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Starter motor problems

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Created by andy59 > 9 months ago, 19 Sep 2015
andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 3:30PM
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Finnished the twilight race on Thursday and went to start the motor and nothing happened. Luckily I was able to hand crank the engine and tie up at the marina. Batteries are new and at 13.6 volts
I've spent the last few hours checking all the connections switches and relay for no result
I've tried to bypass the solenoid but have not been able to figure out how to do that

There is 13.6 volts at the upper terminal of the solenoid.
Needless to say I have a lot to learn about electrics.
Any advice would be appreciated

cisco
QLD, 12365 posts
19 Sep 2015 4:15PM
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You are lucky to be able to hand crank start. I assume you have an older heavy exposed flywheel engine, Volvo or Buhk??

My 660 cc Yanmar has hand crank and decompressors but it defies anyone less brawny than a silver back gorilla to start it.

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 4:27PM
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On rhe started there is a solinoid
The battery + cable is conected to the solinoid
If you look for that cable and follow it to the starter motor you will see a small wire with a spade type teminal
With a screw drive take power off the large + cable at the soliniod and touch the screw driver on to the small terminal
Also on the soliniod there will be a heavy cable going to the starter motor
What happen is when you turn your key to start your engine the small wire magnetises the aolinod and pulls the soliniod which in turn soes two thing it forces the starter gear out so it engages the fly wheel ring gear
The other thinh is it also directs the power to the starter motor and spins it to start
The monster bukh dv24 with aursome bad boy power even kubutoa turn and run

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 4:41PM
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Yep that's right Cisco it's the mighty old Bukh DV24 a joy to hand crank but turning a key is preferable
Thanks HG will try that now

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 4:56PM
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See the yellow terminal on mine thats the small wire and there are two larger terminals with nuts use the one that cones from the battety
Not the one that goes to the starter

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 4:58PM
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Hi HG I tried this and only got a few sparks nothing else.
In the photo the screw driver is pushed against the + terminal and the outboard spade connector

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:00PM
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Ok
Did you clean your battery treminals before you fitted your batteries
Try that small terminal a couple of time first
If your terminals are clean and you say you have 13.6 @ the battery solinoid terminal first check you earth terminal at where it conects to the motor
Make sure its tight a clean
Then id be removing the starter motor and check out the soliniod and also the started bushes

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:01PM
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Yes all batt terminals and connections are clean

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:06PM
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Maybe I will bring a power pack down tomorrow to eliminate the possibility of a bad cable

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:08PM
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Gove the soliniod a couple taps with some thing
Metal while doing so swear say kubuto three times while doing it andy

Then try it again

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:09PM
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Select to expand quote
HG02 said...
Ok
Did you clean your battery treminals before you fitted your batteries
Try that small terminal a couple of time first
If your terminals are clean and you say you have 13.6 @ the battery solinoid terminal first check you earth terminal at where it conects to the motor
Make sure its tight a clean
Then id be removing the starter motor and check out the soliniod and also the started bushes



Thanks for your help Hg will try all those things then remove the starter

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:11PM
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You could also spray some crc into the front of the starter where the bendix cog lives next to the fly wheel ring gear
She minght be a bit dry

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:13PM
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The soliniod should make a clicking sound if its working before it turns the starter

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 5:14PM
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Maybe I should give this a clean

Toph
WA, 1890 posts
19 Sep 2015 3:30PM
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Yuck... I was going to suggest your earth lead..

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
19 Sep 2015 7:05PM
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Oh well I cleaned the earth lead connection but still no joy. Tomorrow I will try a battery pack direct to the starter and if that doesn't work I'll pull the starter off.

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 7:46PM
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Select to expand quote
andy59 said..
Oh well I cleaned the earth lead connection but still no joy. Tomorrow I will try a battery pack direct to the starter and if that doesn't work I'll pull the starter off.


Some time when I'm trying to find the fault I feel the terminals and the earth connections for any heat ifs there any heat it means that connection has a resistance and needs cleaning . Its a bush technique if you don't have a muilti meter with you
Select to expand quote
andy59 said..




