help with bbc starting??

« **on:** June 24, 2009, 05:53:21 PM »

Last river trip my buddys miller had speratic starting problems. it would act like it had a dead batterey one minute and fire just fine the next. we took the batterey out and put it in my boat and it started it just fine. so fast forword to today we were messing around with it trying to get it to duplicate the problem. well it did so we first started with running a jumper straight from the switch to the starter and it still did it. so then we replaced the switch with no luck. so then i started disconecting wires one at a time a traced it back to the main distributer power wire. it would hesitate with it connected and not with it disconnected. The dizzy is a stock h.e.i. So where do I go from here??

Sorry for the long story but I wanted to cross all my bases.

Please HELP!

« **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:00:01 PM »

and I did try running a new wire from the switch to the dizzy still nothing and then also straight from the bat to the dizzy still nadda.

Thanks in advance

« **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:01:32 PM »

When you say "acted like it was a dead battery" are you talking about cranking problems or ignition problems? Was it having trouble turning over the engine or was it having trouble creating an explosion inside the cylinder?

« **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:04:04 PM »

Quote from: Stevecat on June 24, 2009, 06:01:32 PM

When you say "acted like it was a dead battery" are you talking about cranking problems or ignition problems? Was it having trouble turning over the engine or was it having trouble creating an explosion inside the cylinder?

It was cranking problems

« **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:17:32 PM »

sounds like a starter, my ford motor in my spectra does the same thing.

The Beav

« **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:51:57 PM »

see we were thinkin starter too but the fact that if I pull the power wire to the distributer it will turn over just fine. I'm seeing it as a draw from the distributer of some sort. I just don't know what. I have really no knowledge of the H.E.I. My old boat had one but had zero problems in the 5 years I had it. I'm stumped. I was thinking just change the starter but we have to drop a log to get it out and don't want to go through all of that if we don't have to, and I really don't think its the starter....

« **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2009, 06:55:11 PM »

Actually tell me this Could it be the starter? say the sylenoid was going out and the extra draw of the ignition was just enough not to let it turn over? this just came to me im trying to think outside the box.

« **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2009, 07:14:43 PM »

thats what i would try. my boat will start just fine most of the time and then once and awhile it will click, not turn over just click like the battery is dead. i havent changed the starter but i had an old suburben that did the same thing, its like the starter has a dead spot in it and once its past the dead spot, starts like a champ.

THe Beav

« **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2009, 07:59:03 PM »

Quote from: Beaveretriever on June 24, 2009, 07:14:43 PM

thats what i would try. my boat will start just fine most of the time and then once and awhile it will click, not turn over just click like the battery is dead. i havent changed the starter but i had an old suburben that did the same thing, its like the starter has a dead spot in it and once its past the dead spot, starts like a champ.

THe Beav

well I guess thats what we will try. Can anyone think of some reason the dizzy would be drawing to much? Or know what it should be drawing at start-up?

« **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:15:53 PM »

Make sure to eliminate the super ez stuff first b4 you go on the chase of the mystery for the ignition circuit messing with the start circuit. Whenever my boat had the symptoms yours does, it is the batt cables. They either jiggle loose or get warm and somehow lose solid contact. I will get several ez starts and then a barely able to turn kind of start. I finally ditched the #2 awg ground cable and am going for bigger with tougher/bigger lugs.

When you get the no/slow crank again, let it try cranking a few seconds and then go back and feel for any of the cables between the batt, solenoid and starter and if any of them are much warmer than the others - you may have a bad crimp connection on that cable.

« **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:31:03 PM »

I imagine when you hook up the dizzy and the cylinders are trying to fire its going to create more load for the starter. I would check all cables, connections and if they are good, replace the starter. You could also try taking out some initial timing to lighten the load on the starter

« **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2009, 09:00:42 PM »

I appreciate all of the feedback Im going to check all of the cables tomorow. anyone ever had a morse batterey switch go bad? I was just looking at that and thought maybe.

