H38 - Is there an aux solenoid in the starter circuit?

[flightlead404]

While trouble shooting my overheating issues, another problem raised its ugly head. Intermittent starting.

9/10 it starts immediately. Occasionally nothing. No cracking, not even a click. To me, that means a solenoid issue, possibly corrosion at a terminal, something like that.

Does the H38 have an aux solenoid in the starting circuit, or just the starter solenoid?

 

[ggrizzard]

Could it be a worn "start" button?

 

[flightlead404]

Could it be a worn "start" button?

Its a key start not a button. Have not put a meter on it yet. I did find one corroded faston type connector at the starter solenoid (white/brown) which I cleaned with some contact cleaner and red scotch brite. Started up afterwards, but could have been coincidence.

 

[Don Lucas]

My engine has a start solenoid. It's location put the wire for right at the sole and something it would start and sometime not. Replaced then yanmar start solenoid with a different one and has never had the problem again.

 

[flightlead404]

My engine has a start solenoid. It's location put the wire for right at the sole and something it would start and sometime not. Replaced then yanmar start solenoid with a different one and has never had the problem again.

Sorry Dan, can you clarify where this solenoid is?

 

[Don Lucas]

On mine it was bolted to the engine bottom forward of the starter. That is on a 4JH3E so who know where yours is. Follow the red wire connected the to starter solenoid back to the the relay.

If you don't have a relay, just install one one. It is pretty easy and cheap and solves a lot of voltage drop issues on systems not having one.

 

[heritage]

I'm pretty certain that there are no Hunters from the factory with auxillary starter solenoids, just the main solenoid either on the starter or near it. The PO may have installed one though.

This thread explains some of the more common solutions to an intermittent no start situation:
Yanmar Starting Problems

 

[Don Lucas]

What is an aux starter soleniod?

Meanwhile there definitely are starter relays on stock boats and engines! On second thought those are solenoids
.

 

[flightlead404]

What is an aux starter soleniod?

Meanwhile there definitely are starter relays on stock boats and engines! On second thought those are solenoids
.

An aux solenoid is used when there is a long run from the starter button/key to the starter and potentially voltage drop (exacerbated by time and corrosion). Its essentially a relay/solenoid to trip the starter solenoid if you will. I've heard it called a "boost/booster solenoid" but I don't think that's a common term.

I cannot find one, so another item to add to the list . In the meantime I'll just clean every connection I can find and cross my fingers I corrected the issue.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

In the meantime I'll just clean every connection I can find and cross my fingers I corrected the issue.

Did that only once without a lot of improvement. Hidden plugs and worse. The big problem is that the engine mounted starter solenoid switch pulls about 17A. That's a lot of amperage to push with only 12V. The Cole Hersey relay only pulls about 0.1A.

I finally gave up and installed this:







Never had another problem.

Ignore the connection points on the wiring diagram as this is the as-built drawing showing the actual connectinos for wiring convenience.

 

[Don Lucas]

I replaced my Yanmar relay with a $5 automotive one years ago and the engine has never had a start problem since.