reversed battery polarity

[bigdog]

Working on an 84 Force 85 - hooked battery up backwards - big pop, circuit breaker tripped, but now when reset I can't connect battery with correct leads without big sparks...also notice I have no resistance between terminals of starter solinoid regardless of key position...any advice? Did I blow the starter solinoid? anything else to check out? I feel so stupid - thanks

 

[eurolarva]

Re: reversed battery polarity

Hook an ohm meter between your battery leads. Disconnect lead going to starter solinoid and see if ohms jump up. Also disconnect wires going to the rectifier/regulator. If ohms go up try reconnecting the battery and see if it will now work. Test the choke see if it works. Remove starter solinoid and test high power lead to high power lead with an ohm meter. You should read an open or very high ohms. Test the small lead on the starter solinoid with an ohm meter and the other lead to the body of the solinoid. Ohms should be real low like 0.6-0.9 ohms. To test starter solinoid connect a 10 amp battery charger to the small lead (+) and the black lead (-) to the mounting ear. Hook an ohm meter to the high power legs of the solinoid. when you turn the battery charger on you should get a low ohm or zero ohm condition on the meter. When you remove the power you should get an open or high ohm condition.

 

[bigdog]

Re: reversed battery polarity

Hook an ohm meter between your battery leads. Disconnect lead going to starter solinoid and see if ohms jump up. Also disconnect wires going to the rectifier/regulator. If ohms go up try reconnecting the battery and see if it will now work. Test the choke see if it works. Remove starter solinoid and test high power lead to high power lead with an ohm meter. You should read an open or very high ohms. Test the small lead on the starter solinoid with an ohm meter and the other lead to the body of the solinoid. Ohms should be real low like 0.6-0.9 ohms. To test starter solinoid connect a 10 amp battery charger to the small lead (+) and the black lead (-) to the mounting ear. Hook an ohm meter to the high power legs of the solinoid. when you turn the battery charger on you should get a low ohm or zero ohm condition on the meter. When you remove the power you should get an open or high ohm condition.

 

[bigdog]

Re: reversed battery polarity

Test results: with ohm meter between battery leads, disconecting ead to solinoid causes ohms to jump up. disconnecting wires to rectifier does NOT cause ohm jump. high power terminals on solinoid read open. reading between small solinoid terminals (I have two, one of which is connected to body) reads .05 ohms (zero point 05). Applying 12V across small leads causes solinoid to click and ohms drop to 0 across high power leads.

Testing rectifier per manual suggests its fried - continuity running both directions between leads book states should support continuity in one direction only. Also, with all wires disconnected from rectifier, battery does not ground out.

Is there something I should do beyond ordering a new rectifier? Any recommendations about sources of parts for Force 85? THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: reversed battery polarity

Usually when a rectifier fries it fries open and yours fried as a short. The rectifier is a diode which only allows voltage to flow one way. That is the laymans reason why you can only read ohms one way. Your starter solinoid reads pretty low. I have two and both read about .7 volts not .07. If it were me I would try rehooking up the starter and starter solinoid. Keep the rectifier disconnected and see if you can hook up battery without a spark. Note your gas can should be removed and no gas fumes should be present for safety. If you smell gas use a fan or a blower of some sort. If you can hook up battery without sparks try starting it with rectifier disconnected however dont run it. I dont know your ignition system and without the rectifier connected it could cause problems with it.

If starter will spin get a new rectifier and see what happens. Good luck

 

[bigdog]

Re: reversed battery polarity

Connected battery with rectifier removed, engine cranks fine. I also have very strong spark at all plugs so I'm hoping that means the CD units are OK. Ordered new rectifier today so will install and hopefully be good to go.

Thank you again.