Good place/way to re-ground to motor?

[OctoberSea]

Some of you have helped me think about an electrical problem I'm having (Thread: Bad Ground???). It's going to be a bear to get at the lower back of the motor (penta I/O), and I'm thinking ahead to heading off the problem...

What are your suggestions re: the idea of establishing a new main ground from the battery to the motor? Two reasons for thinking about this: First, I'd really like to have that connection accessible and inspectable. Second. If I can't get at that existing connection (which might be causing some or all of my considerable power problems), I'm thinking about the option of cutting that existing ground cable, sealing it off, and running a new ground cable.

Thoughts? Thanks much for your help!

 

[OctoberSea]

Re: Good place/way to re-ground to motor?

More searching on this site led me to earlier discussions under different threads... sounds like I can bolt a new ground cable to any spot on the block. Some suggested going to the negative post on the starter, too.

Hopefully this instance of self-help kept Silvertip from pulling any silvertips out of his head in a fit of frustration for answering the same questions over and over...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Good place/way to re-ground to motor?

There is no negative post on a starter. The shell of the starter is ground and achieves that status by being bolted to the engine block. The negative post on the battery can be connected to any point on the engine provided it is not painted and the bolt is of sufficient size to achieve a secure installation. Just to make it perfectly clear -- the entire engine block is ground.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Good place/way to re-ground to motor?

I would not connect it to the starter bolt. If that connection causes that starter bolt to loosen for some reason, your starter alignment will change slightly and just may cause the starter casing or worse...the block...to be broken.

 

[flargin]

Re: Good place/way to re-ground to motor?

if you want to do this, first do it with a good set of jumper cables, hate to have you waste a $30 cable to find out it is somethign else --- and it is very possible it will be... these types of ground issues take a lot of wierd turns before you find it.

I would not go hacking things off yet....

If you do, swing down to your boat store (they may have them at auto stores) and get one of these neat bolts that have shafts on both sides

======||======

and replace one of your motor mount bolst with it, and apply your ground there. Don't just use one of the Motor mount bolts, they don't give you a great connection.

don't go hacking things off yet...