Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

[myoldboat2]

On vacation with the kids, this just happened about an hour ago,
sure hope you guys can shed some light on it.

1974 Mercruiser 140 I/O
GM Engine 140 HP 4-cyl 181 cu.in.

As discussed in my prior thread on a new starter, I got this starter:
Mercruiser 3.0 Marine Starter Long-Short Mount 6563 SDR0059
from DB Electrical and installed it 11 days ago. Worked great until
this evening.

Stopped to bring in water skier and put my son out to wakeboard.
Got things set, turned the key and the motor sort of started
immediately--but it didn't sound right. I turned the key off, and
it kept on running with no change in sound. It did not sound like
dieseling to me, because there was no chugging or lugging down
of the engine. It sounded very mechanical like the starter was
driving the engine. Yet the shifting worked. I pulled the engine
cover and after about 45 seconds I heard a click, like maybe the
starter disengaged, and it stopped running.

I started it again and it sounded the same--tinny and like an
electrical drive. This time I switched off the switch I have
next to the battery and the engine stopped immediately--so
I am sure it is electrical.

Decided I needed to limp back to the dock to work on it, so
started it again. Shifted and gave it a little gas and heard the
"disengage" click again and it was running normally. Took it back
to the dock where it is tied up now. I haven't tried it since then,
thought I'd let it cool off and see what you guys thought.
There was nothing overheated about the engine. When it kept
running by itself the engine compartment had the smell of a hot
electric motor, so again I think the starter was driving the engine.

Do you think this is the "remote start solenoid"? I replaced the
old one with SIE185836 replaces Merc 25661 (supercedes to 25661T1)
three years ago. Or do you think something on the new starter is
bad? Or something else?

Thanks! My kids thank you for any input that might save the rest
of our vacation.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

Couple of test you can do, disconnect the yel/red wire at the slave, key "on", touch the yel/red wire to the red wire on the slave. motor should start and run normally, possable slave or ign switch.
still does it, starter solenoid sticking

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

Yes, that's a great idea. Since the previous owners/mechanics may
have changed the wire colors (they seem to have done a lot of that),
which post should these wires be on? Here is the part:

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

Which yel/red wire? the diagram shows a small one from the ignition switch/shift control and a big one from the starter solenoid. which one am i to short to the big red/pur wire (which comes from the battery positive/starter solenoid/circuit breaker)?

thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

the big lugs: one side should be red, the other yel/red
If thats not correct: from the big lugs, there should be a wire going to the starters solenoid, the other should have battery power,
the small lugs: solenoid circuit from key switch, and the other ground wire

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

great, that matches the diagram i have. but it shows:

big lug to starter solenoid -- yel/red
small lug solenoid circuit from key switch -- yel/red

which yel/red do you want me to disconnect and touch to the
big lug red wire?


and then if it starts and runs normally, how do i pintpoint the
problem to the slave solenoid or the ignition switch? i assume
i take one out of the circuit, but what's the usual test?

thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

The large yel/red is removed and touched to the red/ pur.
check your PM

 

[diehard]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

i had a starter stay running changed the starter and new one did the same thing ..latter found out my battery was week and had enough power to engauge starter but not enough to disengauge starter but could be your solidnode [ sorry i can't spell]

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

Thanks for the reply, diehard. The battery is fully charged; also, the ammeter had been indicating that charging was working correctly.

I did Bt Doctur's test. The starter again did not disengage. So the problem is the starter solenoid is sticking. I'll contact the manufacturer. Thanks for the help, Bt Doctur!

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

They're sending out a replacement starter. I'll swap it out in the next week or two. The only good (??) thing is it's been cold and windy here all day today, so nobody wants to go boating anyway. I've been able to get the starter to disengage on about the 4th try by varying the rpm a bit, so I hope the kids can get some water time tomorrow. I'll just need to keep it idling while we're out. Hopefully starting it and trying to disengage the starter isn't damaging the flywheel teeth at all. Thanks for the help.

 

[xltier]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

They're sending out a replacement starter. I'll swap it out in the next week or two. The only good (??) thing is it's been cold and windy here all day today, so nobody wants to go boating anyway. I've been able to get the starter to disengage on about the 4th try by varying the rpm a bit, so I hope the kids can get some water time tomorrow. I'll just need to keep it idling while we're out. Hopefully starting it and trying to disengage the starter isn't damaging the flywheel teeth at all. Thanks for the help.

try tapping on the solenoid when it sticks.and like u said,leave it running.had one last week that someone put a trim solenoid on as a starter slave.it would stick the contacs inside itself and keep the starter energized.starters draw a lot more that a trim circuit.

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

more bad luck. i think my coupler is spun and my sterndrive may be toast.
i don't see how this could be related to the starter not disengaging, but
could it? new thread here

thanks.

 

[sfmaster]

Re: Mercruiser 140 keeps running, starter engaged?

Just want to say thanks to the information on this forum I was able disengage my starter. All it took was a good tap on the solenoid. I almost thought I would need a new starter.