Merc 500 Thunderbolt, 1974, single click start

[cbcrawford]

Okay, I found a couple threads with this, but I need some more detail . . . I have a 50HP 1974 Merc 500 that gives a single CLICK when I turn the key. Tested the battery, good. Tested the Starter (at autozone), good. So, using my car knowledge, I replaced the solenoid using the process of elimination. Needless to say (since I'm writing this) it did not solve the problem, still a single click.<br /><br />I replaced the battery w/one that I am POSITIVE is good. I am now positive that the solenoid is not the issue, and I used jumper cables from the good battery straight to the starter - no spin at all. (I read in other posts that it could be as simple as corroded or loose wiring, but I thought I'd test the starter again myself just to make sure before I started digging.)<br /><br />Is it possible that the starter test (performed at autozone) was a fluke? or is there a trick I'm missing in jumping straight to the starter from the battery to test it? I'm relatively handy, so if you've got a procedure to go with, please lemme know!<br /><br />Thanks;<br />Chris Crawford

 

[Laddies]

Re: Merc 500 Thunderbolt, 1974, single click start

ck the engine plug in at the side of the cowling they tind to corrode. yes you can jump around the solinoid but be careful, before doing that ck your grounds, ck voltage on both sides of the solinoid to see if you have a bad solinoid they can corrode inside and not make contact but still click---bob

 

[cbcrawford]

Re: Merc 500 Thunderbolt, 1974, single click start

I just put on a brand new soolenoid (see above, origionaly thought it was the problem) <br /><br />If I'm running a ground (negative) from the battery, and a hot (postivie) from the battery, shouldn't that make the starter spin, or am I missing something here?<br /><br />CC

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Merc 500 Thunderbolt, 1974, single click start

Yes it should, as long as all is clean and tight and you're using fat enough wire.<br /><br />-W

 

[cbcrawford]

Re: Merc 500 Thunderbolt, 1974, single click start

Update -<br />Starter spun, then didn't, then did - intermittently w/ the battery cables & nothing else.<br /><br />Took starter apart, in the bottom are four "triangles" that are hooked to the hot and ground in pairs, I assume these get the starter spinning. One of the screws that lead to one of the two negatives was stripped, and not consistantly making contact with the grounded frame of the starter to which it screws into.<br /><br />I will assume (for now) that this is the problem, and in order to fix it (without replacing the starter) I need to secure the screw back into it's hole while still retaining conductivity.<br /><br />So now my question is, what magic material / adhesive / etc is there that I can resecure this screw in a tight place to it's origional location?<br /><br />Chris

 

[cbcrawford]

Re: Merc 500 Thunderbolt, 1974, single click start

Reply to myself here, for the record . . .<br /><br />I'm going to try to use solder (a lot) to secure the screw and the terminal back into place, will give an update after I try it out.<br /><br />CC