Marine Starter Motors???

[Sean Carter]

Hello

I am a basic mechanic and can normally get there at the end of the day. Is there really any difference between a "Marine" Starter motor and an ordinary agricultural one except of course price.
I would have thought a starter motor is a starter motor is a starter motor. The difference in price between Volvo parts and JCB is staggering. Am I missing something or is a "Marine" thing.

Sean

 

[Skipper_Christoph]

Just as you said: "a starter motor is a starter motor is a starter motor"!

 

[Daydream believer]

No different to some alternators. I took an alternator in for service & the engineer said that as I was going abroad he told me of a couple of vehicles using the same one.
I had a marine starter motor repaired. A short while later I was in Does at Ulting. On the bench was a special offer they were doing with starter motors- same motor brand new, for little more than I had paid for repair.

 

[RichardS]

Provided that the agricultural one and the marine one are exactly the same model, albeit badged differently, the two will be interchangeable.

Richard

 

[peteK]

Apart from being painted not a lot of difference.

 

[fushion julz]

The starter on my Perkins T6.354 is different to the ones used on the agricultural versions. The marine one has a concentric solenoid integral to the starter housing. This minimises the risk of a spark on operation.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Hello

I am a basic mechanic and can normally get there at the end of the day. Is there really any difference between a "Marine" Starter motor and an ordinary agricultural one except of course price.
I would have thought a starter motor is a starter motor is a starter motor. The difference in price between Volvo parts and JCB is staggering. Am I missing something or is a "Marine" thing.

Sean

"Marine" is a licence for a 30 to 50% surcharge on items that are at sensible prices in other contexts.
If you can ascertain the base engine on which your Volvo engine is based, you can buy all the specialised parts from the supplier for that engine. Ancillaries, like alternators and starters, can be obtained through the motor trade. A company specialising in supply and repair of these items should be able to identify your examples on sight.

 

[snowbird30ds]

Marine items should be spark protected in case of vapour build up in the engine bay, not a big issue with diesel but lpg leaks could cause a problem.
I'd go automotive myself and save a packet.

 

[Tranona]

"Marine" is a licence for a 30 to 50% surcharge on items that are at sensible prices in other contexts.
If you can ascertain the base engine on which your Volvo engine is based, you can buy all the specialised parts from the supplier for that engine. Ancillaries, like alternators and starters, can be obtained through the motor trade. A company specialising in supply and repair of these items should be able to identify your examples on sight.

Not all Volvo engines are based on industrial engines, particularly the pre 1992 or so small sub 40hp engines which were all Volvos own design. Of course they used proprietary starters and alternators but they were either unique to Volvo or from vehicles that have now disappeared from the roads. The MD20x0 and D1/D2 are Perkins and the alternators are easily available at sensible prices (+/- £100 from Parts4 engines for example). However as already noted most of the older ones can be repaired by specialists, typically well under £100.

 

[Bilgediver]

Hello

I am a basic mechanic and can normally get there at the end of the day. Is there really any difference between a "Marine" Starte flame proofer motor and an ordinary agricultural one except of course price.
I would have thought a starter motor is a starter motor is a starter motor. The difference in price between Volvo parts and JCB is staggering. Am I missing something or is a "Marine" thing.

Sean

Green paint costs more than yellow paint.. We are some times told they could be better protected.
However as you say they do not look dissimilar .

 

[john_morris_uk]

Some marine starter motors and alternators are insulated return. That isn't common on industrial ones AFAIK.

 

[sfellows]

Just replaced the starter motor on my old Onan Generator. Cummins Onan part £750.00 OEM part £95.00. They are the same.

 

[179580]

Had the same argument with an experienced outboard mechanic some time ago. The rectifier went down. OEM wanted everything you have ever earned and everything you are going to earn. Found same on line, same part, same manufacturer, same MIL spec. Told it was not marine so not good for outboards. Never returned.

 

[penberth3]

Some marine starter motors and alternators are insulated return. That isn't common on industrial ones AFAIK.

It's very common in some industrial and transport applications.

 

[179580]

It's very common in some industrial and transport applications.

Particularly on trucks, allows use to the ADR regs. Carriage of inflammable liquids etc.

 

[Rappey]

What about marine cam belts, such as yanmar (Toyota Land cruiser) .
Genuine Toyota kit retail around £87. Genuine "yanmar" £600.
The hidden "marine tax" on many parts is outrageous.

 

[Refueler]

My Perkins has a 'marine starter' .... even though its an old 4-107.

Difference to 'land' engine starter ? Mine has black metal band around it that is supposed to seal the case. Funny that ... another 4-107 I saw as a fixed industrial engine had identical starter with black metal band around !!

Like many things - Marine is a label to jump up the price ...

 

[john_morris_uk]

It's very common in some industrial and transport applications.

Thank you. I didn't know that (or I'd forgotten). It's forty five years since I spent a year working as an Auto-electrician between University and College so my memory of the details of commercial stuff that I didn't deal with very often is sometimes a bit thin. It's all changed as well...

 

[jwfrary]

Just replaced the starter motor on my old Onan Generator. Cummins Onan part £750.00 OEM part £95.00. They are the same.

Cummins are pricy for anodes, starters and alts, but to be fair they are all standard units available down the local store so no real pain there!

 

[Rappey]

I needed some japanese motorbike engine parts and bought them in the usa for a quarter of the uk/eu prices..
I chatted to a guy in the uk at their uk headquarters who essentially said "you keep paying the stupid prices and we will keep charging them" ! Its a business.
I had a trade quote for 10 gebo portlights.. Was around £3500.
Bought them from a chandlery in chicago, including shipping to usa then back to uk and customs - £1350 !
Majority of people just pay without questioning why the price has another zero on the end, so we will keep getting fleeced.