testing old Mercruiser 165HP starter

[acarleson]

Hello,
I was given an old starter from an old mercruiser 165HP, i think it's GM made. I want to see if it works, but I don't know how to test it. It was given to me without the solenoid, so all it has is the plunger thing so I can't just jump the solenoid. Please see photos.

Is there some way to test it as-is, or will I need to buy a solenoid?

Thank you

Photo:

 

[Bt Doctur]

without a solenoid all you can do is power the starter motor , but the PMGR ones are a lot better

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... I agree with BD,..... Toss what you've got in the scrap bin, 'n buy a new one, if, 'n when ya need it,.....

The new style starters are 'bout 1/2 the weight, with nearly twice the power,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

it would cost you as much as a new starter to get that operational.

 

[acarleson]

Hi Bt Doctur,
Thanks for the information. What do you mean, all I can do is power it? I should have said, all I'm trying to test is the actual starter, I'm not as interested in the solenoid because... well, because I wasn't given one.

So I can power it? I want to see two things: the starter spin, and if the drive pops out. Can I do this without the solenoid? How do I connect power to the starter without the solenoid?

Side note, are you saying that PMGR starers are better than the stock starters? That's good to know, thanks!

 

[acarleson]

Hi all,
thanks for the information. Just to be clear, I was given this starter (a friend replaced theirs and gave this to me). I think it's a good opportunity to test one out and see how it works. I'd like to see how it spins, and I want to see the drive pop out. I don't even have an engine that this fits on, but since I was given an old starter, I want to mess around with it and see how it works and what things look like. Someday, my starter will go out, and I'd like to know how things work.

Right now, I know that I have a drive that pops out when the starter engages. That's all I know. This is a chance for me to be able to see this in action on a starter that's off a boat, because right now I can't even visualize what that means. So all I want to do is power this one, and watch it go so I can learn about marine starters in general. I don't plan on putting this one in a boat (again, I doubt that it even fits on my boat), but I'd like to learn how to bench test a starter since I don't know how.

However, this one doesn't have the solenoid. So in order to play around with it, I'm wondering if a) I need to go buy a solenoid (might be worth it, they're like 20 bucks, right?), or b) if I can somehow bypass the solenoid and watch it spin just as it is now. I'm not sure if I would jump the plunger(?) or how to even connect things up to see.

Thanks, and sorry for the confusion!

 

[Bt Doctur]

there is a copper lead coming out of the motor , about a 1/2 long with a small hole in it.12+ there and 12- to case.
The solenoid pulls the plunger into pull the bendix out. All you can do is verifty the bendix spins in 1 direction and not the other BY HAND

Right now, I know that I have a drive that pops out when the starter engages

No you dont. The solenoid pulls it out to engage the flywheel and connect the battery to the starter motor

 

[Scott Danforth]

Hi all,
thanks for the information. Just to be clear, I was given this starter (a friend replaced theirs and gave this to me). I think it's a good opportunity to test one out and see how it works. I'd like to see how it spins, and I want to see the drive pop out. I don't even have an engine that this fits on, but since I was given an old starter, I want to mess around with it and see how it works and what things look like. Someday, my starter will go out, and I'd like to know how things work.

Right now, I know that I have a drive that pops out when the starter engages. That's all I know. This is a chance for me to be able to see this in action on a starter that's off a boat, because right now I can't even visualize what that means. So all I want to do is power this one, and watch it go so I can learn about marine starters in general. I don't plan on putting this one in a boat (again, I doubt that it even fits on my boat), but I'd like to learn how to bench test a starter since I don't know how.

However, this one doesn't have the solenoid. So in order to play around with it, I'm wondering if a) I need to go buy a solenoid (might be worth it, they're like 20 bucks, right?), or b) if I can somehow bypass the solenoid and watch it spin just as it is now. I'm not sure if I would jump the plunger(?) or how to even connect things up to see.

Thanks, and sorry for the confusion!

marine solenoids are more than $20, and most likely the starter needs brushes too. not to mention it should get new bearings, have the armature checked and then be cleaned up and painted.

the cost to make that starter functional is over $50 plus incidentals. if you take it somewhere for them to service the starter, they would treat your starter as a core, and it would cost you about $150 for them to put the effort in to rebuild it (you are paying their labor)

the cost of a brand new PMGR starter is in the $45 range and they are half the weight

without the solenoid, all that starter can do is spin as the magnet on the solenoid is what drives the bendix.