Have Oday 272 LE with Universal 10 hp diesel. Lately requires pushing start button many times to get it to turn over. I hear a click down below but no action. After 5-10 pushes it turns. Someone suggested starter solenoid. Anyone have experience with this? signed Sore Finger
Engine starting issue
- Thread starter jiml
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It may be a bad starter switch. Go to the
starter solenoid and apply a jumper from the battery cable connection to the small (# 10) terminal on the solenoid. If it responds instantly it is the switch, if there is no responce it is probably the solenoid. In the case jumper between the two battery size connectors, you should get instant responce,(use heavy wire and wear a glove, it the wire could get HOT).
starter solenoid and apply a jumper from the battery cable connection to the small (# 10) terminal on the solenoid. If it responds instantly it is the switch, if there is no responce it is probably the solenoid. In the case jumper between the two battery size connectors, you should get instant responce,(use heavy wire and wear a glove, it the wire could get HOT).
Likely to be the starter switch
I had the same problem. After a few years the internal workings of the switch probably corrode. Starter switches are cheap and (at least with the Cat30) very easy to replace (20 minute job by a non-technical person!). Engine now starts at the first push of the button...very reassuring!
I had the same problem. After a few years the internal workings of the switch probably corrode. Starter switches are cheap and (at least with the Cat30) very easy to replace (20 minute job by a non-technical person!). Engine now starts at the first push of the button...very reassuring!
starting issue
I had an O'day 272LE for a number of years (great boat) and used to run into a sporadic problem starting. I think it was a dead spot on the starter motor. If it didn't start after a coupld of tries I would just manually push the fan belt a few inches, and it would always start. Of course, I could have replaced the starter, but it didn;t seem to justify the cost.
I had an O'day 272LE for a number of years (great boat) and used to run into a sporadic problem starting. I think it was a dead spot on the starter motor. If it didn't start after a coupld of tries I would just manually push the fan belt a few inches, and it would always start. Of course, I could have replaced the starter, but it didn;t seem to justify the cost.
Start with the basics.
Make sure the battery is fully charged and its connectors are clean and tight. If the solenoid clicks every time you push the button you can eliminate the key switch, the push button switch and the wiring harness from your suspect list. The fact that the selenoid activates does not mean that the high amperage side is or not making a proper connection. To determine if it is the solenoid or not go ahead an cross the large terminals on it with a jumper cable or a screw driver. (make sure the area is clean of fuel or oil as there may be sparks). Try it a few times and if the starter turns every time the the solenoid is bad. If the starter still does not turn, the solenoid may be good and you have a problem down the line. Then remove the starter and bench test it. A simple test is to connect the battery (+) cable directly to the starter and then lift the starter and rest the casing briefly on the (-) terminal, if the starter spins every time your problem is in the wiring and connections. If the starter fails to spin it will be the starter at fault. Worn bearings may cause the armature to rest against the field creating dead spots and worn brushes may result in intermitent connections. To correct this the starter must be rebuilt or replaced. After the fix test the system if it still clicks but fails to rotate the starter replace the solenoid. Most problems are caused by faulty wiring and connections so check all and replace suspect wires and make sure they are all tight. The difficulty in trouble shooting electrical components is that some of these faults can be intermitent and if you don't happen to hit on it while you are testing you could be going around in circles. So when you are testing the individual components do it three or four times to better your odds. There are testers out there in the market that will test the voltages through the starting system and pinpoint the faulty component but they can cost a couple of hundred dollars. These simple tests will accomplish the same thing with just a little bit more work. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Make sure the battery is fully charged and its connectors are clean and tight. If the solenoid clicks every time you push the button you can eliminate the key switch, the push button switch and the wiring harness from your suspect list. The fact that the selenoid activates does not mean that the high amperage side is or not making a proper connection. To determine if it is the solenoid or not go ahead an cross the large terminals on it with a jumper cable or a screw driver. (make sure the area is clean of fuel or oil as there may be sparks). Try it a few times and if the starter turns every time the the solenoid is bad. If the starter still does not turn, the solenoid may be good and you have a problem down the line. Then remove the starter and bench test it. A simple test is to connect the battery (+) cable directly to the starter and then lift the starter and rest the casing briefly on the (-) terminal, if the starter spins every time your problem is in the wiring and connections. If the starter fails to spin it will be the starter at fault. Worn bearings may cause the armature to rest against the field creating dead spots and worn brushes may result in intermitent connections. To correct this the starter must be rebuilt or replaced. After the fix test the system if it still clicks but fails to rotate the starter replace the solenoid. Most problems are caused by faulty wiring and connections so check all and replace suspect wires and make sure they are all tight. The difficulty in trouble shooting electrical components is that some of these faults can be intermitent and if you don't happen to hit on it while you are testing you could be going around in circles. So when you are testing the individual components do it three or four times to better your odds. There are testers out there in the market that will test the voltages through the starting system and pinpoint the faulty component but they can cost a couple of hundred dollars. These simple tests will accomplish the same thing with just a little bit more work. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
wiring
Check out the attached Westerbeke service bulletin 213 regarding Universal engines which will tell you that 1 the wire connections are coroded 2 the harness plug connectors are coroded 3 the inline fuse holder is coroded and / or 4 the original wiring from the starter button is just too damn small to carry the amps the stater solenoid needs. simple fix is to just run a new 10 gage wire to replace the existing 16 gage wire between the starter button and the solenoid. I bet that solves your problem. I assume you have the M-12. If you don't have the wiring diagram you can find it here: http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/universal/200157/universal-owners-manual-m-12-specifications.html
Check out the attached Westerbeke service bulletin 213 regarding Universal engines which will tell you that 1 the wire connections are coroded 2 the harness plug connectors are coroded 3 the inline fuse holder is coroded and / or 4 the original wiring from the starter button is just too damn small to carry the amps the stater solenoid needs. simple fix is to just run a new 10 gage wire to replace the existing 16 gage wire between the starter button and the solenoid. I bet that solves your problem. I assume you have the M-12. If you don't have the wiring diagram you can find it here: http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/universal/200157/universal-owners-manual-m-12-specifications.html
It's called the wiring harness upgrade
most all Catalina Associations have it posted (for the past 15 years or so). Good idea to metion it, but it's nothing new, although it may be to you.
Good archive research project. Stu
most all Catalina Associations have it posted (for the past 15 years or so). Good idea to metion it, but it's nothing new, although it may be to you.
Good archive research project. Stu
The tricky part is there is a fuse holder ...
BEHIND the 272 starter panel ... which means you have to take the starter panel out to change the fuse. and I can guarantee that fuse holder is barely together. Vic
BEHIND the 272 starter panel ... which means you have to take the starter panel out to change the fuse. and I can guarantee that fuse holder is barely together. Vic
Or...
Vic has a good point, I had a similar issue with mine and discovered the fuse holder was pretty corroded. Good answers gang to a good question. New wiring harness (actually all new wiring) is on the list for the next couple of years on our boat. *grr Bill
Vic has a good point, I had a similar issue with mine and discovered the fuse holder was pretty corroded. Good answers gang to a good question. New wiring harness (actually all new wiring) is on the list for the next couple of years on our boat. *grr Bill
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