Ever since I bought my good old H34 in '83 I have had to start it using both batteries (Yanmar engine). Either one on its own just won't hack it . This has been true for all of the batteries I have had, including the Group 27s now installed. I have crawled all over it looking for bad connections on the batteries, switch, engine ground and starter solenoid. I have a "smart" charger, so it's not that the batteries aren't fully charged! I don't think there is anything wrong with the starter motor. It's generally not a big deal because I normally want to start on BOTH for charging purposes - I just worry that one day I'll drain the house battery and be stuck. Before I rip out all the starter wiring this spring and rewire it, I wonder if this is unusual - or whether others have the same problem? Derek
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Rob Carvette
Only one battery should do it.
I only need one battery to start my 84' 34. I can usually start it on the house battery even after running it down a bit. Not sure what your problem might be. You might want to start by checking the connections from the batteries to and including your isolater switch before looking at the starter itself. Good luck.
I only need one battery to start my 84' 34. I can usually start it on the house battery even after running it down a bit. Not sure what your problem might be. You might want to start by checking the connections from the batteries to and including your isolater switch before looking at the starter itself. Good luck.
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Bob Schmit
Curious
I had heard that Yanmars had decompression levers for each cylinder? I only have a h26 with outboard so I'm not up on diesels but I saw this post and was wondering, if in an emergency, you could crank the engine on one battery with the decompression switches open and then when it comes up to starting speed close them and let it start or am I dreaming? Sorry, just curious.
I had heard that Yanmars had decompression levers for each cylinder? I only have a h26 with outboard so I'm not up on diesels but I saw this post and was wondering, if in an emergency, you could crank the engine on one battery with the decompression switches open and then when it comes up to starting speed close them and let it start or am I dreaming? Sorry, just curious.
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John Kudera
Two Too
I too have always started using two batteries, did use the compression release trick once when we caused the house battery to go dead overnight, otherwise we use two! We also use Group 27's. I am interested in the result if someone has an answer. Good luck.
I too have always started using two batteries, did use the compression release trick once when we caused the house battery to go dead overnight, otherwise we use two! We also use Group 27's. I am interested in the result if someone has an answer. Good luck.
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Bryan C.
Don't need two
The 3GM30F on my boat starts fine with a regular old car battery. My house batteries are two Group 27s paralleled, and they start it as well. This is getting a little beyond the edge of my knowledge, but cranking power I think would refer to how many amps the battery can put out. It would be determined both by battery size and how much surface area exists between the battery plates and the galvanic solution in the batteries. Recycleable batteries have fewer thicker plates in them which makes them hold up longer (more cycles) but probably reduces the number of amps that the battery can put out. When you parallel to batteries (by switching to "both") you effectively double the surface area of the plates, allowing more flow to the starter. I'm not sure, I could be totally wrong about this. I wouldn't think it would take that much power to crank an 18 or 24 hp diesel motor, however. You can even hand crank the 1GMs, I think. But perhaps higher compression diesels need more cranking power than equivalent gas engines.
The 3GM30F on my boat starts fine with a regular old car battery. My house batteries are two Group 27s paralleled, and they start it as well. This is getting a little beyond the edge of my knowledge, but cranking power I think would refer to how many amps the battery can put out. It would be determined both by battery size and how much surface area exists between the battery plates and the galvanic solution in the batteries. Recycleable batteries have fewer thicker plates in them which makes them hold up longer (more cycles) but probably reduces the number of amps that the battery can put out. When you parallel to batteries (by switching to "both") you effectively double the surface area of the plates, allowing more flow to the starter. I'm not sure, I could be totally wrong about this. I wouldn't think it would take that much power to crank an 18 or 24 hp diesel motor, however. You can even hand crank the 1GMs, I think. But perhaps higher compression diesels need more cranking power than equivalent gas engines.
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Charlie
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Jim Oursler in Rockwall
One group 27 for starting
Installed Group 27s last year and starts great (Yanmar 3GMF20). Either a wiring or a charging problem. Are you using marine batteries? It is my understanding that car batteries don't do as well with our somewhat puny charging system.
Installed Group 27s last year and starts great (Yanmar 3GMF20). Either a wiring or a charging problem. Are you using marine batteries? It is my understanding that car batteries don't do as well with our somewhat puny charging system.
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Eric linklater
used to use two but..
I have an 83 Hunter 34 as well and only use one battery now but I did at one time have to use two. A thorough inspection of my batteries and connections found some problems but still I needed two batteries. Then one day it happened. Even with two and three batteries it just clicked. Had to sail off the anchor and bring it into dock under sail as well. Tricky. Turns out the bushings in the starter were worn out and then eventually the armature made contact with the stator and that was it. I got it repaired which was way, way cheaper than exchange or new. Maybe you should take it out and have it looked at before you wind up in my position. Good luck Eric Linklater "Worlds Away"
I have an 83 Hunter 34 as well and only use one battery now but I did at one time have to use two. A thorough inspection of my batteries and connections found some problems but still I needed two batteries. Then one day it happened. Even with two and three batteries it just clicked. Had to sail off the anchor and bring it into dock under sail as well. Tricky. Turns out the bushings in the starter were worn out and then eventually the armature made contact with the stator and that was it. I got it repaired which was way, way cheaper than exchange or new. Maybe you should take it out and have it looked at before you wind up in my position. Good luck Eric Linklater "Worlds Away"
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KEN
34 starting
DEREK when i had my 34 hunter I had the same starting problem. I changed all the cables to the battery, and to the starter positive and neg. to 2/0 from hunters #8 wire. starting problems now over.ken
DEREK when i had my 34 hunter I had the same starting problem. I changed all the cables to the battery, and to the starter positive and neg. to 2/0 from hunters #8 wire. starting problems now over.ken
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