Starting Univ M3-20

Bob Mc

Bob Mc

.
Apr 7, 2012
34
Catalina 28 Worton Creek, MD
Hello all. I can't get my circa 1993 Universal M3-20 to turn over. I get a very slow "mmwahll", "mmwahll" as it tries to turn over. I also have a fatal voltage drop at the starter when trying to start. The starter is new but it's the last thing that I can think of as the cause.
I have redone all cables, new ends, new crimper (battery, selector switch, ground to block) and load tested the new Deka starting battery-good. I disconnected the glow plugs to see if there was a draw issue there. No difference.
When I spin the starter with out engaging the engine it spins fine. I removed the glow plugs and the engine turns fine using the suspect starter.
Lastly I ran jumper cables from the batter directly to the starter and block and got the same results. So I know,"It's the starter bonehead".
I'm here in case I slap on a new starter and I get the same results. Is there anything else I should be thinking ? It should be said the boat has always been a hard start but I saw the starter I took off I was surprised it started at all. I did have the heat exchanger off to clean, change a couple of fresh water hoses that I primed as I reinstalled, and changed the impeller. All of which I'm just throwing out there. Whew! …..thanks!
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

.
Nov 6, 2006
10,095
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Uhhh.. sounds like it's the starter, Bob..
Jumpers direct pretty much answer the voltage problem at the battery post.... unless you connected the jumpers to the clamps and not directly to the lead posts?
You should be able to take the starter to a local"starter shop" where they could test it and maybe even rebuild it ... or maybe free up the brushes..
 
B

Benny17441

.
May 24, 2004
7,174
CC 30 South Florida
Sound to me like the starter gears are not meshing well with the flywheel. Check the starter for overheating when trying to crank. If it is getting hot it is a sign of adequate voltage but something is hindering it from turning freely.
 
Bob Mc

Bob Mc

.
Apr 7, 2012
34
Catalina 28 Worton Creek, MD
Thanks guys. I have a new starter coming and we'll what happens.
 
Bob Mc

Bob Mc

.
Apr 7, 2012
34
Catalina 28 Worton Creek, MD
Just in case anyone stops back to see what happened...it was the starter. At some point the engine ended up with a undersized starter and so when I went to replace it I went looking for something that matched up with the part # of what i had. The starter I ended up with is .95kW vs the .8kW I was trying to use. Fired up like a boss.
 
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