Starter for Mercruiser 140

M

myoldboat2

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
303
1974 GM Engine 140 HP 4-cyl 181 cu.in.
Mercruiser "Late Model I" Stern Drive

I have very quickly gone through two Arco 30460 starters,
the 1st bought in June 2007 and the 2nd in June 2008.

I've had some issues with water in my bilge.
I've replaced the rubber boots but I still had some problems last season.
The bilge is between the two pontoons and is baffled. Anyway, I'm working
on correcting the water problem. And I have a bilge pump in there.

The large starter that was on the engine when I bought the boat (used)
about 10 years ago got wet quite a few times. It kept going and going until
it finally started to click. I bought the first Arco in June 2007. It got wet
and stopped working. I sent it to Arco and they sent it back saying "water
damage, tough luck". I bought the second Arco in June 2008. It got wet
once and started clicking the next time out. By the end of last summer it
was clicking up to a dozen times before it would engage. So I'm sure it's
junk now, too.

So I need to buy another starter. The old one survived being wet many
times. My experience with the Arco's has been, get them wet once and they
are junk. I realize getting them wet is my problem and not a good idea, but
I don't think I want to buy another Arco starter. I'm trying to assure there's
no water in the bilge, but it is a boat after all.

So what should I buy? Sierra? Delco?
I like the idea of a smaller, lighter permanent magnet starter, but
I don't want another paperweight. What do you recommend (besides a dry
bilge, obviously)?

Thanks.
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,148
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

The old one survived being wet many times.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... I guess you were Lucky,....
Unfortunately,...
Nobody will warranty a submerged starter...

Mine came from my local Napa a few years ago,... Marine rated of course...
 
M

myoldboat2

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
303
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

Actually none of the starters were ever submerged, just got wet from water splashing up to the flywheel and being sprayed on the starter.

Thanks for the DB Electrical link, I will check with them.
 
bigbob_FTW

bigbob_FTW

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
290
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

Second DB electric. They can fix you up.
 
R

renny1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Messages
219
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

are you sure the starter is junk and your not needlessly buying starter motors as this was happening to my starter click,click,click ,click, start. then i found a post from don on how to check all solenoids(sry cant remember where it was) including pictures, so i followed his instructions and i now have no trouble with the same starter
 
M

myoldboat2

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
303
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

I ordered a start from DB Electrical.

Thanks for all the info. Based on input from Charlie, I had done most of those checks on the first Arco starter. I eventually pulled it off and sent it to Arco. They sent it back saying water damaged, tough luck buddy. I also took the original big starter and the first Arco starter to a local starter repair shop and they told me both were water damaged. But I left the old one sit outside for awhile, so that doesn't mean much. And the guy claimed he couldn't get parts for the Arco, which I'm not sure I believe, maybe he just wanted to sell me a new starter. I haven't done any tests on the Arco that's on there now. I'll be uncovering the boat pretty soon as I think it might be done snowing here.
 
T

tyl6448

Recruit
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

you starter for your 1974mercruiser 140 and that you ordered one from dbelectical what starter did you get and how did it work, is it a 4 teminal solinoid, 11 tooth pinion just curious in need that same starter but wasn't sure where to get one from. My old starter was a huge 20lbs or so and the new ones look so small. Also I was curious my big starter has a bracket toward the back to support the weight and the smallerones don't look like they need that bracket just the 2 bolts hold it in place any advise would be a big help
 
CheapboatKev

CheapboatKev

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
5,813
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

tyl6448 said:
you starter for your 1974mercruiser 140 and that you ordered one from dbelectical what starter did you get and how did it work, is it a 4 teminal solinoid, 11 tooth pinion just curious in need that same starter but wasn't sure where to get one from. My old starter was a huge 20lbs or so and the new ones look so small. Also I was curious my big starter has a bracket toward the back to support the weight and the smallerones don't look like they need that bracket just the 2 bolts hold it in place any advise would be a big help
Click to expand...

Welcome Aboard Tyl6448...
1st, You should start a thread and ask your ?'s there..

2nd, try to use a little more punctuation, your ?'s reming me of when my GF is ranting about something.lol

3rd. Some of the newer starters are reduction starters or Hi Torque, and are much smaller and lighter than the old original ones and do not need that support bracket. 2 bolts will hold it fine.
 
M

myoldboat2

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
303
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

Had some other things to do on the boat first. Finally done and got the DB Electrical starter on. So far I like it a lot.

When I removed the previous Arco starter, I found the shorter bolt broken off up inside the engine casting. That was really bad, because it's really hard to get to. It broke at the first thread on the bolt. A friend of mine was able to drill the stub and get it out. The Arco bolts were SAE Grade 5 with a tensile strength of 120 ksi. The DB Electrical bolts are SAE Grade 8 with a tensile strength of 150 ksi. Both should've been strong enough, so I think the bolt that broke probably had a flaw.

The new small starters are great and cost very little. Just don't get them wet.
 
D

DrEvil

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
43
Re: Starter for Mercruiser 140

I had the same problem with a broken bolt... had to use a right angle drill, a mirror, and a lot of patience. Finally got it out and the threads were still good.

I used an auto starter from a 1984 chevy caprice. I made sure to seal all of the cracks with RTV and to use the support bolt as well.
 
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