Intermittent No Start. Perkins 104.

[essej4269]

Hello all.

So after a three out motor the other day the engine would not restart. Oil warning light comes on when key turned battery voltage is good. No sound at all from engine compartment. No click at starter. So I checked all the wires to the solenoid tightened them up and cleaned connections. Motor started. Ran it a bit. Turned off and no restart again. Fiddle with solenoid connections sometimes starts sometimes wont. If I wait awhile it may start. Very confused. Changed all the terminals. Same condition. When it does start it cranks normally and starts up easy.

I'm very new to all this can anyone suggest some things to check or point me in a good direction. Please keep in mind I'm a total newb at boats and engines in general so use small words and be as specific as possible pretend your teaching a twelve year old. Wait, no twelve year olds probably smarter than me. Thanks all

[frozenhawaiian]

sounds like the solenoid is starting to fail.

[Cheechako]

Mine was a 4-108. There is a plastic wiring bundle connector , usually on the back of the engine. it connects a bunch of wires to the engine. Mine was intermittent until I opened that up and some of the connecting pins had minor corrosion. had to clean them off and secure the connection and all was well.

[essej4269]

as I look closer there is a hard plastic strap from the solenoid to the starter. It's quite cracked, I assumed it just held thing together but could this carry wire? It's the only connector from solenoid I see..

[DeepFrz]

Often this type of problem is in the wire harness between the engine and the instrument panel.

Does your starter look like this? http://www.amazon.ca/STARTER-PERKINS.../dp/B007A3UC3U

If so then the plastic strap is probably an insulated copper strap.

[essej4269]

it appears to be the case. It's cracked through. Is it hard to change?

[olaf hart]

Have you cleaned up your engine earth connection to the battery?

[captaindanger70]

Do You have a floating ground or a negative grounding system. The first uses a Lucas starter with ground to the battery, reduces corrosion, the second uses the engine block as ground. If you have first one the problem lies with the solinoid and is probably pitted.
The second one is more likely the wiring. Both easy to correct.

[Golden Echo]

Had a similar problem. It was the solenoid. I removed the starter cleaned it up, replaced the solenoid and it's been working great since. I guess that was 5 years ago without a hiccup. Cheers...