Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 01-05-2016, 07:11   #1
Registered User
 
cortezsailor's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cortez Island BC
Boat: Corbin 39
Posts: 198
Wont Start

I have a Perkins 4.236 that has intermittent starting problems. I have had this problem for 5 years. It starts , almost always, when cold first attempt. It is after its run for a bit that starting is a challenge.
Here is yesterdays example . Boat started first attempt , ran for maybe 30 minutes before raising the sails and shutting down. Sailed for 4 hours and when went to start it it all I get is a click, no cranking. After 5 minutes of attempts it starts and I motor in.
Everyone , myself included, feels its an electrical issue. I have changed the starter, solenoid ( 2 x ) , ground cable , cleaned all connections, dis engaged the safety neutral, changed the starting button. Nothing has made an ounce of difference. It always starts, eventually, but its inability to start on demand is a problem.
Before I go and spend some more money anyone have any idea on what this could be caused from.
cortezsailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 07:15   #2
cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
Images: 56
Re: Wont Start

have you changed out the wires yet?? you could have a cracked wire issue. connectors need to be new and wires intact. otherwise you will replace a lot of not needed to replace items of pricey nature.
good luck.
zeehag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 07:46   #3
Registered User
 
cortezsailor's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cortez Island BC
Boat: Corbin 39
Posts: 198
Re: Wont Start

Yes Zee that is one thing I thought of last night as well, I will definitely go over them today
cortezsailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 07:53   #4
cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
Images: 56
Re: Wont Start

what comes in sleep usually is the issue or fix for issue. best fun and fortune.

life is an adventure meant to be LIVED!!!
zeehag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 08:32   #5
Registered User
 
Cheechako's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,453
Re: Wont Start

Two things I can think of:
1) Does your gear shift control have a switch in it to avoid starting in gear? If so It may be defective . Been there done that! You can bypass it with a wire to find out.
2) My Perkins 4-108 did that sometimes. There was a big white multi wire connector on the back of the engine, The pins were corroded inside the connector.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard











Cheechako is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 08:33   #6
cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
Images: 56
Re: Wont Start

check your kill lever. if stuck slightly it can prevent restarting.
zeehag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 09:08   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Cruising the Gulf of Mexico.
Boat: 1980 Morgan 415
Posts: 1,452
Re: Wont Start

Quote:
Originally Posted by cortezsailor View Post
I have a Perkins 4.236 that has intermittent starting problems. I have had this problem for 5 years. It starts , almost always, when cold first attempt. It is after its run for a bit that starting is a challenge.

Here is yesterdays example . Boat started first attempt , ran for maybe 30 minutes before raising the sails and shutting down. Sailed for 4 hours and when went to start it it all I get is a click, no cranking. After 5 minutes of attempts it starts and I motor in.

Everyone , myself included, feels its an electrical issue. I have changed the starter, solenoid ( 2 x ) , ground cable , cleaned all connections, dis engaged the safety neutral, changed the starting button. Nothing has made an ounce of difference. It always starts, eventually, but its inability to start on demand is a problem.

Before I go and spend some more money anyone have any idea on what this could be caused from.

The most common cause would be a weak battery. Use a volt meter and look for voltage drop.
__________________
Working on spending my children's inheritance.
Cap Erict3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 09:23   #8
Registered User
 
cortezsailor's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cortez Island BC
Boat: Corbin 39
Posts: 198
Re: Wont Start

Thanks everyone , I have over rode the safety neutral switch and new batteries as well , all test good


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum
cortezsailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 10:09   #9
Senior Cruiser
 
skipmac's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
Re: Wont Start

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cap Erict3 View Post
The most common cause would be a weak battery. Use a volt meter and look for voltage drop.
If you continue to be stumped then this is what I would try. While a helper attempts to start the engine take a voltmeter, move up the circuit from starter to battery and look for where you get the voltage drop.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
skipmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 10:19   #10
Registered User
 
leftbrainstuff's Avatar

Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Diego CA
Boat: Liberty 458
Posts: 2,205
Re: Wont Start

Quote:
Originally Posted by cortezsailor View Post
I have a Perkins 4.236 that has intermittent starting problems. I have had this problem for 5 years. It starts , almost always, when cold first attempt. It is after its run for a bit that starting is a challenge.
Here is yesterdays example . Boat started first attempt , ran for maybe 30 minutes before raising the sails and shutting down. Sailed for 4 hours and when went to start it it all I get is a click, no cranking. After 5 minutes of attempts it starts and I motor in.
Everyone , myself included, feels its an electrical issue. I have changed the starter, solenoid ( 2 x ) , ground cable , cleaned all connections, dis engaged the safety neutral, changed the starting button. Nothing has made an ounce of difference. It always starts, eventually, but its inability to start on demand is a problem.
Before I go and spend some more money anyone have any idea on what this could be caused from.
Certainly sounds electrical. If you've changed the obvious and checked all connections for voltage drop than you may have a wiring issue.

