Bad starter or other issue?

[LadyAnya]

How can I tell if the boat is in gear or not? I tried starting the boat today
after re-wiring the engine harness and the motor would barely turn over and
sometimes it wouldn't at all and I would hear a big clunk. The starter got very
hot and so did the positive wire to the perko switch.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

How can I tell if the boat is in gear or not?

when in neutral. the prop will spin freely in both directions. when in gear, in fwd it won't spin ccw, rev. it won't spin cw.

as for the rest. did you rewire exactly as it was? per the wiring diagram in the service manual applicable to your rig.

ya can have the starter bench tested for proper operation at your local starter/alt. rebuild shop.

don't know if this helps or not. but here's a link to wiring in a 2 batt. system.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=239445 click on the link in the 2nd post..

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

I used the wiring diagram from the boat to rewire everything. Someone else suggested the starter may be going bad and having trouble turning the motor. There is a big clunk when I turn the key before it tries to crank the motor.

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

any other ideas

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

The starter got very
hot and so did the positive wire to the perko switch.

Ayuh,... Electrical Heat is caused by resistence...
Bad wires, Bad wiring Ends, Bad grounds...

With the Clunk,... Is the motor Hyd-locked,..?? pull the sparkplugs to see...

 

[Philster]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Many people chase down starting/starter/battery issues when they really have water intrusion (into the cylinders).

Water won't compress, and the dreaded 'clunking' sound means there already is a ton of electrical juice and power going to a very good starter. That 'clunk' is bad news and screams: CHECK THE CYLINDERS FOR WATER... and it also screams: DO NOT TRY STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN.

Pull the plugs, check for water. Clunk usually means the electrical setup is doing it's job, but it's running into a wall: An engine with water in it. CLUNK. There is resistance.

Don't try to start it until you check the cylinders for water. Look at the plugs and crank the motor to see if water comes out.

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Never thought about hydro-lock. I will pull the plugs some time this week. Once I pull the plugs and there is water what is the next step?

 

[Philster]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Next will be looking for rust, doing a compression and leakdown test to determine if the engine is worth saving, then figuring out why there is water in cylinders:

Leaky manifolds/risers
Blown head gasket(s)
Warped head(s)
Rotted head(s)

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Took starter today to have tested at autozone and it failed. It didn't do anything. I still haven't checked the cylinders for water, however at least I know the starter is bad.

Where can I find an affordable one? Its a chevy 350

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Where can I find an affordable one? Its a chevy 350

Ayuh,... Right here at iboats of course....

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Is there amything else I need to know besides the engine being a chevy 350 to get the correct starter?

I read somewhere that its cheaper and better to get it rebuilt

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bad starter or other issue?

Is there amything else I need to know besides the engine being a chevy 350 to get the correct starter?

Ayuh,... They come in 2 flavors,...
Staggered bolt pattern, 'n Straight across bolt pattern....
Replace it with whichever you took off....

Just make Sure it's Marine Rated...