Starter solenoid?

[Bayou Sailor]

OK guys, it's been cold down here on the bayou. Got down into the 30's last night. Went to Margarita this morning planning to race today. Now for the last year my A4 has not given me an ounce of problem. She would not start today. She tried a few times and then suddenly nothing when I push the starter button. I checked the button and it was fine. Finally tapped on the starter solenoid a few times and she started spinning over. Now why wouldn't she start. Well, in the fall I lubed the choke cable and apparently bent it when I reinstalled it and the end of the cable was catching on the carb. So, this is the coldest it has been when I tried to start her. Well, once I straightened the cable, she cranked right up. I let her run for about 30 minutes, shut her off, let her sit for a while and she cranked right up again. Tried the 3rd time and the solenoid was stuck again. So, after all that, is there something I can do to lube the solenoid so it doesn't stick anymore, or do I need to replace it? Any help would be appreciated.

[jcwright]

Hello Bayou.

Here is an old thread with notes on servicing a solenoid:

https://www.moyermarineforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4156

I 'serviced' mine once and got it working. But I agree with the last post in the above thread by Tom: For the peace of mind, consider getting a new unit and keep the old one as a spare. Here's a link to the (new model) part in the MMI catalog:

https://moyermarine.com/product/starter-solenoid-late-model-ovel_07_224/

Jack.

[Bayou Sailor]

Thanks JC. I will head over to the marina this morning and clean her up. I will order a new one from Don this week! Have a great Sunday and God Bless!

[Bayou Sailor]

Good news, bad news

Well, the good news is that the removal and cleaning of the solenoid was pretty straight forward. The bad news is that I apparently moved the top a little bit in the wrong direction and broke the copper wire. DOH!!! I thought of trying to solder it, but I don't think I would trust it. Also, there is not enough wire to really deal with, so a new one it will be!!! Thanks again guys.

[ndutton]

. . . . so a new one it will be!!!

Glad to hear this. It was the right thing to do in the first place.

[scratchee]

Well, the good news is that the removal and cleaning of the solenoid was pretty straight forward. The bad news is that I apparently moved the top a little bit in the wrong direction and broke the copper wire. DOH!!! I thought of trying to solder it, but I don't think I would trust it. Also, there is not enough wire to really deal with, so a new one it will be!!! Thanks again guys.

I serviced mine a couple times and got some more life out of it. I broke the same wire you did and somehow fixed it and got a little more life. Then I bought a new solenoid when the same problem started yet again. I think your process was a little more efficient than mine.

[Bayou Sailor]

SUM TING WONG!!

Hey guys, received my new solenoid from MM quickly. I installed it this weekend and I have a problem. When I hit the starter button, nothing. I checked the button and it is good. I have 13v at the solenoid. Now, I jumped across the solenoid and I get a loud Thunk. Nothing turns. I think I should remove the starter and bench test it. Any ideas? Also, I have never removed the starter. Pretty straightforward??? Thanks.

[jcwright]

Hello Bayou.

There are just two bolts that attach the starter to the housing. This thread has suggestions on what to do if the starter remains stuck when the bolts are loosened. Also note that the starter is heavy, so be ready when it does come free:

https://www.moyermarineforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8650

JACK.

[Dave Neptune]

Bayou, can you turn the engine by hand. A "thunk" while engaging the starter could mean it can't turn the engine because it is stuck. Your hard starting could of backfilled the exhaust and it got into a cylinder.

Once you remove the starter try turning the flywheel. Hopefully it will turn and there was no water. Always close the water valve when hard to start and then open once running.

Dave Neptune

[Bayou Sailor]

Hey Dave,
The engine was running fine. After I turned it off, the engine has not cranked at all, so no chance of water in it. I also turned the engine by hand thinking the starter may be locked in the flywheel, but it turned just fine. I'm just curious as to what is causing the thunk!

[Dave Neptune]

Gude gneus, on the water. The thunk could be the starter engaging but not having enough "juice" to spin the starter or the starter brushes are not fully engaged on the armature. It is a std Delco starter and most any auto shop could easily repair or replace.

Dave Neptune

[ndutton]

Check your heavy cable connections, positive AND negative all the way from the battery to the solenoid.

[zellerj]

My guess is that it wasn't the solenoid in the first place, but a starter that needs to be rebuilt. Or you can purchase a rebuilt one for about $300 while you are having yours rebuilt (about $150). I had to do the same thing this summer. Mine also clunked.

[Bayou Sailor]

Inquiring Minds

Well, I am getting ready to install my newly rebuilt starter with the new solenoid. Now, how I got to this point.... The original solenoid that I received from MM was not the correct solenoid. But, while I was troubleshooting the issue, I checked the start switch. Apparently while I was reinstalling the switch in that itsy bitsy place where no grown man's hand should fit, I disconnected the switch. All good now. Now, when I walked into the starter/alternator shop I told the guy that I just replaced the solenoid and he looked at me and said that it was the wrong solenoid. And he was right. It bolted right up but was about an inch longer than the original, but would not work. Apparently, sometime in Margarita's illustrious life, her starter was replaced with one that worked, but was not original. The starter guy showed me quite a few applications where the starter would work (welders, trucks, vans). So, after that lengthy recap, please realize that not all starters on the A-4 are equal after all these years. Have a great weekend folks!

[ndutton]

Is your new solenoid installed such that it preserves USCG required ignition protection? If yours was a good shop with marine experience you should be good. Look for a rubber seal on the solenoid at the end opposite the wiring connections.