90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

A

actionljackson

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Apr 9, 2007
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I was working on the motor today and a wrench slipped out of my grasp.It landed just so on the starter slave solenoid and managed to arc the damn thing.This caused everything to quit working on the boat.I had no gauges no way to raise the drive no radio no key no nothin.I could only imagine if this were to happen out in the open water:eek:Seems to me there should be some kind of cover for this solenoid as it sits right there on top and causes major problems if this should happen.I traced it back to the circuit breaker off the starter.It's 90 amp and seems to me it should be a resetable circuit breaker or some kind of fuse you could replace.I realized I can jump this breaker if it happens out on the water but this is a bad design flaw or I'm missing the cover for that solenoid.Is there anything from preventing me from putting in a breaker with a reset in case something like this ever happens again? I have to order one anyway as mine is fried so I figure why not.I also will be smothering some silicone on that slave solenoid to shield it as well.Thanks again for your past and present replies.
~Leo
 
NHGuy

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Re: 90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

My guess is this is the reason every DIY and tech instruction I have ever read says in it's first line something to the effect of "disconnect the battery leads before beginning service work".
Doesn't make me do it every time but if I'm near the any positive battery lead or the starter positive terminal I disconnect.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately you have to spend the pound. Sorry for your slip up, but it ain't the engineers fault, it's yours.
 
Don S

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Re: 90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

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Fishermark

Fishermark

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Re: 90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

The good news? You learn from your mistakes! Not a mistake you will likely make again. ;)

I did a similar thing years ago working on the starter of my car. Don't remember now exactly what I was doing, but I hit the wrench on the metal brake line and shorted it out. Ended up having to put a new brake line in. :rolleyes: Anyway - I learned to always disconnect the battery whenever working on or near anything electrical.
 
Bondo

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Re: 90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

actionljackson said:
I was working on the motor today and a wrench slipped out of my grasp.It landed just so on the starter slave solenoid and managed to arc the damn thing.This caused everything to quit working on the boat.I had no gauges no way to raise the drive no radio no key no nothin.I could only imagine if this were to happen out in the open water:eek:Seems to me there should be some kind of cover for this solenoid as it sits right there on top and causes major problems if this should happen.I traced it back to the circuit breaker off the starter.It's 90 amp and seems to me it should be a resetable circuit breaker or some kind of fuse you could replace.I realized I can jump this breaker if it happens out on the water but this is a bad design flaw or I'm missing the cover for that solenoid.Is there anything from preventing me from putting in a breaker with a reset in case something like this ever happens again? I have to order one anyway as mine is fried so I figure why not.I also will be smothering some silicone on that slave solenoid to shield it as well.Thanks again for your past and present replies.
~Leo
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... I believe there's Supposed to be a plastic cover over the slave to prevent what happened to you,...

As for the Lawyer's Fuse, mounted at the battery cable to starter connection,...
Up until several years ago, the battery cable was bolted Directly onto the starter....
The work-around is to simply Remove it, 'n give it a flotation test at the dock, then bolt the battery cable to the starter...
>edit;< for legal reasons, I'd never advocate Any boat owner, Ever do such a thing on Their boat....:cool: :rolleyes:

I kinda doubt a resetable will hold up to Starting amperages,... maybe...
 
K

kewlkatdady

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Re: 90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

mine has a plastic cover...
 
A

actionljackson

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Apr 9, 2007
Messages
96
Re: 90 amp circut breaker on a 4.3L motor (has this ever happend to you)?

Thank you all for the insightful and helpful tips.Yes I know to disconnect the battery.Just a bonehead move on my part I admit.I was working on ram adjustment and removed the engine cover for some reason and this is what happened.Thanks Don for the measurement.I will order the part from iboat and your right Fishmark I won't do this again.I will fabricate some sort of cover though just for an ounce of prevention.KewlKatdady if you could post or send me a picture of what yours looks like that would relly help.Thanks again everyone!!!!
 
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