Engine won’t start

[Wandering Star]

As some will know I purchased a Sadler 29 as a “doer upper” Today was the day to start work on the engine - a Beta Marine 20. The boat has been standing for at least 10 years

I have fully serviced the engine.

The batteries are both at 12.3volts which i know is low.

I can turn the crank using a socket.

If I try to start the engine using a key it won’t turn over but there is an audible “click”.

I think it’s either a flat battery or the starter motor is seized up.

What would be your diagnosis? Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

 

[PabloPicasso]

The click is likely the solanoid, bit that's been civered already.

 

[Bobc]

Get a new battery. Yours probably doesn't have the amps.

 

[dunedin]

Are the batteries at 12.3V before you try to start? What do they drop to, could be 10V or less?
If batteries are old and low there won’t be much grunt going to the starter.

 

[Wandering Star]

The batteries are fairly new (12 months old) but because I wasn’t expecting this, I hadn’t charged them and each battery had dropped to 12 3volts whilst in storage. One battery is a Yuasa YBX5110 85 Ah 900 amps and the other is a Varta 110 Ah.

 

[neil_s]

First move - charge the batteries. Since your boat has been laid up for a long period, you might have to clean the heavy duty contacts in the starter motor solenoid. These can get tarnished by condensation and don't make good contact any more. Your local Auto electrician could do this for you if you don't feel like dismantling the starter. If you have a 1,2,both and off switch, again, the contacts may need a clean.

 

[bedouin]

12.3 V is certainly low but not so low that I wouldn't expect it to make some attempt to turn the engine over even if not fast enough to start. You should check the voltage of the battery as you try to start - if it drops significantly then there is a problem with the starter motor (or too little power) - also check the voltage across the starter motor.

My first thought would be a problem with the solenoid or the wiring from battery->solenoid->starter

 

[Pye_End]

First move - charge the batteries. Since your boat has been laid up for a long period, you might have to clean the heavy duty contacts in the starter motor solenoid. These can get tarnished by condensation and don't make good contact any more. Your local Auto electrician could do this for you if you don't feel like dismantling the starter. If you have a 1,2,both and off switch, again, the contacts may need a clean.

and, particularly, the negative on the block.

 

[Refueler]

Open voltage on a battery tells you only a number under no load.

If the batterys have been left at a low state of charge through winter - that can damage the plates ... batterys should be charged full before and during winter.

Me ? Charge up batterys fully. Disconnect battery terminals - clean - reconnect .. disconnect engine ground cable - clean - reconnect ... clean solenoid terminal connections. Turn engine carefully by hand. Then use only ONE battery to see if its good or not ... then the other ... if both good - then switch on BOTH to get that engine turning over.
If you still only get Solenoid CLICK .... then I would suspect solenoid or most likely a stuck starter ... the old days - you'd give the starter a clout with a heavy spanner to unstick it !

 

[Wandering Star]

All sorted now - thanks for the advice which was invaluable. My grandson and neighbour brought a charge booster thingy to the boat and set to work, we narrowed it down to the starter motor (as suggested) so removed that which was a real pain, then connected the booster thingy to the starter solenoid and nothing. Tried again a couple of times and eureka, it started whirring away! Replaced it back into the engine and tried again and the engine turned over no problem.

So pleased! Now I just need to connect everything up and bleed the fuel system - oh, and charge the batteries!

Thanks everyone for the pointers.

 

[Refueler]

My Perkins 4-107 .. if I don't start her once in a while - the starter tends to stick ... good clout ... turn engine with socket 1/4 turn ... then hit button ... away she goes ..

 

[fredrussell]

There’s few feelings as sweet as an ‘unknown quantity’ engine on a new purchase starting up and running ok. Congrats.

 

[Refueler]

My Perkins 4-107 .. if I don't start her once in a while - the starter tends to stick ... good clout ... turn engine with socket 1/4 turn ... then hit button ... away she goes ..

Today of course she decided to show her 'other side' ....

CLICK .. CLICK ... CLICK .... but as I have had this boat for so long - I literally recognise the different clicks ... this was not starter ... this was engine stuck.

Out with my pipe wrench onto the crankshaft nut ... she would not turn ... somewhere I have a 38mm socket that fits it ... but sods law - nowhere to be found.

Off to shop and buy a 38mm + a nice long socket bar ....

Back to boat and boy - she was being difficult ..... but finally she turned and I 'whammied' her back and forth on that cranknut ..

Had to get another battery to jump the on-board ..... away she went ...

Had to pump out a locker and various other small jobs ... so left engine running ... gave her a good hour ...... will take her for a run on the river next day or so - if weather suits.