Alan, please see my response below.
Alan Lewis wrote: > Approach this problem systematically: > > 1. Check the connections to the solenoid/starter to be sure you have > full voltage there. Low voltage can cause your symptoms. Voltage is good, and I am able to combine the starter battery with my house bank too. I checked the voltage at the starter while pressing the starting button (under load), and the voltage was only .5 to .7 lower, at 12 to 12.25 volts loaded (compared to idle voltage). > 2. Check to be sure the starter case is tight. I have seen loose bolts > on the case (not the big bolts that attach the starter to the engine) > cause similar problems. Case looks good. > 3. Test the solenoid. If you hear it "clicking" when you press the > start button, it's probably o.k. The fact that you report hearing > clicking and that, at times, the starter would spin, indicates that the > solenoid may be o.k. It was clicking, but not spinning the starter. I have replaced the solenoid now. > 4. If all these check o.k., try by-passing the solenoid by using jumper > cables or an expendable screwdriver to directly energize the starter. > a) If it spins and engages the engine, then the problem is very likely > the solenoid. b) if it spins but does not engage the engine, the > problem is likely the Bendix or, in worst case scenario, you have some > broken teeth on the flywheel. c) if it doesn't spin, then the problem > is likely the starter (e.g. a flat spot on the armature, etc). If > either b or c is true, the starter will need to be removed and serviced. I did this, and the starter spins with a loud whine, but does not engage the engine. So probably bad pinion/bendix, or possibly a bad flywheel. > 5. The frozen engine is probably least likely if the engine ran well > the last time it was used and you have oil. As already mentioned, you > can test this possibility by trying to turn the engine with a long > handled wrench on the crank nut at the front of the engine. I don't have a socket that large, and the nut is recessed deep into a large belt drive pulley. So I rotated the large pulley about 3/4 revolution. It is hard work, but does turn. The engine has oil. It doesn't look milky/watery, and the oil level has not increased due to water infiltration. > Some Perkins installations used two solenoids before the starter. If > you have that situation, test both of them. > > Good luck. > > Alan Lewis After replacing the solenoid with an AC-Delco one that looks identical, there is no more clicking. The new solenoid is the same size and fits the plunger well. Now the starter spins every time, but without engaging the motor. Since I am not experienced at this, I wonder if the new solenoid is not installed correctly, or if it does not pull the lever sufficiently to engage the bendix? This is probably not the case, but I wonder if this is a possibility. I could re-install the solenoid I suppose. Even after turning the motor via the belt drive pulley, the starter will not engage. It whines loudly. If there were missing teeth on the flywheel, rotating it would have had an effect. So I suspect the bendix/pinion is shot? Unless anyone here has more ideas to try, I'll order a new starter tomorrow. Looks like my anchor is holding OK for now.. It was dragging a bit yesterday. Thanks, -Neal. _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
