CaneCutter79
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- May 24, 2009
- Messages
- 454
I'm on my 3rd starter solenoid right now within the last 2-3 months. I have a '79 Evinrude V4 85hp outboard. My starter is good, the battery should be fine, so why am I having to replace the starter solenoid again for the third time?
I have used a volt meter on each solenoid lead while someone would assist and turn the key (starting the motor) to check voltage readings. I get full voltage to the top of the solenoid for the battery lead (obviously) and full voltage to the bottom where for the lead goes to the starter. (12-13 Volts depending on battery charge)
Here is an assembly picture of the solenoid:
http://www.boats.net/_search/images/parts_brp/41494306.png
There is a ground on the bottom-middle of the solenoid and another lead on the top-middle goes somewhere back to the switch for engaging the solenoid at the key switch. There is also an additional lead on the top "direct to battery" lead that goes back to a rectifier on the opposite side of the motor and the rectifier connects to a terminal lead that goes to the power pack, etc. That's the lead that is back-feeding current up to and over 24v at times. When someone turns the key, everything is fine until they stop turning the key and a backfeed voltage sometimes appears for a split second. Could the rectifier go bad and cause the backfeed?
My battery is an Everstart Max with over 700CCA. I'm not crazy about the battery but it came with the boat. If it works, I'll just continue to use it for a while until I can get a better one. I just want to resolve the issue of the solenoids burning out or whatever is happening to them.
Any help is very much appreciated.
I have used a volt meter on each solenoid lead while someone would assist and turn the key (starting the motor) to check voltage readings. I get full voltage to the top of the solenoid for the battery lead (obviously) and full voltage to the bottom where for the lead goes to the starter. (12-13 Volts depending on battery charge)
Here is an assembly picture of the solenoid:
http://www.boats.net/_search/images/parts_brp/41494306.png
There is a ground on the bottom-middle of the solenoid and another lead on the top-middle goes somewhere back to the switch for engaging the solenoid at the key switch. There is also an additional lead on the top "direct to battery" lead that goes back to a rectifier on the opposite side of the motor and the rectifier connects to a terminal lead that goes to the power pack, etc. That's the lead that is back-feeding current up to and over 24v at times. When someone turns the key, everything is fine until they stop turning the key and a backfeed voltage sometimes appears for a split second. Could the rectifier go bad and cause the backfeed?
My battery is an Everstart Max with over 700CCA. I'm not crazy about the battery but it came with the boat. If it works, I'll just continue to use it for a while until I can get a better one. I just want to resolve the issue of the solenoids burning out or whatever is happening to them.
Any help is very much appreciated.