Starting Port engine

[JHornsby3]

Hello All,

I hope the season has been good to you all.

I was in the 300DA yesterday. Decided to run the engines on the muffs, since it's been a while. I ran the Starboard first and she fires up right away no issues. Switched everything over and went to fire the Port and nothing. Pushed the Emergency cross over and she lit no problem. Ran it up to temp and shut it down. Went to refire and same, had to use the cross over. I don't remember having to use it before this but it's been a while since I fired it up.

The PO had put two aftermarket ignition switches in the dash. Starboard is more like normal but the Port is a hinky cheaper one. Could this problem be in the switch?

I know the batteries are all clean and connections are tight. And they all test good when separated.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Nater Potater]

Hello All,

I hope the season has been good to you all.

I was in the 300DA yesterday. Decided to run the engines on the muffs, since it's been a while. I ran the Starboard first and she fires up right away no issues. Switched everything over and went to fire the Port and nothing. Pushed the Emergency cross over and she lit no problem. Ran it up to temp and shut it down. Went to refire and same, had to use the cross over. I don't remember having to use it before this but it's been a while since I fired it up.

The PO had put two aftermarket ignition switches in the dash. Starboard is more like normal but the Port is a hinky cheaper one. Could this problem be in the switch?

I know the batteries are all clean and connections are tight. And they all test good when separated.

Thanks for reading.

I don't think it'd be the ignition switches since the heavy current is handled by the solenoids which work with the emergency switch. I'm guessing you have something dirty between the port start battery and the port starter solenoid.

 

[JHornsby3]

I was thinking that but that port starter is new. Everything was cleaned and dielectric grease coated. That is why I was thinking the switch. It almost acts like the exciter wire isnt attached to the switch.

 

[Nater Potater]

I don't have my boat near me to compare or a good engine schematic to refer to; does the port battery cable connect directly to the starter? The fact that it starts with the e-switch tells me that the exciter wire is intact, or it wouldn't start no matter what was happening with the batteries. I wish I was there; my DMM is just itching to do some troubleshooting!

 

[JHornsby3]

I don't have my boat near me to compare or a good engine schematic to refer to; does the port battery cable connect directly to the starter? The fact that it starts with the e-switch tells me that the exciter wire is intact, or it wouldn't start no matter what was happening with the batteries. I wish I was there; my DMM is just itching to do some troubleshooting!

I'm not sure about the battery cable. It goes into a bundle of wires and gets lost quick.

Sounds like you are itching for a crab dinner.

 

[Nater Potater]

I'm not sure about the battery cable. It goes into a bundle of wires and gets lost quick.

Sounds like you are itching for a crab dinner.

Why do you tease me that way? Just stop already!

We are going to come visit you this spring/summer, and maybe loop through GFC's neck of the woods.

 

[JHornsby3]

We plan on making several more trips. Then freezing a bunch for this winter when we cant get over the coastal range. Well we can but choose to let the fools be fools without us.

April is canning bourbon peach jam right now. Tomorrow will be another round of mator sauce or mator jalapeno hot sauce. I hope we get another 10lbs of jalapeno for a second batch of cowboy candy and relish. Next year is chili verde and pickled cauliflower. Oh and we have 40 lbs of cherries for cherry jam to do yet.

Hungry yet?