Starter issues

[Randy Church]

Forum Readers,

End of last year I realized my starter was still engaged after the engine had started and resorted to past practice with my old van...I smacked the starter with a hammer to disengage. Assumed it was time for new or rebuild so I pulled it and took it to the shop for diagnosis/repair/replacement. Shop said starter was fine but replaced the solenoid because of a little corrosion. Guess what...starter stays engaged. Shop says it's a bad starter push button. Bypassed the key/starter button factory system and repeatedly bumped the starter at the solenoid and starter wouldn't stay engaged; just turned over. first sail of the season today and first push of the button and I could hear the starter motor spinning but it wasn't engaging the engine flywheel this time. Second push of the starter button and the engine started right up. Even with fully charged or new dedicated starting battery, the startup is always sluggish at the first push of the button. Any ideas out there? the boat is a 1984 Hunter 34 with a Yanmar 3gmf with a Japanese name starter.

Thanks,
Randy

 

[seadaddler]

check

I would try cleaning all connections leading to the starter and check to see what the starter is drawing first startup.
Nick

 

[captcoho]

Stop bragging about the "first sail "......Sitting here in Milwaukee watching the snow flurries, and wishing I could paint the bottom as we are hoping to splash it middle of next month...
As far as the starter, I think I'd go back to the shop and let them know the bendix is still hanging up.
They may want to help you resolve the issue, and maintain good customer service.
It's only a couple of bolts, but still a bear to remove.
Good-Luck....At least it's the beginning of the season, and a good time to get the bugs out.

 

[onecoolair]

Forum Readers,

End of last year I realized my starter was still engaged after the engine had started and resorted to past practice with my old van...I smacked the starter with a hammer to disengage. Assumed it was time for new or rebuild so I pulled it and took it to the shop for diagnosis/repair/replacement. Shop said starter was fine but replaced the solenoid because of a little corrosion. Guess what...starter stays engaged. Shop says it's a bad starter push button. Bypassed the key/starter button factory system and repeatedly bumped the starter at the solenoid and starter wouldn't stay engaged; just turned over. first sail of the season today and first push of the button and I could hear the starter motor spinning but it wasn't engaging the engine flywheel this time. Second push of the starter button and the engine started right up. Even with fully charged or new dedicated starting battery, the startup is always sluggish at the first push of the button. Any ideas out there? the boat is a 1984 Hunter 34 with a Yanmar 3gmf with a Japanese name starter.

Thanks,
Randy

It's that known to be by most that defective yanmar wiring harness issue. This same thing burnt up my starter plus caused a lot of stress for quite a few years till I finally figured what was the real culprit here.... First thing you can try is trace the entire length of harness cleaning and reconnecting all the inferiorly manufactured connectors. Btw... Harness is not all one piece as it should have been so look for surprise buried and hidden connectors in the harness wiring run. Next would run a new continuous # 10 gauge white momentary start wire from start switch to starter. Maybe even a new red...... I would also replace cheaply made old yanmar starter switch with a new solid brass auto/marine use switch. It will have a momentary position so now no more trying to get that damn yanmar button to work . While your at it you can add a new properly made 30amp rated marine/auto momentary button next to engine and I would also add a battery cut off switch to starter. No more leaving battery live to starter. Now you can have option of at first start up of placing key in starter switch in cockpit turning it to on. No worry about loud beeping because you have not turned on the cut off switch yet. You then open the cover to engine. Make your engine inspection . If things look okay then you turn the cut off switch to on. Start beeper shall now sound. And if everything still looks fine push the button. You can then observe the engine as it starts . At the end of the day open the engine cover and turn off the cut off switch while looking for anything suspect on the engine ,oil drips,water,etc,etc....make sure to shine the flash light in back at the stuffing too.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Sounds like the starter is ok. If the flywheel gear is worn it can create enough friction that it overcomes the solenoid return spring. So the starter will check out every single time you take it to the shop but when you put it to work with the worn flywheel gear it hang up.
Try this, when it hangs up after starting blip the throttle and return it to idle. That should monetarily unload the gears and allow the return spring to disengage the starter pinion gear.
For the record there is no electrical component that causes the gear to disengage. The return spring in the solenoid does all the work.

 

[seadaddler]

Spring

Just a idea after everything else checking for good connections and if the starter is good try asking the shop to shim the spring or heavier spring.
try a remote starter more and see if it inproves the workings of the starter and make sure the starter is really Ok.
I have had things not work OK even after the shop checked and even had a rebuild go bad more than once.
Nick

 

[splax]

Ranchu,
From the description of your problem, it seems you have issue getting current to your starter initially. Sounds like poor connection(s). Robert's advice above is a good solution, though perhaps more involved than you wish to tackle immediately (it's close to sailing time! ). A priority would be the replacement of push-button switches with quality marine rated ones. An equally important task best done at the same time is the installation of continuous wire between the button switch and the starter. Good Luck.

 

[DStegs49]

Starter doesn't start

It's that known to be by most that defective yanmar wiring harness issue. This same thing burnt up my starter plus caused a lot of stress for quite a few years till I finally figured what was the real culprit here....

I have an 87 Legend 37 with a problem that is related to the above quote. Only problem on my end is that the starter don't turn over. This only happens when the need for the engine is obvious. You know, coming into a channel, getting ready to dock or some other minor important thing. From my auto fixing days, I have worked out a remedy (Only temporary mind you but it does work) My wife takes the wheel and I dive below with a flat blade screw driver and head to the port side engine access door. Once there I take the screw driver and "jump" the connection between the hot post and the solenoid, and bingo, a running engine. Thanks for the idea of rewiring the switch to bypass the junkshun plug at the rear of the engine. I replaced the starter button already but the problem was still there. Glad to hear this gremlin isn't living on just my boat. BTW, I am still waiting for an over 60 degree, dry weekend to work on my boat before the splash.

 

[Randy Church]

Thanks for all the advice.

Took the starter back to the shop after having installed new starter button and some other troubleshooting. They could find nothing wrong but installed a new piece (part that goes out and engages the flywheel) because he couldn't think of anything else that it could possible be. Have 5 successful starts (5th was yesterday) and so far so good. The gremlin had moved to the failed water heater (fixed that Saturday) and then when trying to get rid of the spilled water from that, found that the gremlin moved on to the float switch for the main bilge pump for the time being:cussing:! Still was able to go for a sail last night:dance:

Randy