2000 225 Starter positive terminal

[GulfCoastNik]

Some butt munch used regular zinc plated nuts on the positive terminal on my starter, and now they are severely corroded. I knew it was going to be tough to get them off, so I WD-40d them and hoped for the best. Now, my bendix drive will not engage. The starter just spins. I put some Corrosion Block (mineral based light lubricant) on the shaft, no luck. I suspect that the terminal is creating a big voltage drop. I used it the day before, and it seemed to turn over with vigor; I ran it for 8 hours straight, stopping and starting a few times during the trip, and it started fine. Trailered home, got ready to flush motor, the starter just spins.

All that to ask how to get those nuts off! The threaded shaft starts to turn when I try to back them off. I studied the manual, and that shaft looks like a stud inside, with the brushes connected to it. Any ideas how to finesse these things off?

 

[jonesg]

Re: 2000 225 Starter positive terminal

if theres enough thread showing, screw 2 nuts onto the end of the stud, lock them against each other and use to hold the stud steady whilst putting the beef to the offending nut.
A closed end wrench is best, a regular open end spanner will slip off.

Other than that...a nut splitter,

...or slit the nut with a carbide disk in a dremel.

 

[GulfCoastNik]

Re: 2000 225 Starter positive terminal

if theres enough thread showing, screw 2 nuts onto the end of the stud, lock them against each other and use to hold the stud steady whilst putting the beef to the offending nut.
A closed end wrench is best, a regular open end spanner will slip off.

Never thought of that, there might just be enough threads!

Other than that...a nut splitter,

...or slit the nut with a carbide disk in a dremel.

Those are the known options I'm hoping to avoid. Good thing is I can still remove the starter by disconnecting the cable at the solenoid to work on it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2000 225 Starter positive terminal

you can remove cable from solenoid no problem. but first make sure you have a full charged battery. also the corrosion for the terminal may have move into the cable.

90% of starter problems are bad connections. remove and clean both ends of the battery cables, so that they are shiney, also the cable from the solenoid to starter. check for nicks in the cables. and make sure the connectors are on the wire good. the cable tend to corrode from the inside out, if nicked, corroded wires, and connections, heat up and cause resistance to the follow of electricity, thus the starter doesn't get enough. you can also take jumper cable pos battery post to large post on starter. with a good connection, the engine should spin. then if the starter is good clean everything and retest. then trouble shoot solenoid. starters can be rebuit at a starter/alternator shop, much cheaper than a new one.

also have the battery load tested at the auto parts store, free, i've had new batteries go bad

 

[GulfCoastNik]

Re: 2000 225 Starter positive terminal

well, there were two issues: I pulled the starter, and the cable to the solenoid, and cut the nut off the starter positive terminal with a dremel. Didn't booger the threads too bad! The backing nut came off after taking jonesg's advice and jamming two nuts together on it. I HOPE the factory nuts are stainless, and someone pulled a switcheroo. Zinc nuts on a boat seems like a no-no!

Second, the bendix gear was jammed at the bottom of it's travel, against the shaft. My motor may have kicked back or something to cause it to jam like that. clean as a whistle, no corrosion, but a bit gunky. Cleaned and lubed with a light mineral based oil, good to go!

Replacing the short solenoid cable, as it has gotten 'infected' as well.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2000 225 Starter positive terminal

happy boating. another happy ending.