Starter Issue

[Sandiiyam48t]

OK when I go to start the Perkins 4.236 built in 1985 and I have the battery selector to "starter battery one" on the big switch the starter does that fast clicking sound YET when I put the selector switch to "both" it starts just fine,,,, any ideas where to start?
I did pull out the selector switch and tightened cleaned the terminals and I went to the starter and tightened there as well, all seems fine.

As a not the generator starts on "one" no problem just not the engine click click clickkkkkkkkkk

As always thanks for any help,,,,,
From I Yam What I Yam, Puerto Velero Colombia trying to get to Providencia/Roatan ASAP,,,
Sandi

[FlyingCloud1937]

Sounds like the control circuit and the crank circuit are on different batteries.

If that is the case then you might have a low voltage on one of the banks.

Lloyd

Originally Posted by Sandiiyam48t

OK when I go to start the Perkins 4.236 built in 1985 and I have the battery selector to "starter battery one" on the big switch the starter does that fast clicking sound YET when I put the selector switch to "both" it starts just fine,,,, any ideas where to start?
I did pull out the selector switch and tightened cleaned the terminals and I went to the starter and tightened there as well, all seems fine.

As a not the generator starts on "one" no problem just not the engine click click clickkkkkkkkkk

As always thanks for any help,,,,,
From I Yam What I Yam, Puerto Velero Colombia trying to get to Providencia/Roatan ASAP,,,
Sandi

[Sandiiyam48t]

thanks could you explain please and what to check if possibe
thanks

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by Sandiiyam48t

thanks could you explain please and what to check if possibe
thanks

If you have 2 separate battery banks, you need to take a meter and check voltage at each battery. They should be above 12.5 volts each. Then you need to meter each connection upstream from the battery.

You cold either have one dead bank, low voltage. A bad connection on one of the positive connections battery or various of the extending cables.

Also note you could have a bad ground/negative connection on one bank. Or a bad ground/negative cross connection between the banks.

Lloyd

[smac999]

Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937

Sounds like the control circuit and the crank circuit are on different batteries.

If that is the case then you might have a low voltage on one of the banks.

Lloyd

not sure how you deducted that from the provided info..

sounds like either a weak battery 1 or lose pos / ground cables on battery one.

the gen will probably need less battery to start then the engine.

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by smac999

not sure how you deducted that from the provided info..

sounds like either a weak battery 1 or lose pos / ground cables on battery one.

the gen will probably need less battery to start then the engine.

A 4.236 is 2 cylinders shy of a 6-354.

Besides over 30 years S-T'ing

Lloyd

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by smac999

sounds like either a weak battery 1 or lose pos / ground cables on battery one.

the gen will probably need less battery to start then the engine.

This would be my first guess. Check Battery 1 for charge and all the cables (especially corrosion on the negative terminal on the battery) for good connection.

Also agree about the gen. A weak battery that can't start the main engine could crank the gennie no problem.

[DeepFrz]

It sounds like, judging from several of your threads, that you need Nigel Calder's book "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual".

[Sandiiyam48t]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

It sounds like, judging from several of your threads, that you need Nigel Calder's book "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual".

yea I have them both read and reread still can not find the problem,, always nice to have a book salesman reply D

[twinboat]

In 40 years of working on engines, click,click,click is "almost" always battery conections. Make it go click,click,click a few times, then put the back of your hand on the battery terminals, to find the warm one. If you find the warm one, clean or tighten it, along with the rest of them.

[DeepFrz]

Better yet use an infrared thermal sensor and check all of your connections in the battery cct. Also check the resting voltage of your batteries and make sure the battery is up to snuff as far as CCA or MCA rating. It could be something as simple as a weak battery that needs to be replaced. You could take it to a battery dealer to have it load tested or load test it yourself if you have or can borrow the equipment.

[DeepFrz]

If you are interested in any other books, just let me know...