jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

[jaymasta]

I went to jump start my boat motor as I left my fish finder on and the battery was dead and when I went to hook up the jumpstart battery and I accidentally put positive to negative to each side and attempted to start the motor and thought about it right away so stopped and now I am posting, the engine didn't actually turn over I just had turned the key and bumped the switch to the start position then stopped to check. Have I caused any damage or is there anything I should do or check out before I actually attempt to start the engine again, it is a 1994 johnson 60hp.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Betting the rectifier is burnt. When you start it check for charging or if you have a tach see if that still works.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

is that an expensive fix?

 

[ezeke]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

If the rectifier is damaged there is some risk of fire and/or stator damage if you run with it. Test the rectifier using the appropriate method. There are some instructions in the Engine FAQ forum, or use the methods shown here: http://cdielectronics.com/InstallSheet/193-4476.pdf

 

[jaymasta]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

I don't have the capability to test the rectifier myself as described, I do have a basic multimeter and could test any components with that, I called my shop they say $100 bucks to test the rectifier, $200 for a new rectifier or $260 installed 3 weeks before they can get me in this time of year(prime boating time). They did say though that it shouldn't have damaged the rectifier and that there is a fuse that protects the engine, I checked it and it is still ok. They suggest I try starting the engine and see if it runs and go from there, they say if I did damage the rectifier it will not start? So I am at a little bit of a los. Any other tips or advice would be helpfull at this point. Anything I can do with a basic multimeter would be helpful as well. (prime boating and fishing season here is right around the corner if not here right now)
Thanks

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Fuses protect the pos side. You had it backwards and ran juice through the neg wire, no fuse there. Check battery voltage with multimeter with engine off, then start and check voltage. The reading should be higher, it won't be much but any reading higher will indicate charging. If not the regulator is likely toast.

 

[ezeke]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

The fuse protects the remote control but nothing else.

The ignition system is open to shorts through the rectifier if the diodes fail.

You will be better off to disconnect the rectifier until you know that it is OK; that will have no effect on starting your engine, you just won't have battery charging.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

I would find a new mechanic

It is fairly straightforward to determine if there is a problem. Johnny/Rudes dont fuse their rectifiers. As Ezeke stated, dont run if you are not sure. Unhook it if you are not sure. Testing it is fairly easy, we can walk you through it. You may be ok, as stated, check your tach, and check to see if you are charging.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Now I'm curious as whether hooking a jumper backwards (still not good I know) will have the same effect as crossing wires, being that the wires on the motor were hooked up right. And yeah I may not take my motor to that mechanic.

And for future. It is kind of futile to jumpstart a boat unless you must have it running right then. They don't charge enough to overcome a dead battery, or if it does it would take hours and hours and hours. Next time just pull the battery and recharge. I have this type of battery plugin pigtail on my boat.

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?R=NW_740234_0063685698

Easy to unhook and remove battery and can't be crossed.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

I would find a new mechanic

It is fairly straightforward to determine if there is a problem. Johnny/Rudes dont fuse their rectifiers. As Ezeke stated, dont run if you are not sure. Unhook it if you are not sure. Testing it is fairly easy, we can walk you through it. You may be ok, as stated, check your tach, and check to see if you are charging.

So with a basic multimeter I can check the charging component of it which I would hook up to the battery and look for a slight increase in voltage once the engine starts, obviously my tach is pretty simple to check for operation, so do I do this with the rectifier sill connected?
Is it as simple as if the battery is getting charged everything should be ok?

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Shouldn't even have to start it just cranking you can see the tach move.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

what is a jumstart? Is that a strange disease?

 

[jaymasta]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

LOL wow , I didn't even notice that until now.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Ok so I charged my battery fully last night, today I hooked up my multimeter and the battery was at 12.99. I started the motor, it started up right away the voltage slowly rose to around 13.4X tach worked perfectly. I let it idle for a few minutes and the cold start circuit worked as it kept the engine idling around 1200rpm and then dropped down to 900rpm or so after a few minutes (I assume this means my power-pac is ok as well) I revved the engine up to 2000rpm and the voltage rose to 14.4X, let it idle a bit more then I shut it down. Is it safe to say that I am ok? Is there anything else I should check or do before I take my boat on the water. I think I will bring my multimeter on the water next time I go and watch the voltage as well, when underway with the engine at higher revs is there a max voltage I should be seeing?
Thanks again

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

God has surely smiled upon you my friend. If I was in your shoes, the next thing I would do is buy one single ticket on the lottery.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Yup, as Joe stated, sounds all good. Didnt fry anything and learned a few things along the way.

Not a bad day at all

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

Happy boating and drink a cold one for me

 

[jaymasta]

Re: jumstart accidentaly reversed polarity

God has surely smiled upon you my friend. If I was in your shoes, the next thing I would do is buy one single ticket on the lottery.

I am going to go ahead with that and purchase one later today.

Yup, as Joe stated, sounds all good. Didnt fry anything and learned a few things along the way.

Not a bad day at all

I certainly did and glad it didn't end up costing and arm and a leg

Happy boating and drink a cold one for me

I will be taking the boat out tomorrow, I will hopefully report back with a successful trip as well, and will enjoy a few cold ones.