« **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:24:43 AM »

I'm betting cables too! (After my fiasco saturday with a "good, fairly new" turned out to be pos battery!) Need to check for corrosion where the crimped on ends are to the wire. I soldered mine after the last time I suspected them.

Ray

« **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2009, 03:25:26 AM »

Just one other thought, when it acts up put a timing light on it to see if the dizzy screwed up and
advanced the timing.

If it does that you'll get the same thing, slll oooow ccccrrrrr aaaannnnnkkkkk

Hard to believe the ignition could cause enough voltage drop to stop the starter without
melting wires.

When you pull the wire you eliminate ignition. The starter turns fine then.

I think your dizzy may just be the dizzy part.

Good luck

« **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:29:00 AM »

Wow, woulda never thought of that! Possible, yes! But then, that's why we run Fords! Guess there's something to the dizzy being on the wrong end, lol

Ray

« **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:54:22 AM »

I agree with electrowoman I think the motor is too far advanced...this issue will not happen on a cold start-up, but when the motor gets to operating temperature this can occur...I would say put a timing light on it...

« **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:19:28 AM »

i bet you a millon buck the started is fried.

« **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:02:25 PM »

A real easy fix drop the logs pull the motor and put a FORD in it's place

« **Reply #18 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:04:08 PM »

Quote from: sturat 514 on June 25, 2009, 12:02:25 PM

A real easy fix drop the logs pull the motor and put a FORD in it's place

Why would he want to put an anchor where the motor goes?

« **Reply #19 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:08:19 PM »

No really sounds like the cables and the solenoid are the issues here. I have a boat with a ford and one with a chevy both have the same issues at times with the starter. Tap on it with a hammers when you have this issue and it will more than likely work. They do get stuck from time to time and need a little nudge

« **Reply #20 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:09:36 PM »

Quote from: OC2Vegas on June 25, 2009, 12:04:08 PM

Why would he want to put an anchor where the motor goes?

My point exactly get rid of the anchor and put in a motor

« **Reply #21 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:51:10 PM »

Quote from: sturat 514 on June 25, 2009, 12:09:36 PM

My point exactly get rid of the anchor and put in a motor

if it was a perfect world they would all have fords in them! but im still yet to own one with a ford im still stuck in oldsmobile's

but I can't complain. And this miller was to good of a deal to pass up. our whole group is ford guys 2 of the 4 boats are ford's and they are the fastest boats in the group..

Later on this evening we are going to look at the starter and cables. I wanted to tap on the starter but not even enough room to do that.

« **Reply #22 on:** June 25, 2009, 01:20:55 PM »

Easy test back the timing off just a touch and see if it does it

« **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2009, 07:53:30 PM »

well boys we figured it out it ended up being our dumb a$$e$ putting the distributer in 1 tooth off. we pulled it awhile ago to change the gasket and I quess we put it back in 1 tooth off... she runs bitchin now and are ready for the fourth! thanks for all the input!

« **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2009, 09:33:42 PM »

Quote from: willowog on June 29, 2009, 07:53:30 PM

well boys we figured it out it ended up being our dumb a$$e$ putting the distributer in 1 tooth off. we pulled it awhile ago to change the gasket and I quess we put it back in 1 tooth off... she runs bitchin now and are ready for the fourth! thanks for all the input!

Quote from: JAY on June 25, 2009, 10:19:28 AM

i bet you a millon buck the started is fried.

When and where would you like to deliver the million bucks?

Willow Wog

Willow Wog

Stevecat

Willow Wog

Beaveretriever

Willow Wog

Willow Wog

Beaveretriever

Willow Wog

Stevecat

bbfsouthwind

Willow Wog

IRRebel

electrowoman

IRRebel

Nordie

JAY

sturat 514

OC2Vegas

sturat 514

sturat 514

Willow Wog

Nordie

Willow Wog

OC2Vegas