Mercruiser 170/470 Starter Question

ddrieck

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Does anyone know if a can swap the nose and bendix off my 1985 Mercruiser 470 starter over to an old school chevy engine starter?
I was changing the solenoid on my 470 and the brass strap the goes into the starter came loose internally, silver solder let loose.
I have an old chevy starter off a an 86 350 small block sitting on the self
 

Scott Danforth

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Take your starter in and get it repaired properly
 

ROY WILLIAMS

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ddrieck

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I went ahead and just ordered a new starter rather than jerry rigging the old one.
 

ddrieck

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I went ahead and just ordered a new starter rather than jerry rigging the old one.
Why on earth are there 2 starter solenoids on my ol 1985 Thompson with the Mercruiser 470?

I put the new starter on and had a slick tick when I turned the key but the engine didn't turn over. Thought the new starter was DOA until I listened while my son turned the key. Solenoid number 2 was up next to the voltage regulator on the side of the off the engine block. Ended up having to pull the cables off, clean things, reinstall the cables and now works perfectly.
 

matt167

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Why on earth are there 2 starter solenoids on my ol 1985 Thompson with the Mercruiser 470?

I put the new starter on and had a slick tick when I turned the key but the engine didn't turn over. Thought the new starter was DOA until I listened while my son turned the key. Solenoid number 2 was up next to the voltage regulator on the side of the off the engine block. Ended up having to pull the cables off, clean things, reinstall the cables and now works perfectly.
I think all Mercruiser engines are set up with 2 solenoids
 

Scott Danforth

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Nearly all marine I/O and inboard motors have a pilot relay/solenoid to fire the starter mounted solenoid.

The current draw from the starter mounted solenoid and the length of wire from the battery to the switch to the starter so much voltage drop that it requires it
 

Scott Danforth

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Ended up having to pull the cables off, clean things, reinstall the cables and now works perfectly.
Cleaning the electrical connections from the battery to the helm is normal boat maintenance
 

ddrieck

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Cleaning the electrical connections from the battery to the helm is normal boat maintenance
Yeah, it's one of those I have delt with on Ford trucks and cars back in the day. Never even thought my boat had 2 solenoids. We learn new lessons every day.
 

nola mike

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Yeah, it's one of those I have delt with on Ford trucks and cars back in the day. Never even thought my boat had 2 solenoids. We learn new lessons every day.
Interestingly (?) the older 470s only had 1 on the starter.
 

ddrieck

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Interestingly (?) the older 470s only had 1 on the starter.
This boat is a 1985 Thompson
When I did some searching I have found some of the earlier 470s only had one solenoid on the starter like you have mentioned
 
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