Starter Problem '69 Buick V6 / 155 HP / I/O

[ronbiz]

After running around on the boat all afternoon, we took a break for dinner and went out for an evening cruise. Every time I turned the key to start the engine all I heard was a single click noise coming from the lower left side of the engine. I have since checked the batteries and know they are fully charged. I am now fairly certain the problem is in the starter. If it is the starter, it looks like I can change it without pulling the boat out of the water, is this true? Is the starter an approximately 2" cylinder mounted on the lower postion of the motor with a lot of wires attached to the end facing the front of the boat? Is it a difficult repair? Can you get this part? Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[flashback]

Re: Starter Problem '69 Buick V6 / 155 HP / I/O

well what boat has a buick motor in it? It,s a gm motor ... and if you can get to the starter then change it......is it bad? yeah , if 2 batts won,t crank it the starter is probably no good..

 

[Stanp]

Re: Starter Problem '69 Buick V6 / 155 HP / I/O

It sounds like you are describing the solinoid witch is attatched to the top of the starter. Sometimes you can get away with detatching those wires, brush the rust and corrosion off with a wire brush and reconnect them. Be careful not to put too much torque on the bolts attatching the wires, you might crack and break the solonoid. Make sure the batteries are disconnected before messing with any of those wires. Try starting it again. if that doesn't work, you'll need to replace the whole starter. Starters are easy to find and replace- just make sure its a marine starter and not something from your local auto shop.

 

[ronbiz]

Re: Starter Problem '69 Buick V6 / 155 HP / I/O

Thanks to Stanp. His recommendations for solving my starter problem was right on the money. I'll say it over and over, iboat.com is the absolute best web site for boating information there is, bar none! It has litterally saved me hundreds of dollars.

 

[Stanp]

Re: Starter Problem '69 Buick V6 / 155 HP / I/O

Ronbiz,<br /><br />Good to know I was of any help. Happy boating!

 

[ethan_brodsky]

Re: Starter Problem '69 Buick V6 / 155 HP / I/O

I know this is an old thread, but I'm curious whether this repair held up or if you just had the same problem again later on. <br /><br />I'm having a similar problem with a '70 Evinrude Explorer I just purchased. It's got the OMC 155 HP I/O based on the Buick V6 block. <br /><br />The first few times it happened, I hit the starter with a hammer (old car trick - don't do it on newer permanent-magnet starters) and it worked again. Now it's taking several minutes of hammering before it will work. It also seems to be cranking slower than it used to. I'm guessing the starter brushes are nearly gone.<br /><br />The starter is from Arco Marine and is supposedly a 30118 or 30140, though I can't figure out which (depends on the mounting bolt position). I think this might also be the same unit "18-5900":<br /> http://store.wmjmarine.com/18-5900.html