Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

[artificialreef]

Hi Folks, I just received my used snap on dwell meter from flea bay and went to set the dwell on a 1983 mercruiser that i just rebuilt the carburetor on and the motor wouldnt turn over. Traced it down to stripped threads on the solenoid to the starter. Loose connection. I really hate to pull the starter because of a stupid copper stud stripped. I guess my question is?
1. The stud is 7/16 14 0r 16 thread. Copper being a soft metal. Is there a manufacturer that makes bolts that would self die themselves to this stripped out stud?
2. The starter looks like a beast to get out but the solenoid is sitting right on top. Can i just pull the solenoid and put a new stud in since it works fine.
3. If i can just pull the solenoid out, when i remove the two attaching bolts are springs going to shoot out and into the flywheel housing? From what i got on the first start, its allready purring like a kitten (adjusted the dwell twice, would like to do the timing) .
Thank you in advance.
Artificialreef

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

This is a 1983 470.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

I would suggest just sucking it up and take it out and have a electrical component shop that rebuild starters and such see if they can replace it and or rebuild it. Fudging it will end up bitting you in the a-- later especially in a high vibration area. Good luck!!!!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

unfortunately there's not much you can do yo fix the stripped stud, most of us has been there before, a new heavy duty nut may just get you one more try but more than likely not.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

I recently went through the same thing on my 3.0 (I think the solenoids attach in a similar fashion) and was able to remove the 2 bolts/screws holding the solenoid to the starter, give the solenoid a 1/4 twist and it pushed free from the starter, spring pressure didn't send the solenoid flying across the garage, pretty light pressure. This was with the starter still on the engine.

Be aware that the solenoid (and starter) are sealed up air tight for spark suppression, and you need to make sure you get them sealed up again when you put it back together. If not, BOOM. I took the solenoid apart and couldn't believe the arcing that was taking place inside it, not to mention the starter itself. It made me a firm believer in "marine" parts and spark suppression.

Before getting too far into the project, check and see what it's going to cost for a replacement solenoid. For my engine it was over 1/2 the cost of a new aftermarket starter, the reason I repaired the solenoid. Luck have it, or lack thereof,,, once I got the solenoid back on the starter, I found the starter bad and had to replace it...

(Oh yeah, I had an old chevy solenoid laying around the I robbed a stud out of.)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

Any starter/alternator shop (auto-electric in the yellow pages) will have a box full of those bolts. As I remember, there are two small cap screws that hold the plastic cap on the end of the solenoid. One of the small screws secures the tab from the starter to the connection on the solenoid. The large nut secures another copper bolt (much like the other one) but there is an internal connection to that bolt so that one is not replacable but it does allow the plastic cover to be pivoted so you can pull out the stripped bolt. If the contact disk shows severe arcing damage, replace it as well. Otherwise your options are replace the solenoid or remove the starter, rebuild it whether it needs it or not, and install a new solenoid. If you remove the starter, check the bendix shifter yoke buttons as they can wear which prevents full engagement of the bendix.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

Most of my customers opt to replace starter, since the know they can't just get out and push when it fails. 'nutcase

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

I used to mess around with rebuilding / reconditioning the solenoid on my Chevy starter. I have to confess that I simply replace the starter anymore.

Just as a side - what does the dwell meter have to do with anything? You might actually get a little more action with the post with a title that fits the post. Just a thought.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

Just as a side - what does the dwell meter have to do with anything?

My thoughts exactly. Should be titled "Starter issue".

 

[mkast]

Re: Damn it, just received my Dwell meter!

Be aware that the solenoid (and starter) are sealed up air tight for spark suppression,

Air tight starter, spark suppression
Where did this information come from?