Maybe I should give this a clean



even after you clean this terminal the wire might have a resistance between it and the terminal internally . boiling water helps clean them off.
I have seen a brand new batteries fitted and the terminals look clean and even the terminals were cleaned but there was a film on the new battery post causing a resistance and stopping current it could read 13.6 but when you apply the ignition switch it could not work . That when I feel the terminals see if there's any heat .
The actual bolt hole need a good file so there's fresh metal to make contact as well as filing the side of the terminal

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 7:59PM
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I took this when I got home its on the DV24
the large terminal on top of the solenoid and the blue wired small terminal are the ones I meant to short out to operate the solenoid . I think you've done that
Personally Id remove the starter and if there's a cover over the brushes Id remove it and have a look make sure its clean wet and dry sand papers good to use even if you pull it apart and clean it use some emery paper on the armature where the bushes run and after make sure the segments are clean between them
Then see if the inner rod of the solenoid can be removed and wet and dried and spray some lubricant of some description in there so it slides in and out OK
The outer section of a solenoid is just copper winding so when its excited my electricity it creates a magnetic field and fores the rod in or out .
But behind those nuts and terminal is a copper pad that makes a circuit between the two nuts . its a contact similar to a old points in a distributor in a car ( pre electronic ) and just like a car if the pints are dirty it wont make a circuit.

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
19 Sep 2015 8:01PM
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A mixture of hot water and baking soda will clean most terminal . These days on my car I'm lazy I just boil the jug and pour it over the battery and battery posts

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
20 Sep 2015 8:48AM
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Thanks for all the advice. I will take some baking soda down to the boat today. Failing all that I will pull the starter motor off.

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
20 Sep 2015 9:38AM
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theres a couple of you tube vids

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
21 Sep 2015 3:52PM
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Thanks again for all your help and advice guys.
The starter is off and as dead as a door nail
I dropped it off to a local auto electrician who is going to have a look at it and give a quote
Failing that a new starter off eBay is 165 pounds which is better than $1000 from Bukh aus



fishmonkey
NSW, 494 posts
21 Sep 2015 3:59PM
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if the solenoid is not doing anything then the starter motor itself is probably okay...

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
21 Sep 2015 6:47PM
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Select to expand quote
andy59 said..
Thanks again for all your help and advice guys.
The starter is off and as dead as a door nail
I dropped it off to a local auto electrician who is going to have a look at it and give a quote
Failing that a new starter off eBay is 165 pounds which is better than $1000 from Bukh aus





good stuff Andy take it to one who knows

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
22 Sep 2015 1:39PM
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Turns out the armature has an open circuit and is stuffed.
The auto electrician can supply an original for $550 or I can buy one of eBay for £165 plus freight or $360 plus freight
By the time I pay for freight wait for delivery and risk getting ripped off or the wrong part it's probably worth supporting the local guy

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
22 Sep 2015 2:12PM
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Select to expand quote
andy59 said...
Turns out the armeture has an open circuit and is stuffed.
The auto electrician can supply an original for $550 or I can buy one of eBay for £165 plus freight or $360 plus freight
By the time I pay for freight wait for delivery and risk getting ripped off or the wrong part it's probably worth supporting the local guy


Can lend you mine off the dv24 till you get yours fixed[:)

andy59
QLD, 1156 posts
22 Sep 2015 3:29PM
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Thanks for the offer HG. Very kind of you!
But its really no biggy to spin that old flywheel up and let her rip. Funny thing is I kind of enjoy hand starting it. (that probably wont last for long)

HG02
VIC, 5814 posts
22 Sep 2015 3:32PM
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Well it just sitting there if you change your mind

cisco
QLD, 12365 posts
22 Sep 2015 10:37PM
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Select to expand quote
andy59 said..
Thanks for the offer HG. Very kind of you!
But its really no biggy to spin that old flywheel up and let her rip. Funny thing is I kind of enjoy hand starting it. (that probably wont last for long)


I would find the ability to hand start my engine very satisfying and a good daily exercise. Problem is that it would result in me having a gorilla arm and a match stick arm.



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"Starter motor problems" started by andy59