New starter gone bad! What to do?

jiggineyes

Cadet
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
14
Just got a new starter less then 2 weeks ago. Had some fuel issues which with your guys help i was able to rebuild the carbs and fuel pump effortlessly. Thank you:). Anyways, was making my final adjustments on the idle when I I went to start it for the last time and all of a sudden my starter goes out. Relay just clicking. Same as when the starter went bad 2 weeks ago.

The day i got the starter I put it in and nothing. I brought it back and turns out the manufacturer had a paper gasket between body and ends, disrupting ground. They removed the gasket and it was good to go. Put it on and has worked good since.

My question is, is there something that could have caused this or do you think its just something went wrong with the starter? The relay is new as well and all connections were good when i put it on. Could there be a short causing it? Is there a way to check before I get the starter replaced so it wont happen again? Thanks!
 

crxess

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
559
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

First, make sure battery is charged and Good. A parts house or battery supplier can load test it.
Second, recheck all your connections and supply wires, power and ground.
Third, check for a blown main fuse.

Very odd for a new starter to fail. Does the motor turn over easily? Not binding?
 

jiggineyes

Cadet
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
14
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

Battery is new as of 1 month ago. I double checked all connections after it happened and all is well. I charged the battery on saturday and it had plenty of power just minutes before. I checked for power after the relay and theres power going to the starter. The starter is definetely out.

After having to return the starter to the place I got it from, to have it fixed after it being bad out of box, Im wondering if its the ground in the starter again.

Im just worried theres something that caused it and dont want to get stranded on the lake. Need to make sure its not something causing it so it doesnt happen again.
 

crxess

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
559
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

If you have confirmed everything is good then you just caught a Lemon. It happens. Only way to know for sure is have them replace that starter and try again.

I'm wondering if a brush has come loose from the initial problem/correction.
 

jiggineyes

Cadet
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Mar 12, 2009
Messages
14
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

I know its rare for a starter to go bad. Thats why Iwas concerned it was something causing it. To my knowledge everything is in good order just a failed starter.

This is a reman starter, fyi, for a 77 johnson 55 hp. Ill take it in tomorrow and have them replace it. im sure they might be able to fix it. But after it being bad out of box and now this, Id rather just get a different one.
 

Showtime22

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
133
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

I think it could be the solinoid. A run down battery can cause the solinoid to fail.

I had a starter go bad on me days after a rebuild. I was having motor issues and I had run the battery down enough to burn out the solinoid. When I brought the starter back to the shop they informed me this is common. It was 30 bux to fix.

Now I always try to hook up the charger when I use the starter a lot but also I take breaks to not over heat it.
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

If it is not the starter, it is much, much more common for the problem to be in your battery cables and battery connections than in the solenoid, if the battery is good.

The cables and connections corrode internally, especially at wear points; you cannot usually see it, but you can almost always find the heat caused by resistance after cranking by touch.
 

jiggineyes

Cadet
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
14
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

The silanoid or relay was replaced with the starter 2 weeks ago.

So the battery, silanoid, starter, main fuse are all just weeks old. The only thing not new in the chain from battery to starter is the cables. They could use some new connectors and a fresh cut!:D Just might be the problem. ill get new connectors and trim the ends nice before I put the starter in. That could be the ticket.

Thanks for the help guys!
 

lindy46

Captain
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
3,886
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

My neighbor couldn't get his starter to turn over the other day. I disconnected the battery cables, took a wire brush to the ends and shined them up real good, and starter worked fine. Sometimes it's the simple things:)
 

Showtime22

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
133
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

If you have the starter out now and want to check its operation, you can bench test it, instead of installing it. Secure it in a vice and get out cables.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: New starter gone bad! What to do?

My bux are on bad starter cables or connection. A visual inspection is NEVER adequate to determine that connections are good. They must be removed and cleaned.

Your first starter probably wasn't bad either.
 
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