Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn over

mmuutts

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1984 SR Cuddy small block GM 305/350 family 220-260hp, fresh water cooled, with the 2 barrel carb... SEI 106 outdrive Still looking for the ser.and model #'s

OK...I have checked all the connections..cleaned and sanded and tightend. Followed the check list listed at this site...She just clicks..does not turn over....I turned the motor over by hand to make sure nothing was frozen...put a new batt. in.....I am just having a hard time beliving the starter is bad....any thoughts would be awwesome!

Whats the red button by the carb? I push it..does not seem to do any thing?

THanks....
 

Don S

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Corrosion is the normal reason they go bad when setting. Moisture in the starter = rust = poor contact, stuck brushes.

Might pull the starter, and have your local starter/alternator shop have a look at it.
 

rickryder

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Starter can have some corrosion in it....it happens... Have someone turn key and tap starter lightly with a hammer....it may unstick but you should replace it if its starting to rust inside....
 

flashback

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

did you get any rain water in the bilge over the winter, If the water in the bilge reached the starter, then you will have problems.......
 

90stingray

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

The red button on the engine... i think it should be a circuit breaker. You shouldn't have to ever reset or push it back in.
 

Bt Doctur

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

PHYSICALLY CHECK the battery cable connections BOTH positive and negative ends, especially where it connects to the block.
 

Silvertip

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Use a pair of jumper cables and go directly to the starter. If it goes, you have a solenoid or wiring issue. If not, you have a starter issue. Did you charge that new battery?? Just because it's new does not mean it is fully charged. You can also put a voltmeter on the battery. Turn the key to start and see what happens to the voltmeter. If it drops to anything below 10.5 volts you have a dead battery or a bad starter.
 

paultjohnson

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Cables.... UNDERNEATH the crimped on connector, where the connector contacts the wire . I chased that gremlin, cleaned all the connections etc. Prob remained. Then I discovered the corrosion that i couldnt see. Cables LOOKED mint, but.......... Cut an inch of the wire ends, replaced the connectors w new ones prob solved!
 

mmuutts

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Thanks everyone! I will get busy and let you all know what come of it...thanks again
 

jumpjets

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

That sounds like a bad battery to me. WHen stores get those batteries in stock, they sit on the shelf for months and loose thier charge. I would ensure that the battery is 100% before I started tearing into other, more expensive parts of the system.
 

wakina

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

There is possibly another starter slave solinoid attached to the frame that holds that red circuit breaker reset buttom that you mentioned. If there is, there should be 2 terminals on the top of the solinoid one with a red stripped yellow wire. Jumper accross the two terminals on the top of this soliniod if all you get is a click then the problem is most likely the starter or battery, if the engine turns over then replace this solinod. Had the same type of problem and it was this slave solinoid that I am referring to.

NOTE: The key might have to be in the run position to get power to the solinoid!
 
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mmuutts

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Removed the starter today....and.....rusty water was/is driping out of it...lol...I guess its rusty inside....Time for a new one...does any one have a sugestion on a replacement/brand and ...Now that I know that water did reach that level...is there any thing else I should be checking out? Thanks every-one for there help...
 

Bondo

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Removed the starter today....and.....rusty water was/is driping out of it...lol...I guess its rusty inside....Time for a new one...does any one have a sugestion on a replacement/brand and ...Now that I know that water did reach that level...is there any thing else I should be checking out? Thanks every-one for there help...

Ayuh,... Ya might be able to find it by clickin' on the Marine Store button, upper portside corner of this page....

Somebody's gotta pay the rent here,.... ;)
 

Fishermark

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

Whats the red button by the carb? I push it..does not seem to do any thing?

Wow - man are you lucky! That is your self destruct button. You actually pushed it??? Someone must have disconnected it.

:D

Either that, or it is the circuit breaker like mentioned above. Depends upon what model you have. ;)
 

mmuutts

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Re: Why would the starter go bad after sitting for juat a few months? Will not turn o

OK...However, I am still tryin to find out what engine I have....The is a large numer on the block..878...on the exhaust there is a number 807988-C....and on the spark ar....the number 805016/1 and SAE J-1928 Thats all the numbers I have found so far....If these are no good does any one know what the ser. would start or end with? THanks!
 
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