Mercruser 350 acts like it's throwing a breaker when trying to start

['60Buickrod]

I've got a '80 Chris Craft Scorpion 230SL that I just got. Since then I had it running (idleing) I checked on the engine and the water pump and alternator wern't spinning. I immediatlly shut it down and found out the alternator was completly frozen up. I checked the compression on it and it was good and the oil is clean so it hasen't overheated so I went to replacing the alternator. <br /><br />At some point apparently they switched to a one wire alternator, so I was switching it to a 12-si 3-wire instead of the 10-si 1 wire because the 1 wires are very inefficient.<br /> <br />Any way I had it all hooked up and went to start it but all it did was make a clicking sound(like the coil firing) and it wouldn't turn. I traced that to a corroded wire for the electric fuel pump. <br />I fixed that and went to try it again and it made a sound like the starter solenoid engaging and then everything died, I shut off the ignition waited a few seconds and tried again and it did the same thing. Is there something I'm missing?<br /><br />I thought I'd ask on here before I go out tommorow and try and trace down the problem because there might be something on it that I'm missing seeing how I'm used to working on my boat that stays out of the water(my car).

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Mercruser 350 acts like it's throwing a breaker when trying to start

Originally posted by '60Buickrod:<br /> I fixed that and went to try it again and it made a sound like the starter solenoid engaging and then everything died,

Try this - remove both battery terminals, wire brush the posts and the lugs. Reconnect and tighten.

 

['60Buickrod]

Re: Mercruser 350 acts like it's throwing a breaker when trying to start

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br />

Originally posted by '60Buickrod:<br /> I fixed that and went to try it again and it made a sound like the starter solenoid engaging and then everything died,

Try this - remove both battery terminals, wire brush the posts and the lugs. Reconnect and tighten.

I'll give that a try, last night I tried the connections and they seemed to be good, I couldn't see any corrosion on them but it was getting dark. <br /><br />I've got the larger of the two batteries on the charger right now and after I get home from church I'm gonna switch 'em over and put the other one on.<br /><br />That's another thing it takes two batteries to turn the thing one is an 800 and the other is a 600. That seems like alot to me seeing how my car has a much higher compression ratio and it uses a 1000A battery

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruser 350 acts like it's throwing a breaker when trying to start

You've either got a Really Bad Starter,.....<br />Or some Really Corroded Wiring......<br /><br />You're Right,...... Even 1 of those batteries Should be more than able to Start that motor.........

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: Mercruser 350 acts like it's throwing a breaker when trying to start

a quick voltage drop test will narrow it down for you. substituting some jumper cables for the ground and feed will also tell you your starter or cables are bad.

 

['60Buickrod]

Re: Mercruser 350 acts like it's throwing a breaker when trying to start

It turns out the negative terminal was caught where it felt like it was tight but today out in the sun where I could see better it turns out it was not tightened all of the way. <br /><br />I'm going to get new sparkplugs and change out the oil in it later today or tommorow so I'll be able to tell if tightening them fixed the hard starting also.