Sticky Starter

[Dymaxion]

Sounds like a sticking solenoid. The lump on the side of the starter. Getting them off any starter usually means dealing with 3 small and well stuck screws, so oil and heat first. Once off it's just a piston sliding inside a cylinder. At the bottom of the cylinder will be the heavy duty contacts that current starter current, clean them up well. Clean everything with fine sandpaper, brass brush, whatever. Lightly oil and reinstall.

[JimsCAL]

Many Yanmars have a problem if the wiring run between the engine and panel is long. As was mentioned in a post above, the wiring carries the full current for the starter solenoid. The solutions include increasing the size of the wire run to the switch or adding a starting relay to reduce the current in the run between the engine and panel. My 3GM30F had such a relay installed by the PO due to this problem.

[Safari38LH]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

Many Yanmars have a problem if the wiring run between the engine and panel is long. As was mentioned in a post above, the wiring carries the full current for the starter solenoid. The solutions include increasing the size of the wire run to the switch or adding a starting relay to reduce the current in the run between the engine and panel. My 3GM30F had such a relay installed by the PO due to this problem.

I had this problem for 8 years. It was solved this year by doubling the wire.

[captstu]

West Marine sells a water proof push button

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/cole-...84?recordNum=1

that can be installed between the heavy battery water and the small wire on your solenoid. When your engine decides it needs love, open the compression lever, push the red button until the engine spins nicely, release the lever and the engine is running.

Eventually you need this - I put one on every small Yanmar I owned and carried one in any delivery kit for boats I didn't own.

Save a lot of grief, starts an engine with a nearly dead battery.

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by captstu

West Marine sells a water proof push button

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/cole-...84?recordNum=1

that can be installed between the heavy battery water and the small wire on your solenoid. When your engine decides it needs love, open the compression lever, push the red button until the engine spins nicely, release the lever and the engine is running.

Eventually you need this - I put one on every small Yanmar I owned and carried one in any delivery kit for boats I didn't own.

Save a lot of grief, starts an engine with a nearly dead battery.

Thanks. FYI for everyone, the West Marine switch sells for $40+ on their site, but is available elsewhere for much, much less, such as:

Cole Hersee-Cole Hersee SPST PVC-Coated Push Button Switch - M-608-BP-M-608-BP

Only $12! Great idea. Especially, when you need to turn over the engine when you are by yourself.

[captstu]

Make sure you get the momentary contact not the off-on-off version. They look the same.