solenoids

dustyhunt

Recruit
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
2
I have 13 volts to all 3 solenoids ie the starter solenoid (starter spins but wont engage).
The lift motor solenoids activate but motor does not move.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
 

kmarine

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 5, 2010
Messages
591
I recoment trying to free up the starter bendix with some pliers and spray grease. the tilt motor could be a ground issue. corrosion id the most common electrical problem boats see. Always clean all connections first.
 

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
5,516
Clean and polish ever and i mean every connection no matter how good you think it looks. That will fix 90 % of ever boat electrical problem
 
Last edited:

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,946
+1 on above comments. On cleaning up the connections, disconnect them and clean the part where the current flows. What they look like on the surface doesn't affect performance. Other thing is the crimp on cable connections could also be corroded and probably unable to see it.

However your comment is confusing. 13v at the solenoids when? If you are pushing current through your wiring and getting no results at the load end (starter spinning up, pump not pumping, then part of your battery voltage is across the failed part...aka dirty connection if that's the cause. The dirty connection causes a resistance in the circuit and pushing current through it will develop a voltage which is deducted from the batteries available output.

Example is you measure from the engine block to the battery cable attached to the pos terminal and get 13v with your switch to the starter or tilt/trim engaged. You go to the starter motor and read 10v at the voltage input terminal to engine block ground. Somewhere along the line from one to the other you are dropping 3 volts and that is where your bad connection exists. Could be the contacts of the solenoid or could be the wiring into or out of the solenoid.

You didn't say where you put your ground lead. If it was on the negative terminal of the battery then the ground wire between the battery and the engine block is your smoking gun. If it was on the engine block then something is dreadfully wrong as things just don't add up. However, with all solenoids showing the same thing and assuming again that you take your readings with the switches closed, then I'll go for the ground connection as stated.

On lead battery terminals, remove the terminal and using a wire brush specifically made for the purpose, shine up the battery post and the inside of the wiring connector. Auto parts stores carry this brush in the battery accessory dept.

That's the way it looks from here.

Mark
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
52,267
welcome aboard

voltage means nothing without a load. you can have good voltage, however a bad connection, and the voltage drops to 0 when the circuit is loaded.

As indicated, clean all your connections.
 

dustyhunt

Recruit
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
2
Thanks I will clean all connections and go from there.
Appreciate all the responses.
 

enginepower

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
260
Yes, voltage means nothing. With a bad connection, voltage will be there but current can't flow. Using a 12V test light, it should light up on one of the big contact poles. Activate that solenoid and see if you still have power there. When activated, you should have power on the other big pole as well.
 
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