Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

[Scali]

Figured I'd start a new thread on this.<br />I accidently grounded the starter solonoid while tightening it couple days ago & had issues starting the boat after the incident { Motor's a '94 40 4 cyl }.<br />She would start, then nothing then bump over.<br />I thought it was the rectifier, changed it this morning then the same problems started happening also I believe I got a shock from the controls when trying to start it this morning.. I went to a marina had a meter put on battery while running & it's putting out up to 18 volts !!<br />Man, that cant be good, kid @ marina tells me it's the voltage regulator needs replacing, I agreed but I've been reading up on this motor in my Solec manual & it doesnt seem to have a voltage regulator ??? <br />Where do I go from here ?<br />Can it be the starter solonoid thats fried ?<br /> <br />Thanks for any help with this, I have a few more days off before starting a new job & the fluke are a biting.. Geeze , perfect timing

 

[chuckz]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Where did you measure 18 volts? At the battery? If you have 18 volts at the rectifier you have a large voltage drop between it and the battery.<br /><br />Remove, clean and tighten the wiring between the battery and the engine. Include the wires to the starter. You have a high resistance connection someplace (high being a relative term). This would account for your high voltage reading and your intermittent starting problem.

 

[Scali]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Thanks for chiming in, 18 volts was read @ the battery..<br />On the positive stud on the starter solonoid, the backing nut { one closer to soloniod } doesnt tighten up, it's like stripped & keeps turning & turning..<br />So I think that component needs replaced for starters..<br />I'm going to pick one up today { hopefully if it's in stock @ Merc dealership near me } & take it from there.<br />Just wanted to add the starter clicks & when I press the choke that clicks so I dont believe I fried the neutral safty switch.<br />I was just working on it in the back yard on the muffs & starter engages one out of every 15 times I key it..<br />Man, 24 " fluke yesterday , why does this have to happen when the bite is on?

 

[Scali]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

LI Chuck, your post put me on the right track, I got the new starter soloniod & when removing the old one I had it basiclly fall apart in my hands { 11 yr. old motor I believe orig solinoid }.<br />Resistance is the word you used to jog my middle aged brain into remembering the other outboards I had with this same issue over the years. <br />Cables are good she bumps over like a new motor now, <br />thanks

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Where did they catch this fluke

 

[Scali]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Not they Bro, me.. ! <br />Sloop channel & Swift creek over by the bay houses.<br />Joe, I went out there today, spooled fresh 10 lb mono on my brass Penn ultrasport , tied a new Spro bucktail, got my spearing, ..<br />Went to Reynolds channel first , set up my first drift by 16 can got a hit then went to reposition for another drift, turned the key nothing but a little clicking noise.<br />Ahhhh mannn, took five minutes for this thing to bump over then I devoted the day on fixing it right & I think the old Mercs good to go.<br />Tommorow I'll get my doormat { I hope } LOL

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

If you have a bad sol. it was bad before you grounded it. If that is the problem, you can by pass to start in an emergency, just touch the 2 heavy cables together until it starts(with key on)which is what a sol. does, brings battery voltage to the starter wheh key is turned to start. As for the lock tite there are many types the one you need is a medium lock, it won't perminately lock nuts, they are still removeable, but won't vibrate loose. Now back to the fishing, maybe I'll sneak out tomorrow after work. Spearing & bucktail, Anyone using live killie & squid?

 

[Scali]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Not me with the killies & squid, people are using those baits, I think the squid is better for fluking in the ocean or if theres squid in the bays which I dont see too often..<br />I sometimes use a fluke bellie strip with the spearing but not too often also what I do is put 2 or 3 spearings on the hook, I dont like the bucktail to be too heavy with these other baits as it takes away from the way it bounces.<br />I believe the key to catch nice sized fluke is Spro bucktails with these Gamakatsu hooks, I like the 3 D look to the head also, they increase the hookup rate by 10 % easy just by foul hooking these fish as they ambush the bait .<br />I've got 5 fluke this year over 21 inches to 24 & 3 were foul hooked.<br />Back to the Merc,<br />what happened was when I put the wrench to this starter solonoid it broke the post inside the thing. I wont be doing that again, a little Loctite maybe or the liquid electrical tape & thats it. I noticed theres no lock washers on the rectifier, so I'm going to install a couple then stay out of the friggan electrical box @ least not when hungover after a holiday ..<br />I'm pretty sure I'm good to go though, I just have to see if I'm still getting putting out close to 18 volts tommorow, I'm going to boil my battery @ that rate, had to add some distilled water today about a pint.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

If you are still puttting out 18 volts, turn on some accessories. Drawing current should bring the voltage down.

 

[bobrock]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

thats alot of long islanders....

 

[Scali]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Lets go Islanders ..Hey, whens hockey coming back,<br />I miss watching Nystrom & Billy Smith ..<br />Boat ran like a top , just came back from a low tide cruise for a couple hours.<br />Better then ever..<br />Thanks again LI Chuck, I didnt put a meter on it yet but hopefully it came down with these new parts I noticed I had the brightest stern light I've ever seen today, LOL

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

Hey Scali, 18v is not uncommon in these motors when run at about 3000RPM and higher. I've got a voltmeter on my dash and it is alway up around 16-18v at planing speed. At idle I get between 13-15V. Because there is no regulator the voltage output is high. A good marine battery will tolerate the high voltage but an auto battery will not and you will boil the liquid out of it. I run the lights or bilge pump or what ever and the voltage drops down to normal range again. I to thought this was a problem but after some inquiries and talking with a few techs I found this to be the norm.

 

[Scali]

Re: Motors putting out 18 volts & not working right, HELP !!

RodC I was hoping you'd catch this thread with an opinion.<br />Yes, I checked the search feature here on the site & came to the same conclusion that these 4 cylinder 40's { & 50's } put out higher voltage & it's OK when set up right..<br />Add this to the things a little unique to this engine, no thermostat, no voltage regulator,,