Generator Starter Problem

[edbulmer]

Easier said than done, they put the dang thing in the back of the motor 2 inches away from the firewall. How to get to it is the problem.

[Duct Tape]

The fast clicking sound you hear is the solenoids contact chattering. This means 99% of the time that there is insufficient voltage to hold the contact in. Check your battery and wiring again. You would be surprised at how little corrosion it takes to spoil a connection.
There is nothing to be gained by hitting a modern starter motor with a hammer!

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by edbulmer

Easier said than done, they put the dang thing in the back of the motor 2 inches away from the firewall. How to get to it is the problem.

Unbolt the whole unit from the boat, making it moveable, giving you room to reach the starter.

I once pulled a generator out of a boat in under an hour. There can't be that much to unbolt and unhook.

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[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Man With A Boat.

Koeler's website has lots of good documentation:
➥ http://www.kohlerpower.com/marine/te...1&nodeNumber=3

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Duct Tape

There is nothing to be gained by hitting a modern starter motor with a hammer!

And what you think is the difference between old and modern starter motor?
If the battery is sound take starting cables and connect them director from the battery terminals to the starter (if you know how to do it) to see if the fault is in the connections or in the starter.
You might also hand crank the engine to see it's not stuck (happened to me once in OPB, had leaked water in the oil and filled up to pistons)

[Duct Tape]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

And what you think is the difference between old and modern starter motor?
If the battery is sound take starting cables and connect them director from the battery terminals to the starter (if you know how to do it) to see if the fault is in the connections or in the starter.
You might also hand crank the engine to see it's not stuck (happened to me once in OPB, had leaked water in the oil and filled up to pistons)

Modern starters have permanent magnets rather than a heavy duty series/parallel winding. Hitting magnets is never a good idea...the external housing on a modern starter is also considerably lighter than older models.

It's always easy to spot an old gear reduction starter...they're the ones with the hammer scars in the housing!

[TeddyDiver]

Didn't know about the magnets but the housing in proper marine diesels is as robust as it has ever been. Dunno about marinized car engines?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Didn't know about the magnets but the housing in proper marine diesels is as robust as it has ever been. Dunno about marinized car engines?

Who these days makes a "proper marine diesel"? All that I know of are tractor engines.


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[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Fast clicking usually means either a dead battery or loose / dirty connections.
Respectfully if you don't know how to find the starter, maybe you shouldn't hit it with a hammer.
The impact adjustment helps if there is a bad spot on the armature, or maybe a stuck brush, but I'm still betting a loose or corroded connection as you said the battery is charged
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You left out the biggie... stuck noid....

But the OP's is chattering...

Anyhoo... edbulmer... All that say low voltage are spot on... Make sure you're on the right battery... Check the voltage... Work downstream...

[edbulmer]

Checked cables and there seems to be no corrosion. Checked voltage going to starter and there is only 9 volts going through the solenoid. Makes me think ba solenoid. IS there a way to take it off of the starter, I noticed two bolts going through the back of the solenoid. That starter is a beaaatch to reach.