Diesel starter solenoid question

[Double D]

I keep blowing the starter solenoid on my starbord engine. The one I just put in lasted less than 100 starts.

I had the starter rebuilt last year, and 2 new solenoids were put on (the second controls the fuel shutoff). This year the starter solenoid wasn't working, so I replaced it again. Now its dead again.

I have been trying to find specs on these things, without much luck. Is it possible the solenoid is too small for the starter current? What else could be causing the failure?

This is the solenoid that just burned out, it looks just like the original (from the other engine) as well as the one that burnt last year.

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...ch+-+Universal

[Tunaman5]

There are "Duty Ratings" on solenoids. Check out Cole Hersee for everything you need to know about them. I bet you need a higher rating.http://www.colehersee.com/cole_train...ning_menu2.htm Click on "Training" if you want to learn about them. Very informative to say the least. These should last for years. Hope this helps.
You might need this one (24071)for the high amperage load. I dont know if yours is a grounded system or not so this may not be the exact part...http://www.colehersee.com/catalog_top/index.htm
and I am down in Point/Brick area alot lately. Let me know and I would be happy to take a look at it if you get stuck.
What motors do you have?

[Double D]

Wow, what a great response Tunaman, thanks

I have DD 8.2TI's

The only thing confusing me is why they keep breaking

[Judith A]

DD, first off I would not trust a Napa solenoid that states it's Universal and gives no amperage rating ,maybe if it was Heavy duty.
Also once your back up and running I would do a voltage drop test. Take a digital voltmeter and hook positive lead to pos bat terminal and other lead to Positive stud on starter then crank engine,anything over .5 volt would be excessive. possibly bat switch,cable end or cable itself.
Also hook voltmeter to engine block and neg bat cable and then crank should also be less than .5 volt
But I think mostly you prob ally need heavier duty solenoid.
Mark

[Deep C]

I'm gonna toss another idea in the works... I see you have 8.2's . I have 6.5's in my Albemarle... These were gas engines originally that were turned diesel... Along the way they didn't change all the components over. I'm wondering if they still were set up with what amounts to being a gas engine starter. I have cooked starters and solonoids both on mine. I finally got a genuine diesel starter / solonoid that could take the extra amprage required to turn the higher compression.

The guy who put them in pointed out that I have a second issue. My batteries are mounted aft in my boat. In fact all the way at the stern. This means fairly long battery cables. He explained that a lot is lost in that length and a lot of heat is also generated...
This year, if I keep her I'm going to move my batteries closer and reduce that loss ...
Just an Idea...

[Questsportfishing]

so many parts ... and so many CHEAP parts.... best to get what is required and beef it up some. another thing that really takes a toll on any motor or starter is low power coming through our cables or a weak battery so always check that out also.. inspect the cables and fittings.

[Double D]

Great stuff guys, thanks for your time

So how do I pick a new solenoid? I don't know the amperage draw of the starter. And would a continuous duty solenoid be more robust than intermittent, even though I don't need it (that was the thinking on the last one)?

[hubris 1]

Dont you have a blackfin? I had one and sometimes I think its thew boat design. Water runs right on the starter, when it rains, or you wash it. If im wrong sorry but I had the issue also when I had the blackfin. I dont think its the starter as much as the constant water.

[Double D]

I think I answered my questions, the intermittent solenoids are rated for 750A, whereas the continuous are much less (65). It must be the inrush at starting that is frying the continuous rated solenoids. I'll try an intermittent

Hub - yes I have a blackfin, but the starters (and the rest of the engines) stay dry. Just a little corrosion from underneath (gonna get dripless couplings to knock that down). Mine is an express

[Finesse]

The one on the left side is fine ??
Had a similar problem on a trim motor ...