Hunter 28.5 Starting Problem

[Ontario Guy]

Good day: I recall reading on the now defunct Hunter 28.5 forum of a fix to a starter problem in these models of Hunters but can not locate it now. Sometimes it takes up to 4 attempts to start the engine; the fix, if I recall being to install a relay in the starting circuit. Would anyone know of this and where might the schematic be for this installation? A search on this forum came up negative. Many thanks in advance.

Ontario Guy (Still snowbound!) :-(

 

[Bill Roosa]

The problem is the start solenoid control wire has too many connections between the start switch and the actual solenoid. I counted 11 on my boat. If you just replace all the individual little pieces of wire and the connectors with a single wire the problem will go away forever.
Alternately you can neuter the engine and boat quick connect harnesses by cutting them out and just crimping the wires together. This has the added benefit of fixing the a host of other minor corroded connection problems.
or you can use the old wire to drive another solenoid that controls the starter solenoid. I personaly think that is treating the symptoms but...

 

[Ontario Guy]

Thanks very much for that Bill. I will take a look at what you have stated but in the back of my mind (from the old Hunter 28.5 forum) a fix adding a relay to the start circuitry turned out to permanently eliminate the problem by the many Hunter 28.5 owners that incorporated it.

Ontario Guy

 

[Warren Milberg]

I wrote an item on this for the old H28.5 site. It is available on the SBO site under Resources/Engines/Yanmar. While Bill is right about this problem being caused by too many connections in the wiring harness, I "fixed" this problem on my boat by buying and installing a cheap 12vdc relay wired (and fused) to the solenoid. It has worked perfectly for years.

See: http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=1024&Itemid=257

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Bill is right on the money with his comments. That being said I did install the relay and have not had any problems since the installation 5 years ago. Here is a diagram and a pix (originating from Dan Johnson) if you do decide to go ahead with the relay. Good luck

 

[Ontario Guy]

That's it! Many many thanks Bill, Warren, Claude and X . Most sincerely appreciated. What a great forum! I hope I can be of assistance to future posts.

Ontario Guy

 

[Bill Roosa]

All the above work, however what I found when I neutered my engine harness quick connects is the engine gauges started to read like I though they should. An 80 deg C thermostat should keep the temp at 80 degrees and mine always read cooler than that till I got the connections out.
FWIW

 

[SaltyDoug]

While not an H28.5, I had starting issues with my Yanmar diesel on my IP-29 for the longest time. I finally resolved the issue by replacing the engine wiring harness. I'm happy to report that I've not had any such problems since. I documented the solution in a little YouTube video and would love any constructive criticism/feedback, as well as any other solutions out there across the community. Cheers - Salty Doug

Engine rewiring - now she starts reliably!

 

[RoyS]

You could also run a new No.10 wire outside the existing harness to replace the existing wire with all the connections. Worked for me.