Need serious electrical ignition help

Coralkong · Post by **Coralkong** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:29 pm

Hi everyone.

I have a '74 Tricabin, which I THINK has the original 12v ignition wiring. Complete with way too many solenoids and an "Emergency Start" button on the dash.

Anyhow, a few weeks ago I took the boat out, no problems at all. Anchored out, wife starting complaining she wanted to get closer to the beach.
Went to turn over the engines and nothing. Port just whirred. Could hear Bendix going out, then back in, but it never engaged the flywheel.
Starboard side cranked slightly, but sounded like a dead battery.
Used emergency switch = not much change. Starboard cranks very slowly, then stops like it is dead. Port just whirrs.

So I replaced both batteries, and have tested them.
Same exact thing!

Even jumped straight to the starter on both engines = same exact result.

I have taken apart most electrical connections and cleaned = no difference.

Open for suggestions before I rip the whole damned thing apart and start replacing all parts.

If I DO rewire things, I am going to do it much differently, but I would rather milk out the rest of the season before getting into such a horror-show.

Any suggestions?

Both new batteries are definately good, and both are putting out over 1200 cca, so that should be plenty to turn over a 454.
Never had any problems starting either engine before.

Obviously something is bad, but what could cause this problem?
Is this the mythical Trojan "Black Box" Emergency start thingy acting up?
Solenoid? I have even jumper cabled the batteries together with the same result.
Frustrated.

ltbrett · Post by **ltbrett** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:37 pm

Sounds like a wiring problem to me. I had a similar issue when one of my ground wires corroded. Check both your positive and negative wires, or just jumper them out for a quick test.

Brett

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:33 pm

I agree with the comment that it sounds like grounding issues.

Before to tear it all appart, check your cables. Are they getting warm to the touch? They should not.

First thing I'd do is buy new ground cables and install them. If that does not work, wire up a new switch to one of the starter solenoids close to the starter and test that.

It just doesn't make any sense that you've lost both starters at the same time, unless you lost your ground.

Mitch

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:58 am

Some simple tests first:

Get a voltmeter and set to DC scale.
Measure battery voltage at pos and neg termals at each battery and record.

Take your meter leads and test voltage from pos terminal of battery, to ground on the the engine block. Anymore than .5 voltage drop indicates a bad, corroded or loose ground connection. Clean and retest.
Do this with each battery.

Next, take your ground lead and clamp to a GOOD clean ground on the engine block, take your pos lead from meter and check voltage to your Pos battery terminal AND cable and at the starter pos terminal, be sure you are getting the correct voltage, again, if you have a more than . 5 volt difference (-), you need to check and clean those connections or replace cables or ends.

Note: You may need to isolate each battery in the test by removing a neg lead in order to keep from getting erronious readings by common ground connections.

Sound as though indeed, you have some connection issues.

Let us know how you make out.

rick1954 · Post by **rick1954** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:09 am

Mike, long time no here from, you definitely have a grounding prob, However, If I remember you did a total rebuild of the control panel, you may want to check there also. If the starter is turning over I would think the power is there for that engin, this could be the Bendix stuck. The other engin turning over slow could be the ground problem, this you need to be carful with because it sounds like you are pulling ground thru the instruments, this you can tell by when you turn the engin over all you gages will pig or jump around

Coralkong · Post by **Coralkong** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:56 pm

Yes, this one is a mystery to me.

I am not an electrician, nor a mechanic, but I understand the fundamentals.

I'm gonna have to get ugly with it, pretty much just to figure out how it's run.

I am the third or 4th owner (1974 Tricabin), and let me tell you, the last retard that rewired stuff down there deserves to get his ass kicked.

But, be that as it may, I will eventually find the problem.

Probably a $.40 connector that's gonna take me 100 hours to find!

I appreciate the help, and will keep you updated.