| Author |
Message |
tony mci-3 (142.161.14.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 02, 2003 - 10:27 pm: | |
I have an mci-3 w/6v71 12 volt.I tried to start it today in the frozen tundra we call home(canada).Had it plugged in for about 3 hours,tried to start it,it turned over slow so i put my large charger on it for awile.Tried to start again i turned it over about 15 seconds it fired .I let go of button thinking it would start next time.Loud click thats all,went to engine to jump solenoid same results.I can jump starter moter so it turnes but starter solenoid won't engage ring gear.Lookes like fork on starter solenoid only moves a little.Can solenoid be adjusted or do i need a new one,or shoud i take starter to a starter shop. Thanks Tony Mci-3 |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.209.171)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 12:32 am: | |
Hello Tony.
You can't diagnose starter problems until you clear up whether you have good power to it or not.
A weak battery may spin the starter, but it might not hold in the solenoid and spin the motor together.
I recently had a new solenoid put on my starter by a friend in the business. I think it was just under $100 CDN eh?
I'm in Toronto, where are you?
Let the Board know what you find and how you fix it.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Phil Dumpster (12.230.214.167)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 1:49 am: | |
There are two windings in the typical starter solenoid - a pull-in winding and a hold-in winding. Both get power when the solenoid is at rest, but the pull-in winding is bypassed when the solenoid is all the way in and the hold-in winding then holds the solenoid in that position.
A problem with either the pull-in winding or the hold-in winding will cause the symptoms you describe. (a click, and the pinion gear not moving all the way to mesh with the flywheel.)
If it's a matter of a fried connection, then the solution is rather simple. If it is a matter of a fried winding, then you either rewind the solenoid or get a new one.
The other possibility is that there may be a problem with the big contacts the solenoid triggers which power the starter motor. These would wear down in use until they would become intermittent, then not function at all. For automobiles, years ago I used to solder on copper pennies to build up the contacts again.
If those contacts are worn, you'll get a loud click but no motor action. However, the pinion would move all the way into position like it should.
Either way, you'll want to pull the starter off of the bus and disassemble the solenoid on a bench, or if you don't want to bother with the forensics and repair just get a new one. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 11:59 am: | |
Buswarrior's on the right track though.
Until the Batteries are a known quantity, you shouldn't go further than that.
Gary |
BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 2:55 pm: | |
Phil has made some good points but I agree with Gary and the Buswarrior, make sure your batteries are fully charged and capable of holding a charge before you do anything else...then I'd start looking for corrosion and loose connections...after that maybe then the solenoid could be looked at.
Brian |
tony mci-3 (142.161.15.247)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 7:42 pm: | |
Thanks for all the input guys.I fixed the problem tonight.I pulled the end off the solenoid to look at the disk.It was the problem, disk and copper connections were worne and pitted.Changed disk and back cover no more loud click.This weekend i will change oil and filters ready for our annual christmas trip to florida.P/s buswarrior i live just outside winnipeg manitoba. |