starter motor

[plockton18]

I have a 14 year old Perkins M20 engine on my boat. Today it failed to start. The starter motor gave a few clicks, then nothing. Is replacement a big job? I'm not mechanically minded, but hope I could tackle this myself.

 

[Spyro]

Don't assume it needs replaced. Most problems are repairable. If you can get it out and take it to an auto electrician they will tell you what needs done. Not a difficult task to remove and reinstall but sometimes getting access to it can be tricky. Don't worry about getting a suitable gasket. You can by a sheet of gasket material at any motor factors and cut out a new one to the required shape.

 

[Hoolie]

Before dismantling anything you should check that the 12v supply to the starter can provide enough current to turn it. Check your isolator switch and the connections to the solenoid on top of the starter.

 

[orizaba]

i guess you have checked the cables to it,from the battery etc,a few clicks sounds like bad connections. check the voltage at the battery,then make sure all connection are bright and clean including the one on the battery isolater(they are known to fail) if you have one fitted or to eliminate it bolt the 2 cables to one post.
if that doesn't make any difference and the voltage is good
then its probabally easier to take it off and get it checked.it is possible to check out other parts of the startermotor/solenoid
but you say your not mechanically minded,so its proboblly best not to go there.
to remove the srarter motor first dissconnect the terminals on your start battery,remove the cables attached to the solenoid on top of the starter motor,then remove the bolt holding it in place,probabally 3.
loosen the easy ones to get at but take them out last,theres usually an awkward one and the loosened ones will take the weight while you undo the harder on.
fairly straightforward job but beaware they are heavy. the only thing i can't remember on that engine is if anything else gets in the way and has to be removed,no doubt someone will answer that

 

[orizaba]

blimey just checked my reply and the spelling mistakes were awfull many apologies i can only blame the heat

 

[jeremyshaw]

As has been suggested, it might well be a battery/voltage issue.

Don't be fooled like I was when my genset exhibited the same symptoms. I checked the voltage and it was 12.3 or something so I assumed all was well. But in fact the battery had lost capacity, so had no oomph. Checking voltage while starting showed a massive drop - the battery was indeed nackered and the starter fine.

 

[VicS]

I agree with other suggestions to check all connections on battery, isolating switch(es) and connections to the starter. Dont forget the earth connections and always suspect isolating switches themselves.

 

[CPD]

The clicking you can hear is almost certainly the starter solenoid clicking in. Your starter key is connected to cabling which is not able to draw the sort of current required to start your engine. What the solenoid does is to "switch on" or "make" the thick heavy cables circuit that runs to your starter motor and which CAN take enough current to start your engine. As the others have IMHO rightly said, sounds like your problem is either with the amount of juice left in the battery being too low to start the engine (but enough to make the starter solenoid click), or, connection problems somewhere in your "thick cable" circuit. I would start by checking the state of the bettery, and then go from there. Good luck with it !. As VicS has said, if the battery is ok , then suspect EVERYTHING in the circuit, including switches, selectors etc.

 

[gandy]

If you do end up needing to remove the starter, draw a sketch showing where the different cables connect, before undoing anything.

Once the starter's off, decent auto electric place should be able to overhaul the starter or provide an exchange unit.

 

[wanderlust]

If you need a new starter have a look on ebay. There are a number of new starters for marine applications cheaper than the cost of a refurb at your local auto electrician

 

[Hoolie]

[ QUOTE ]
... new starters for marine applications ...

[/ QUOTE ]

But check first whether your starter has an isolated ground ie. a separate earth connection not through the body to the engine block.

 

[William_H]

Clicking when you hit the start buttton.... If it just clicks once each time you try to start then you proabbly have a starter or solenoid probelm. However if it gives continual clicking while the starter switch is operated then almost certainly you have a bad battery or wiring. There is however the possibility that the starter has seized ie can't be turned. (jammed in the ring gear or corroded so can't turn)
The continual clicking indicates the starter is drawing current when the solenoid contacts but the current is such that the battery voltage falls to the point where the solenoid releases so battery voltage rises gain and the solenoid can operate to pull the voltage down again.

Usually however if the starter is OK it will turn a little until it hits compression when the load increases so current increases until the starter stops turningfrom lack of voltage. So try turning the engine backwards half a turn and see if the starter will turn the engine that half turn. That would eliminate seized starter and point to bad battery/wiring. good luck olewill