Starter Motor won’t turn

[neil1967]

I have a Perkins 4108 fitted to our yacht. When I tried to start it this morning after about a month of being idle I just got a series of loud clicks coming from the starter motor area. I have taken the end cap off so I can just about see where the starter motor engages with the flywheel, and nothing is moving when I try to start the engine - just the loud clicks. Any initial suggestions where the problem might lie?

 

[Billy no mates.]

Is the clicking coming from the solenoid, if so batteries could be flat or it is stuck. A light tap on the solenoid may help but probably batteries.

 

[RichardS]

The most likely cause is a battery which is producing insufficient voltage or current.

Test with a multimeter or jump start from another battery.

Richard

 

[steadyeddy]

Check if your battery is fully charged make sure battery thermals 'are clean and tight connections to and from solenoid are clean and tight, a good earth to the engine is good

 

[neil1967]

We are on mains power, and the charger hasn’t even moved from float to charge - I’m pretty sure it’s not electrical. The sound is a persistent and loud clicking, rather than the single click from the solenoid you would expect if the battery was flat.

 

[Momac]

Sounds very much like mine did a few weeks ago - changed the battery and problem solved
But could be
Corroded or loose connections to the battery
Isolator switch faulty
Starter relay corroded or loose connection
Starter solenoid fault or electrical connection
Faulty electrical connection between battery and starter
Earth strap loose of corroded connection.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Do you have a Bendix or pre-engaged starter?

 

[neil1967]

Do you have a Bendix or pre-engaged starter?

I think it is bendix - the manual calls it a helix drive.

 

[Big John]

I think it is bendix - the manual calls it a helix drive.

If as you say you have taken the end cap off and it is a bendix type starter you should be abel to turn the shaft of the starter motor. Either by the square bit on one end or by turning the shaft where the bendix sits. If it will not turn the motor is jammed.

 

[Graham376]

The clicking is usually a sign of bad battery or connection. If connections all appear OK and enough voltage at the solenoid when the start switch pressed, then I would briefly short the two large solenoid terminals out with an old screwdriver or spanner and see if the starter turns. If it doesn't turn over, the starter may be jammed. If it does turn, then get it down to local auto electrician to repair or change the solendoid.

 

[neil1967]

Problem found! And those who said electrics were correct. The crimp on the positive cable where It connects to the engine isolator had let go, so when I tried to start the engine, instead of the start battery powering the starter, it was the battery charger.......... Thanks for the pointers.

 

[Easticks28]

Thanks for letting us know .

 

[coopec]

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[RichardS]

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Errrrrrrr .... see post #11.

Richard

 

[penberth3]

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Blimey, that looks like a lot of bad press for Perkins, but the make of engine has nothing to do with the problem!

 

[coopec]

Blimey, that looks like a lot of bad press for Perkins, but the make of engine has nothing to do with the problem!

I know all about fixing dodgy battery/starters (and dodgy equipment in general). But one day I tried to start my car while parked in a busy shopping center car park . I knew what the problem was as the solenoid had jammed before. I got my hammer out and crawled under the car and gave the solenoid a couple of sharp wacks.

As I did so a guy (with his wife) walked past and laughed derisively and said loudly "first time I've seen a motor fixed with a hammer". At that point I climbed into the car and started the motor! (Didn't he disappear into the crowd quickly!)

That made my day.... ?

 

[Wansworth]

Your in line for the Bodger of the Year award?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I know all about fixing dodgy battery/starters (and dodgy equipment in general). But one day I tried to start my car while parked in a busy shopping center car park . I knew what the problem was as the solenoid had jammed before. I got my hammer out and crawled under the car and gave the solenoid a couple of sharp wacks.

As I did so a guy (with his wife) walked past and laughed derisively and said loudly "first time I've seen a motor fixed with a hammer". At that point I climbed into the car and started the motor! (Didn't he disappear into the crowd quickly!)

That made my day.... ?

Years ago I had a VW Type 2 (camper) with a dodgy starter. It worked fine when cold, but not when the engine was warm, unless I lay beside the back of the car, reached under and whacked it with a hammer before trying to start. Not too bad in good weather but not optimal on rainy or snowy winter Scottish days.

I had two or maybe three reconditioned starters fitted. Every time the problem came back after two or three months. Eventually I asked the garage to check and, as I suspected, the starter was by then sufficiently unusual that I was getting my own starter back, reconditioned, each time. I sprang for a new one (ouch) and the problem went. I presume that there was a deformation of the casing which meant that when it warmed up it jammed, unless it was in absolutely clean and as-new (or as-just-reconditioned) condition.

 

[Hoolie]

I got my hammer out and crawled under the car and gave the solenoid a couple of sharp wacks.

I had a Renault with a sticky pre-engaged (or not!) starter, but I was a bit more subtle - I used a large piece of timber kept in the boot for the purpose.

 

[penberth3]

I had a Renault with a sticky pre-engaged (or not!) starter, but I was a bit more subtle - I used a large piece of timber kept in the boot for the purpose.

SU electric fuel pumps often needed a smaller piece of timber. Were these the most unreliable mechanism ever invented?