On one of my engines, the starter would spin without engaging, or engage, but with insufficient oomph to do a full revolution of the flywheel. I knew about this problem last fall, but couldn't suffer the downtime (would have been time away from other, more pressing issues). The first start of 2022 was April 9th, when I travelled to Vancouver for Safety Day. I tried the started then, with predictable results. The engine starts well, but needs at least a full revolution to get going. That day, I had no extra time, so left it. On Saturday, April 30, I flew to Vancouver and brought the boat home to Saltspring on May 1. It started after 8 or 10 tries of the key, either just spinning or failing to turn the engine more than a partial revolution, but getting closer every time.
Today, I pulled that starter and took in into the hospital.
I have followed the cabling from the start battery to the starter, and it looks good. The connection point is clean and is painted over. Under the paint, all the metal bits are shiny and the nut was tight, so tight that I needed to find a bit of pipe to extent the lever arm of the socket wrench, taking it apart.
The other engine gets its power from a cable that goes from the first engine, and it always starts within less than 1 second of cranking, so I am convinced that the battery is good and the cable, as far as the first and on to the second engine, together with all the connections, are also good. When in the shop, the mechanic there put a power pack to the terminals and the starter spun happily.
I have been promised a response from the jobber who will get the starter this afternoon, within a few days. I will report back.
Today, I pulled that starter and took in into the hospital.
I have followed the cabling from the start battery to the starter, and it looks good. The connection point is clean and is painted over. Under the paint, all the metal bits are shiny and the nut was tight, so tight that I needed to find a bit of pipe to extent the lever arm of the socket wrench, taking it apart.
The other engine gets its power from a cable that goes from the first engine, and it always starts within less than 1 second of cranking, so I am convinced that the battery is good and the cable, as far as the first and on to the second engine, together with all the connections, are also good. When in the shop, the mechanic there put a power pack to the terminals and the starter spun happily.
I have been promised a response from the jobber who will get the starter this afternoon, within a few days. I will report back.