Try bypassing the low current draw starting circuit wiring.

Do you by any chance have a hidden relay between your start switch and starter solenoid? They can cause this type of problem.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
leftbrainstuff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 10:24   #11
Registered User
 
Cheechako's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,453
Re: Wont Start

His boat makes a click, so the starter low amp circuit is working. It must be in the big cables somewhere. I have heard of engines stopping so the gear wont quite engage the flywheel gear, but never a Perkins.
But that's a thought, next time it does it, go below and move the crank maybe just a little bit and see if that solves it.
By "over rode the neutral safety switch" what did you do? I had the problem on a powerboat once and it wasn't fixed until I replaced the whole wiring from the key switch to the starter. Must have been in the wire somewhere. I had thought it was the Neutral SS.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard











Cheechako is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 10:35   #12
Registered User
 
cortezsailor's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cortez Island BC
Boat: Corbin 39
Posts: 198
Re: Wont Start

Quote:
Originally Posted by leftbrainstuff View Post
Certainly sounds electrical. If you've changed the obvious and checked all connections for voltage drop than you may have a wiring issue.

Try bypassing the low current draw starting circuit wiring.

Do you by any chance have a hidden relay between your start switch and starter solenoid? They can cause this type of problem.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Not sure if there's a hidden relay I don't believe so but electrical is not my bag , I will check . When I say I over rode the neutral safety I simply joined the two connections to make it believe it's always in neutral . I thought this was the problem originally . Because the issue is intermittent and it does always start it's tough . If I needed to start in a hurry though I would have an issue and where I sail there is land everywhere .
I am leaning towards replacing all the wiring back to the starter but I do appreciate all the great advice . Before I do change it , I will try the other suggestions first.
Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum
cortezsailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 15:00   #13
Registered User
 
Badsanta's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: virginia
Boat: islandpacket
Posts: 1,967
Re: Wont Start

If it starts when on shore power and not when you sail with the motor off. I feel its either an electrical short or you are using to much power from Autopilot, lights, radio before recharging. You said you had a new battery, have you checked your alternator? Maybe battery is to small for use. Just some random thoughts.
__________________
That derelict boat was another dream for somebody else, don't let it be your nightmare and a waste of your life.
Badsanta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 15:16   #14
S/V rubber ducky
 
sailorboy1's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
Re: Wont Start

Could be the start switch itself. I replaced mine just 5 years ago but can tell it is starting to go bad.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
sailorboy1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 15:18   #15
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,479
Re: Wont Start

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cap Erict3 View Post
The most common cause would be a weak battery. Use a volt meter and look for voltage drop.
Dying start batt would have been my guess, but he says he changed out the batt. My port engine is currently doing this due to a dying start batt (next up on the maint list).

My next guess would be a charging issue. Cranks fine first time and then wont turn over. My Jeep did this recently, relatively new batt, turned out to be a loose connection at alternator. (Happened when I was away of course as it always does...my wife does not have much patience for such things!)

My suggestion. Start and go sailing as usual, then check batt voltage before attempting to start.

Also check negative connection to engine block, could be a poor connection there. Remove and clean even if it looks good and is secure.
belizesailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Universal M3-20B wont start after changing fuel filter mtcaddis Engines and Propulsion Systems 8 16-04-2016 06:26
YANMAR 1GM wont start...30 degrees CAPTNSTUMPY Engines and Propulsion Systems 28 09-12-2015 02:39
Recoil start outboard wont engage flywheel Soundtrackzz Engines and Propulsion Systems 3 28-07-2013 13:57
Battery charger wont't start jr_spyder Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 11 15-12-2012 13:56
Start Small or Start Big ? Zonker Multihull Sailboats 18 16-01-2012 11:13

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 23:24.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.