I have an 86 H31 that has faithfully started for 4 years untill this week. I took a group of friends out sailing last month and afterwards neglected to set the charger back on to keep the batteries fresh. Went down to the boat over the week-end and saw my mistake, I put the charger back on and let charge fro a day. The batteries show all charged to 13+ volts. Now when I turn the key and press the starter button I get a click click click sound from both the control panel and (I think) the solenoid. I have taken all the contacts apart on the control panel and cleaned for possible corrosion as well as the battery posts. I also cleaned the starter and ground connnections on the Yanmar 2 cyl engine. I called Yanmar in Portland, they think it's a solenoid, tolm me this is $100. Has anyone experienced this before and if so how did you fix? Steve(H31 Guru)when you read this I retire at the end of this month. I'm in Portland and would really welcome an e-mail or call on advice for possible fixes. Mike Questions 1. My 3 batteries show charged, could they still fail to turn the engine? 2. Is there a way to bypass the control panel to test the solenoid? 3. Has anyone had a starter button on the control panel go bad? Do my symtoms sound similar? 4. Does anyone have a lcoation where I might find a wiring diagram for the yanmar control panel for an 86 H31? Thanks in advance for your help.
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Quick battery check
If you get the clicking when you hit the starter, it just may be weak batteries. If you release the compression on the engine, the starter should be able to spin the engine. This of course assumes that it is just weak batteries. If the starter does spin the engine, once it is spinning, push the compression levers down one at a time and the engine may catch. You don't want to spin the engine for a long time or for many tries unless you shut off the raw water intake or the engine as while it is spinning, it is drawing in cooling water, but without the exhaust, it can't get rid of it. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
If you get the clicking when you hit the starter, it just may be weak batteries. If you release the compression on the engine, the starter should be able to spin the engine. This of course assumes that it is just weak batteries. If the starter does spin the engine, once it is spinning, push the compression levers down one at a time and the engine may catch. You don't want to spin the engine for a long time or for many tries unless you shut off the raw water intake or the engine as while it is spinning, it is drawing in cooling water, but without the exhaust, it can't get rid of it. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
Probably not button...
When our starter button went bad, we did not get any of the clicking when it was pushed. It was just a deafening silence. My guess is it's not the button. When our batteries eventually went bad though, we had exactly the symptoms you describe. It would also be wise to test the selenoid first. I'd have to look in my electrical bible before I could tell you how to check it though.
When our starter button went bad, we did not get any of the clicking when it was pushed. It was just a deafening silence. My guess is it's not the button. When our batteries eventually went bad though, we had exactly the symptoms you describe. It would also be wise to test the selenoid first. I'd have to look in my electrical bible before I could tell you how to check it though.
Ideas to Try
Mike, Put a bulb or voltmeter across the engine battery, switch on and press the button. If the light goes out - or very dim - suspect the battery. Next, if you can get to the solenoid, temporarily short the two large terminals on the solenoid together (not to the engine casing) using a screwdriver. If the engine turns over the starter motor is okay. Now put the bulb or voltmeter between the small terminal on the solenoid and the engine casing. Switch on and press the button. If the bulb lights the button and its wiring is okay. So then it most likely will be the solenoid or its wires and connections.
Mike, Put a bulb or voltmeter across the engine battery, switch on and press the button. If the light goes out - or very dim - suspect the battery. Next, if you can get to the solenoid, temporarily short the two large terminals on the solenoid together (not to the engine casing) using a screwdriver. If the engine turns over the starter motor is okay. Now put the bulb or voltmeter between the small terminal on the solenoid and the engine casing. Switch on and press the button. If the bulb lights the button and its wiring is okay. So then it most likely will be the solenoid or its wires and connections.
starter test
Try jumping the starter from the large nut from battery to the small nut if it starts than the starter is good if not check for corrison on all connections. nick
Try jumping the starter from the large nut from battery to the small nut if it starts than the starter is good if not check for corrison on all connections. nick
Diesel Electric shop
Mike: I am glad to hear that you finally retired. I was sort of worrying about the tour of duty to the gulf region. Now that you are home and retired you have time to screw with these trivial pursuits. I would try bypassing the starter button directly to the solenoid. If you start you may still have something else going on. If your engine still does NOT start, I would suggest that you remove the starter and take it to a good diesel electric shop or some place that rebuilds these things. They will be able to check out your starter assembly and should know if it is your problem. If the starter is okay, you will want to pull your batteries and have them 'load tested'. Even when you have a good voltage test, you may not have the adequate number of amps to turn the starter (they draw between 50-100 amps). Let us know what you find. This is alway exciting times when an engine does not start. Just a tip. If you engine does not start, try opening the decompression levers and spin the engine. Once it is spinning you can drop the levers and the engine should fire. If the engine will not spin, then you have other problems. You can contact me at steve@sdcsoftware.com
Mike: I am glad to hear that you finally retired. I was sort of worrying about the tour of duty to the gulf region. Now that you are home and retired you have time to screw with these trivial pursuits. I would try bypassing the starter button directly to the solenoid. If you start you may still have something else going on. If your engine still does NOT start, I would suggest that you remove the starter and take it to a good diesel electric shop or some place that rebuilds these things. They will be able to check out your starter assembly and should know if it is your problem. If the starter is okay, you will want to pull your batteries and have them 'load tested'. Even when you have a good voltage test, you may not have the adequate number of amps to turn the starter (they draw between 50-100 amps). Let us know what you find. This is alway exciting times when an engine does not start. Just a tip. If you engine does not start, try opening the decompression levers and spin the engine. Once it is spinning you can drop the levers and the engine should fire. If the engine will not spin, then you have other problems. You can contact me at steve@sdcsoftware.com
It's Time
If your batteries are 4 years old it's time to give them a gold watch too and retire them. Good luck & health in retirement. I did it 3 years ago and loving every minute.
If your batteries are 4 years old it's time to give them a gold watch too and retire them. Good luck & health in retirement. I did it 3 years ago and loving every minute.
Does the engine turn over ??
I like to eliminate possibilities without changing parts too much first. Like someone said before, release the compression and see if the engine spins - first manually and then with the starter. Not too much of this. If you have a volt meter, watch it while the starter button is pushed. You could also watch your stern light if it is switched on. The voltage should drop but not too much (or the lights dim too much) if the batteries are ok. Try jumper cables and see if that fixes the problem. My gel cells are 6 years in my boat and were used when I got them. Still going strong. My bet is a loose/corroded connection or wire.
I like to eliminate possibilities without changing parts too much first. Like someone said before, release the compression and see if the engine spins - first manually and then with the starter. Not too much of this. If you have a volt meter, watch it while the starter button is pushed. You could also watch your stern light if it is switched on. The voltage should drop but not too much (or the lights dim too much) if the batteries are ok. Try jumper cables and see if that fixes the problem. My gel cells are 6 years in my boat and were used when I got them. Still going strong. My bet is a loose/corroded connection or wire.
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