Couple questions about starter and smoking wire

[BackPayne]

1987 US Marine Force 50

I've been having issues with my boat starting (starting to wonder if the battery cannot deliver enough amps). The starter will engage the flywheel and turn it a little. So I took apart the starter just to have a look-see. Should I just be able to clean them up based on the pics?


Also, the ground wire that runs from the solenoid to the distribution panel attached to the engine block is now smoking and melting when I try to start the motor. I checked the resistance of the wire with an ohm-meter and it is at 0.00. (This ground wire also connects with the battery ground wire at base of solenoid.) Any thoughts?

 

[JB]

Re: Couple questions about starter and smoking wire

Take apart all of the battery to starter to battery wiring. Carefully clean all connections and reconnect. There is probably nothing wrong with your starter.

Let us know what you find, and good luck.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Couple questions about starter and smoking wire

Instead of checking for resistance with your ohm meter, check the voltage drop across both the negative and positive cables. Almost impossible to measure a resistance in your battery cables because you can't accurately measure tenths of an ohm. The drops should be the same for both cables assuming they are the same length. If both drops are exactly the same, I would suspect your starter is drawing excessive current.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Couple questions about starter and smoking wire

It sounds like you've lost the connection between the negative battery terminal and the engine block and the starter circuit is being completed through the solenoid ground (which is way too small to carry the load).

 

[zibzer]

Re: Couple questions about starter and smoking wire

It sounds like you've lost the connection between the negative battery terminal and the engine block and the starter circuit is being completed through the solenoid ground (which is way too small to carry the load).

agree

 

[BackPayne]

Re: Couple questions about starter and smoking wire

Well, I have to thank you guys. Took the battery in to Autozone and it was shot. Purchased a new marine battery. Then I wire brushed all connections and replaced the melted ground wire. Turned the key and it fired right up. Woo-hoo! So thanks a lot for you suggestions!

Now can you help me with a shut-off switch?

The current one never worked due to the wires not being connected, duh (no idea why they weren't connected).

I bought a new switch, but I'm not for sure which wires to connect to it. Here is a picture of the wire connections with labels for a visual.