Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

[Firewood]

Here's the deal this is my first I/O. Its a 1986 Mercruiser MCM 190. The motor has been sitting, the boat is a fixer-upper. The key ignition doesn't turn.All I want to do is use a jumper wire to crank the motor. Can't seem to get it to go thou. Theres the solenoid on the started and then another slave mounted to the engine block. I've never seen anything like this and everything is so tight its hard to see what everything is going to. (I have the clymer manual for it). All the wire are in good condition as well as the connections. If someone is able to tell me what wires to jump that would be great. Right now I have two wires hooked to the battery (brand new Interstate-marine)Theres the neg. that goes straight to the block and the pos. that goes straight to the starter. The pos. then goes to the trim pump (which is working-sort of).By looking at the manual and looking at my merc. it looks the same. <br />HELP!

 

[clanton]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

Make sure engine bay clear of gas vapors, use a remote starter switch, connect one lead to yellow/red wire small termial on slave solenoid, connect other lead to red wire large termial on slave solenoid that is hot.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

O.K. I'll try it, I have a feeling I already tried that...I'll give it a go again and let you know what happens. I'm used to a car with one soleniod, with two I figured I was doing something wrong. <br />Thanks for the help Clanton.

 

[clanton]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

The 2 red wires on the slave solenoid are the ones that carry current to the starter solenoid. I would not recommend using jumper wires on inboard, fire hazard.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

Basically I want to get the engine to turn over.Once I establish that thats the starter and solenoids are working then I can mess around with running new wires to a new key switch. I didn't have time today to try anything and they forcast rain for tommorrow and Friday. <br />I need to get the boat in doors, but at over 30' on the trailer its tough to find a spot.<br /><br />I'll be sure and let you know how I make out.

 

[fone_man]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

I agree with Clanton... jumping wires can be dangerous if you dont know what you are doing... FUMES!!!... BOOM!!!<br /><br />When I work on my boat, I have one of those little Honeywell fans that I got from Home Depot and I set in the front of boat to keep air stirring... keeps me cool plus give these engine fumes a chance to escape when I do not have blower on. Makes boat smell better as I am not breathing exhaust, fuel, oil fumes.<br /><br />Get the right tools for the job... this includes a remote starter switch which helps in a variety of engine repairs & maintenance. You can even make one!!!<br /><br />As for rain... not a thing I can do about it!!!

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

Well I had all day to mess with the boat today, and I'm sad to say I never got it to turn over. I spent some time changing the oil and filter, then moved on to the solenoid problems. I tapped on the slave solenoid and when I jumped it I could hear it clicking.Good. The wire coming off the other side of the slave solenoid that is supposed to get hot when its activated tests as being grounded! I disconnected this wire at the slave(its the one that runs from the slave to the starter solenoid) So now its just hooked to the starter solenoid and it still tests as grounded. So I procced to pull the starter&solenoid off the motor. Let me say no easy task. I have zero room to work. By the time I got it all apart and ran to my local starter rebuild shop they had closed, I never got it tested. I took the whole starter apart everything there looks good. I lubed it up and re-assembled it. I was aggravated and had been thinking of pulling the whole motor out so I could work on it easier. So after lunch and a few beers I prepared the knuckle biting motor which now had pieces of my flesh dangling from each sharp corner for extraction. I pulled the boat over to my fathers place, fired up the backhoe and pulled the pig out. Its currently sitting in the back of the pick-up. Now all I have to do is get it out and into my garage. At least now I can work on it. (and retrieve all my tools that were dropped never to be seen again under the motor earlier in the day)<br />I'll keep everyone posted on how I make out with everything.<br />Thanks<br />Ken

 

[Backlash]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

Ah, the joys of an I/O Hope you get the thing fixed without losing any more flesh. Good luck.<br />Backlash

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

My mercrusier has two solenoids also. The one is on the starter is for the starter, The other is for the altenator, It will activate when the altenator produces a charge sufficent enough to charge the battery. At least that is the way mine is wired. Took some scratching of the head to figure that one out. Wished this Board was available when I needed that help then. I would have pulled the starter first before pulling the engine. That way you could have bench tested it first to make sure your stater wasn't locked, and alot less danger of explosion. I always make it a habit of taking my starter off every spring to clean and lube and check the carbon brushes. With this procedure, I have never had starter problems while out on the water. I think now I will knock on some wood! <br />PS... While you have your motor out, be sure to check your gimble bearing. You should not be able to feel any rounghness or resistance in the bearing while spinning it. This bearing is one of the most causes of a growling noise in Mercrusiers that have set for awile. Been there, Done that! It can be hard for the first timers to change, but it does get easier once you have done it several times. Good luck...

 

[12Footer]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

LOL <br />I guess if you got an I/O, it's also nice to have a dad with a nice engine hoist <br />They (mercruisers) are really a good powerplant in a boat.<br />They are cheap to rebuild (chevy truck short blocks are available for 700bukz), and very reliable. They suck down mass quantaties tho.

 

[fone_man]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

With starter off... you can attach jumper cables<br /><br />1. to the body of starter (ground/blk)<br />2. to large post on solenoid (hot/red)<br /><br />then attached to battery to see if it works... always did this test after rebuild... called a bench test!!!<br /><br />Need to go & get some Band-Aids for those knuckles... I have started to wear those rubber gloves now... keeps grease off plus gives me extra layer of skin(rubber) before it gets me!!!

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

I planned on doing a test on the starter in my garage, but right now I have to figure out how to get the motor out of the pick-up and into my garage. I have plenty of lumber and plan on making a type of stand that the motor mounts will sit on. I want to pull the oil pan and take a peek, flush the coolant,clean/rebuild carb,get the starter going. And i'm sure that just the tip of it. A compression test is also on the menu.(can't pull that off till the ole' girl cranks). A buddy of mine used to have a motor hoist with wheels I need to get my hands on that.Then I can lift it off the bed and on to some sort of stand. Let me tell you for a 4cyl its big and heavy.(3.7liter) I'd have to say 500lbs. I think a small block chevy weighfs in at 390lbs bare(block only).My merc is aluminum but man is there tons of things hanging of it, and most of it is cast iron manifolds and such. Tommorow after work I should have it in the garage and some sort of news on the starter. Worst case I think is the starter solenoid is bad.I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser starter Soleniod(s) HELP!

Well, I managed to get the motor into my garage on a stand. Much better. I drained all the fluids tonight. I also dropped the starter off for a rebuild.The armature had a short in it as well as a bad solenoid. I pick it up tommorrow ($100) It will get a new armature,solenoid and brush assembly. I figure thats cheap insurance since my boat is a single screw and its gotta crank 100% of the time. Once I have the motor cranking I can make some progress. Don't worry any problems and you guys will be the first to hear about it.