a local boat dealer.
I've gone through the junction box at least two dozen times so far checking every wire, every connection, every fuse, rechecked the fuse in the dash, tested the ignition switch, tested the new solenoid, tested the starter itself -- but I still get nothing going to the starter when I turn the key.
I've gone over the test proceedures and wiring diagrams in the shop manual a dozen times so far, only to keep beating my head against the wall on this thing.
The starter I know still has life - tap the positive terminal with a set of jumper cables and she cranks. Nothing else even makes her do that. The only thing that happens when I turn the key right now is the automatic choke engaging. Nothing else is going on.
I'm stumped. I can't spare the cash to take this to a marine mechanic - hell it'd cost more in their labor time getting it running than the engine is actually worth - and a new motor is also not in the cards any time soon. This is a mandatory DIY project for me.
I really was hoping to get this thing running so I might be able to get the boat on the water at least a couple times this year, and get my dad out fishing - it's been ten years since we've gone fishing together. He built this boat himself back in '85.
When this motor ran, it ran fine. Always had a little trouble with the carb adjustments, and it never ran terribly well at high altitudes, but it was a 20+ year old engine when we got it 23 years ago. I'd like to make the beast live again.
Advice on getting this thing back in running (or at least cranking) condition would be much appreciated.
~Mark
The problem I'm having is I'm getting no power through the junction box to the starter. Well, let me back up a bit.
The boat has sat for a long time - I just got it back from my brother in law last fall. He had it for about 7 years, used it once. I tried tank testing it last week after obtaining a new cylinder head (found out the threads on #4 cylinder were stripped when I pulled the plugs to check their condition) and discovered that nothing happened when I turned the key. Here's where the fun begins.
I decided to try arcing the solenoid to start it, like you might try on an old Ford van. The starter cranked for all of about a second then went silent. That was a mistake - if the solenoid wasn't shot before it certainly was after that little stunt. I also burned out the voltage regulator, the condenser inside the junction box, and two 40 amp fuses.
So I buy a new solenoid, new voltage regulator (Neihoff replacement for the Delco-Remy part that was in the junction box), replace the burned fuses, and found a replacement condenser from a local boat dealer.
I've gone through the junction box at least two dozen times so far checking every wire, every connection, every fuse, rechecked the fuse in the dash, tested the ignition switch, tested the new solenoid, tested the starter itself -- but I still get nothing going to the starter when I turn the key.
I've gone over the test proceedures and wiring diagrams in the shop manual a dozen times so far, only to keep beating my head against the wall on this thing.
The starter I know still has life - tap the positive terminal with a set of jumper cables and she cranks. Nothing else even makes her do that. The only thing that happens when I turn the key right now is the automatic choke engaging. Nothing else is going on.
I'm stumped. I can't spare the cash to take this to a marine mechanic - hell it'd cost more in their labor time getting it running than the engine is actually worth - and a new motor is also not in the cards any time soon. This is a mandatory DIY project for me.
I really was hoping to get this thing running so I might be able to get the boat on the water at least a couple times this year, and get my dad out fishing - it's been ten years since we've gone fishing together. He built this boat himself back in '85.
When this motor ran, it ran fine. Always had a little trouble with the carb adjustments, and it never ran terribly well at high altitudes, but it was a 20+ year old engine when we got it 23 years ago. I'd like to make the beast live again.
Advice on getting this thing back in running (or at least cranking) condition would be much appreciated.
~Mark
