I have a 1992 cat 28 with the m3-20 engine. batteries are new group 31's and all fuel lines, filters and primary pump are new.
PO's written instructions to me were to run the glow plugs for 75 seconds!
I had no idea until recently that this length of time is excessive.
Anyway this past weekend we had trouble starting while anchored at Russel Island - low oil warning buzzer didn't go on with the key turned on - engine would crank but not fire up - did the draining the wet lift muffler three times before it did finally catch (BTW I did not glow plug for more than 30 seconds!).
When it did fire up almost immediately it began to run really fast with the throttle at idle - I pulled the engine stop cable and the it would not stop but ran at what sounded like a very slow idle.
I thought it might be the dreaded "run away dieseling" and since I had never heard this before didn't knoe what else to think!
I was trying to get the really poorly designed air filter off so I could stuff a plug int the air intake port when I noticed awisp of smke coming from the other side of the engine. Thinking electrical fire I immediately turned off all power at the battery switch and the engine instantly stopped!
So now I new it wasn't dieseling but what?
Looked at the starter in the area that the smoke had come from and checked the wiring coming from the harness to the alternator and noticed that the really old electrical tape on these wires were a little melted. Felt the starter and it was quite hot - in retrospect no wonder! - it had been turning over for a good five minutes. tried turning power on again and discover that the starter is still engaged. left every thing to cool and went looking for any other signs of trouble - removed the starter panel in the cockpit and found a wire that showed signs of melting! gave the starter solenoid a good thump and it released. Started the engine again - no problem this time but on checking the alternator output got a reading of 38 volts!
Shut down immediately and traced the "hot" wire behind the stater panel to alternator . On further investigation of the wiring at the starter panel I found the old and I presume original wiring harness end to be all taped up and held together with a zip strap taking all this off I now discover that this harness connector ( 8 pins) had at time partially melted!! What a mess!
So now the alternator is in the shop being diagnosed and hopefully soon to come home like new.
Now to the major wiring and solenoid issues.
I have been reading some of the c34 threads on wiring harnesses and wonder if I am not better off to run new wiring directly to the starter panel from the alternator and starter.
Any thought or suggestions are welcome while I await the news from the alternator shop.
Thanks,
Bill
s/v Peiades
#246
PO's written instructions to me were to run the glow plugs for 75 seconds!
I had no idea until recently that this length of time is excessive.
Anyway this past weekend we had trouble starting while anchored at Russel Island - low oil warning buzzer didn't go on with the key turned on - engine would crank but not fire up - did the draining the wet lift muffler three times before it did finally catch (BTW I did not glow plug for more than 30 seconds!).
When it did fire up almost immediately it began to run really fast with the throttle at idle - I pulled the engine stop cable and the it would not stop but ran at what sounded like a very slow idle.
I thought it might be the dreaded "run away dieseling" and since I had never heard this before didn't knoe what else to think!
I was trying to get the really poorly designed air filter off so I could stuff a plug int the air intake port when I noticed awisp of smke coming from the other side of the engine. Thinking electrical fire I immediately turned off all power at the battery switch and the engine instantly stopped!
So now I new it wasn't dieseling but what?
Looked at the starter in the area that the smoke had come from and checked the wiring coming from the harness to the alternator and noticed that the really old electrical tape on these wires were a little melted. Felt the starter and it was quite hot - in retrospect no wonder! - it had been turning over for a good five minutes. tried turning power on again and discover that the starter is still engaged. left every thing to cool and went looking for any other signs of trouble - removed the starter panel in the cockpit and found a wire that showed signs of melting! gave the starter solenoid a good thump and it released. Started the engine again - no problem this time but on checking the alternator output got a reading of 38 volts!
Shut down immediately and traced the "hot" wire behind the stater panel to alternator . On further investigation of the wiring at the starter panel I found the old and I presume original wiring harness end to be all taped up and held together with a zip strap taking all this off I now discover that this harness connector ( 8 pins) had at time partially melted!! What a mess!
So now the alternator is in the shop being diagnosed and hopefully soon to come home like new.
Now to the major wiring and solenoid issues.
I have been reading some of the c34 threads on wiring harnesses and wonder if I am not better off to run new wiring directly to the starter panel from the alternator and starter.
Any thought or suggestions are welcome while I await the news from the alternator shop.
Thanks,
Bill
s/v Peiades
#246
