Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

[prosin]

Engine stalled, would not restart. Starter made one loud click sound when the key was turned to start. I removed starter and replaced with a new starter. I installed new starter EXACTLY as previous one was removed. Was careful that no wires were out of place. Went to start engine and again a loud single 'click' I turned off ignition and ignition swich. Proceeded back to engine compartment to see the brand new starter begin seriously smoking- it continued getting hot until I removed the battery lead to it. The starter is on the starboard engine- it has negative wire to the solenoid on the starter and there are a total of three red leads to the starter solenoid- one from battery, one to the alternator, and one to a solenoind and circuit breaker mounted on top of the transmission. What can be causing this drastic short?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Well, Worst Case......<br />Engine Hydro-locked.....<br />Can you turn the motor over by hand ?????

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

I do not know about Hydro locked. It's got 200 pleasant hours on it - regular oil changes. I was fearful it had seized but given that I only tried cranking the engine two times for 2 seconds each- that starter was red smoking *** hot and getting hotter I started thinking it has to be electrical.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

If the motor is seized,<br />You turn the key, <br />the solenoid engages, <br />the starter locks out, at Maximun Amperage, <br />The solenoid Welds itself closed, <br />You Fry the starter in 2 seconds.....<br /><br />Things Don't look real good right now...<br /><br />Can you turn the motor by hand ?????

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

It is difficult to get enough leverage to turn it. The old starter which I attempted mant starts with would turn the crank the smallest noticable amount. You really think it is seized- sob sob

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

The stall and failure to start happened as I was pulling out of the slip.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

pull the spark plugs. even if no water in cylinders (and there probably is) it will make it easier to roll engine by hand.

 

[Stanp]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Man, these guys with the doom and gloom. This is a crusader not a Merc. Check your wire harness connections were the red wire is. Pull the harness open and see if conections are corroded. Check your coil or just replace it. They're cheap. Had a short with an external resister once. To check the resistor, its a white rectangular block with wires on each end. connect the 2 wires together and see if she'll start. those wires to the resister connect ether to the starter or coil, i forget witch. This is almost certainly a short of some sort, poor ground condition, etc... please don't buy a new engine, there is nothing wrong with this one.

 

[a.d.mobile]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

in your first post you said neg wire to the solenoid? no neg wires to the starter at all. what does a coil or restience have to do with a no start no crank stan? crusider suck water with the best of them in the right conditions. pull the plugs and see if it will turn over. put a breaker bar on the balencer bolt that is the bottom pully in the center of engine usualy 5/8 on chevy.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Interesting post. My old Chris Craft had the OMC 454's in it. Once, when I was starting it, the starter froze in there and all the wiring going to my charger and my other 2 batteries fried. Rebuilt the starter, same thing, but I was down in the hole to kill the power. Ended up wiring in a starter button and a battery kill switch right next to each other. AND played around with shimming the starter at the bell housing till I had the problem no more. But every once in a while if it hadn't been started for a spell...... That's why I had the kill switch. Good luck!

 

[Stanp]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

A d Mobile,<br /><br />Ya got me on the coil and resistor. If there were problems with either one, the engine would still turn over, it just wouldn't start. How about the ignition switch? I've had them go bad, wires corroded. While its very easy to check the engine to see if its ceased up, and certainly its worth checking, Its least likely on an engine under 200hrs. crusader has the best design out there on the exhaust manifolds. Short of rusted out maifolds or blown head gasket, its pretty hard to believe that could be the cause.

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

I will be pulling the plugs and inspecting the wiring this weekend. Does anyone have thoughts as to how much a blown head gasket repair costs? Any thing to be careful about. Does entire engine need removal. 1987 34' Searay

 

[navigator336]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

It depends on how easy or difficult it is to get at the engine. If you pull one head, I'd pull them both as it isn't much additional labor. Top end gasket set is about $100.00. Head jobs can vary alot with a price tag of $200 - $400 for the set (including surfacing and magnafluxing). I'd have the risers/elbows boiled out at a radiator shop unless water flows through them unrestricted. This should be about $50-75. The labor to drop the manifolds, pull the heads and replace may range from 8 hours to 12 hours if access is pretty good. Assuming your manifolds are fresh water cooled, they should be fine. If this is a salt water boat and they are raw water cooled, I'd have them boiled out too. If they weren't Crusaders, I'd pressure test them too.

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Any thoughts on this being a do it yourself job??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Well, You can Start the Diagnosis Process......<br /><br />Issue #1, Why Won't the Starter turn over ?????<br /> Take it off,+ Bench test it with jumper cables....<br /><br />Issue #2, Why Won't the Starter turn over ????? <br />Pull the Plugs,+ See What you Find....<br />At this point, You Should be able to freely turn the motor over, with a wrench.....<br /><br />Now, You'll be able to decide if you want to DIY it .... Most Mechanics Won't charge you a Premium, If you don't tear it down pass this point.....

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Using a 3 foot level I turned the main crank on front of engine .

 

[Bondo]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

If you pulled the plugs,+ It took 3' of Leverage to turn the motor over....!!<br />You've got Serious Problems........<br /><br />How Far did you turn it ???<br />Did Any Water come out of the Cylinders ?????<br />What Color were the Plugs ????<br />Did you pull the Starter ???<br /><br />I Like long posts... These 1 liners make helping you Pretty Tough.....

 

[prosin]

Re: Crusader 454 Starter Issue(s) Electrical

Thanks all- turned out the solenoid was slightly different on rebuilt starter, part of the group of positive wires was close enough to the screws on solenoid to arc while cranking engine. All is well now!