Is my starter stuffed?

[KenMcCulloch]

My Yanmar 1GM10 won't start. Pressing the starter silences the alarm, but not even a clicking sound from the starter. Either a failed connection somewhere or a knackered solenoid?

 

[gwc2004]

It might just be a flat battery!

 

[sailorman]

try the starting handle
it sounds like battery or connections

 

[Niander]

My Yanmar 1GM10 starter motor was totaly siezed[like the engine]!
just got it apart today..what a job!
ive unfreed it now but im gunna need brushes at least...the solenoid was also stuck but wd40 soon freed that...have a look at your connections first...are they tight,clean....

 

[KenMcCulloch]

[ QUOTE ]
try the starting handle
it sounds like battery or connections

[/ QUOTE ]
Perhaps I should have said the battery shows a resting voltage of 12.67V which should indicate plenty of capacity. Putting a voltmeter on the battery and trying the starter (quite a gymnastic feat even on a Folkboat) indicates hardly any voltage drop when trying to start.

 

[DaveS]

I would suggest that the next thing to try is putting the volt meter on the starter and seeing what voltage appears there when you press the starter. If you get around 12.5V or so then the fault's in the starter. If the voltage is low then it's a wiring or connection problem. If this is the case, use the meter to find out where the "lost" volts are: measure between battery + and starter +, then battery - and starter -. Having established whether the high resistance fault is on the + or - side you can then use the meter to probe further: end to end of each cable and across each connection until you find it.

 

[DaveS]

Just to add: since you will be pressing the start buton to carry out each of these tests, life will be much easier if your meter probes are fitted with croc clips so that you don't need three hands, extendible arms, or getting too close to (potentially) moving bits. Extention wires might be handy too to keep the meter in view.

 

[Niander]

Get a cable connected to battery positive....

touch it on the starter wire connection on the solenoid

it should clic/turn engine

that will bypass your starter switch...if it works its your starter switch/wire problem to solenoid

 

[gwc2004]

I had a similar intermittent starting problem on a 1gm10. It turned out to be a faulty starter push button. Proved by shorting it out and engine cranked immediately.

 

[pcatterall]

Bypassing potential poor contacts by 'shorting' (making a direct connection with the positive cable) is a good test but of course the negative contacts at bus bar and to engine have to be good also.
Do be careful waving that positve cable around though, I managed to melt my metal watch strap onto my wrist doing just this check!!
Regards