I replaced the original starter in my 97 cuddy, volvo / omc engine at end
of last year with a remanufactured one, she fired up okay this year when I
de- winterized, but when I launched yesterday it failed again(the starter).
I spent the money and ordered a new one, try again.
Appreciate your thoughts on remanufactured starters, is this common for them
to go so quickly , i had no hours on the darn thing.

Hope all are enjoying the season!

John

I suggest that every boat owner learn how to make rudimentary repairs to
starters.

Marine starters are very expensive. The parts to repair starters are very
cheap and it is not usually a major component that fails. It is typically
corrosion that kills starters on a boat and not component wear from
extended use. As such, the main componts to fail a

1. brushes- salt water corrodes the copper leads
2. brush springs- salt water corrodes them and they break
3. solenoid- corrosion prevents the plunger from sliding
4. drive- corrosion gums up the works and deprives the starter of power or
the drive won't release.

The most expensive part here is the solenoid and it will only set you back
$16.

When I cruise in my sailboat. I carry a complete starter ready to go as a
spare. I also carry a set of all the above parts to do repairs at sea.

Another benefit to all this is that it can save A LOT of money. Yanmar
starters usually cost about $500. You can buy a similar starter (but with
a different nosecone) from Kragans or Autozone for about $50 and just use
it for parts. This works with almost all marine diesels. No diesel
manufacturer also manufactures a starter. They use either a Bosch, hitachi
or some big truck starter. Another advantage to knowing which automotive
starter supplies you with parts is that you can walk into any auto parts
store ask for your Lester number and you get a starter. No waiting for
shipments through the marine parts network.

If you want to buy starter parts I suggest looking at the catalogs from
Ace Electric:

http://www.aceelectric.com/CatS.htm

By the way, this same strategy also works for alternators. To a limited
degree it can be used for raw water pumps, injectors, and filters


David Braun
S/V Nausicaa

On Sun, 23 May 2004 15:51:59 -0400, "John Wise"
wrote:

I replaced the original starter in my 97 cuddy, volvo / omc engine at end
of last year with a remanufactured one, she fired up okay this year when I
de- winterized, but when I launched yesterday it failed again(the starter).
I spent the money and ordered a new one, try again.
Appreciate your thoughts on remanufactured starters, is this common for them
to go so quickly , i had no hours on the darn thing.

Hope all are enjoying the season!

John

Here's the problem: you are looking for advice because your judgment
in this area could use some support, but
you are priming us with your judgments, instead of your observations,
which would allow us to make our best judgments.

About the recon starter failing. How did it fail?
Did it not spin?
Did it spin slow?
Did it spin fast for the first five continuous minutes you spun it?

Did it spin fast, but lug badly at one point per revolution?
THOSE are the observations one needs....

You checked the neutral start switch position, of course?

Regards

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Thanks David for the great advice, I think I will do just that.
Thanks again.
John

"dbraun" wrote in message
lkaboutboats.com...
I suggest that every boat owner learn how to make rudimentary repairs to
starters.

Marine starters are very expensive. The parts to repair starters are very
cheap and it is not usually a major component that fails. It is typically
corrosion that kills starters on a boat and not component wear from
extended use. As such, the main componts to fail a

1. brushes- salt water corrodes the copper leads
2. brush springs- salt water corrodes them and they break
3. solenoid- corrosion prevents the plunger from sliding
4. drive- corrosion gums up the works and deprives the starter of power or
the drive won't release.

The most expensive part here is the solenoid and it will only set you back
$16.

When I cruise in my sailboat. I carry a complete starter ready to go as a
spare. I also carry a set of all the above parts to do repairs at sea.

Another benefit to all this is that it can save A LOT of money. Yanmar
starters usually cost about $500. You can buy a similar starter (but with
a different nosecone) from Kragans or Autozone for about $50 and just use
it for parts. This works with almost all marine diesels. No diesel
manufacturer also manufactures a starter. They use either a Bosch, hitachi
or some big truck starter. Another advantage to knowing which automotive
starter supplies you with parts is that you can walk into any auto parts
store ask for your Lester number and you get a starter. No waiting for
shipments through the marine parts network.

If you want to buy starter parts I suggest looking at the catalogs from
Ace Electric:

http://www.aceelectric.com/CatS.htm

By the way, this same strategy also works for alternators. To a limited
degree it can be used for raw water pumps, injectors, and filters


David Braun
S/V Nausicaa

Brian Whatcott wrote in
:

On Sun, 23 May 2004 15:51:59 -0400, "John Wise"
wrote:

I replaced the original starter in my 97 cuddy, volvo / omc engine at
end of last year with a remanufactured one, she fired up okay this
year when I de- winterized, but when I launched yesterday it failed
again(the starter). I spent the money and ordered a new one, try
again. Appreciate your thoughts on remanufactured starters, is this
common for them to go so quickly , i had no hours on the darn thing.

Hope all are enjoying the season!

John

Here's the problem: you are looking for advice because your judgment
in this area could use some support, but
you are priming us with your judgments, instead of your observations,
which would allow us to make our best judgments.

About the recon starter failing. How did it fail?
Did it not spin?
Did it spin slow?
Did it spin fast for the first five continuous minutes you spun it?

Did it spin fast, but lug badly at one point per revolution?
THOSE are the observations one needs....

You checked the neutral start switch position, of course?


Neutral Start Switch?.......(c;

On Thu, 03 Jun 2004 01:51:56 -0000, Larry W4CSC
wrote:

Brian Whatcott wrote in
:
///
You checked the neutral start switch position, of course?


Neutral Start Switch?.......(c;

OMC power controllers and Mercruiser power controllers
wont start in gear thanks to the neutral start switch.
If this is flakey, makes starting iffy.

Don't OMC Volvos have 'em?

Brian W