Starter starts engine as soon as I hook up Battery........

[mrcj001]

1976 70hp Evinrude

New rebuilt starter....new starter solenoid.....new ignition switch.......wiring is all good and clean.

Was testing the engine on the muffs.......shut it off....started it back up 2 minutes later and when the engine started the starter keep spinning. I turned the key off the engine quite but the starter kept spinning. Now, when I hook up the battery cable with the key OFF....it wants to start the engine.

What am I missing here?

 

[Joe Reeves]

New starter solenoid?...... Either that starter solenoid is shorted out... OR... you have the battery cable attached to the same terminal that the electric starter is attached to... OR... the ignition switch is faulty.

 

[fhhuber]

Stuck solenoid or stuck starter switch. I'd bet on the solenoid. It may have welded the contacts closed in the solenoid.

 

[mrcj001]

Please tell me I`m not imaging things............

Went to take off the solenoid , disconnected the battery cables from it, disconnected the ignition terminals from it and when I loosened one of the bolts that holds the metal strap to the engine, I heard a very faint click. Is it POSSIBLE that I had the hold down bolts to tight and was squeezing the solenoid housing causing the plunger to stick?????
Hooked it back up and now it works fine!!!!!

Now, before I disconnected it, I tested the continuity. With both ignition terminals off, there was continuity between both battery cable leads and not the ignition terminals.

I tested the old solenoid and got continuity on the ignition terminals and not the battery cable terminals , so thats why I was going to put the old one back on...it was working before I took it off , just wanted to replace it because it was 40 years OLD.

 

[oldboat1]

My guess is an issue with your solenoid ground -- and sounds like you now have it solved. Check your manual, but believe one of the small terminals is connected to the start position on your key switch, and the other one is grounded to the block. If you are using one of the solenoid mounting clamp bolts as an engine ground point, that might explain the wonky connection to the clamp. Maybe it would be a good idea to find another ground point on the block -- maybe the starter bracket.

The oem solenoid would be 0586180, and there are aftermarket versions. But need to be using one of those or similar, not an auto solenoid.

 

[jakedaawg]

Nevermind

 

[jimmbo]

Sounds like how some people torque bolts/nuts. Enough is good, More is Better, and Too much is just Right!

 

[Joe Reeves]

There is always continuity between the two small 3/8" nut terminals, otherwise when the key is turned to the START position (voltage to "S" terminal of switch) there would be no magnetic field generated to pull the solenoid plunger in.

 

[mrcj001]

Talked to a tech this morning about the problem and he said ....YES......you CAN over tighten the clamp that holds the solenoid on. He said these solenoids made in China are cheaply made and it can and will happen. The plastic housing is thinner than the old USA made units. He said he learned this because he installed one one time and when he was tightening down the top battery cable the solenoid BROKE because he had the clamp to tight.

 

[oldboat1]

There should be a rubber solenoid sleeve under the clamp, and that should provide some cushion.