Electrical noise

ollyit · 14 September 2009, 08:00

Had an issue with starting my yamaha 2stroke (electric start) 1990 this weekend, went out for a short blast for 20minutes to test newly installed prop, ran for 15minutes, then engine off whilst tying up to a mooring, went to start it again via key and it just made a buzzing noise instead of the normal super quick starter motor noise - Its not the battery as its brand new, and I tried the one from the subaru to make sure - I took the hood off and gave the start motor a gentle clout wiuth a spanner and traced back to the soleniod and pressed all cables around the area,tried jumping from the soleniod direct to starter (+) terminal, nothing still pulled an inline fuses in and out again, tried again nothing, turned off all 12v power and had another push and pull around and this time it made the same slow spinning noise then jumped in to life - I'd like to get this sorted properly as had I not been on my own this would have caused panic im sure,

This weekend I ripped it all out disconnected cleaned and put back, still getting this noise in the video below

thanks all for any advice!

doggypaddle · 14 September 2009, 08:23

Measure the voltage at the engine end of the main battery cables when operating the starter, and at the battery when operating the starter,
then across the length of each cable on say the 2 volt rance on a dmm.
that is fron the battery neg to the end where its boltad on the engine, and fron the pos term to the starter solenoid.
you should get no more than a total difference of .5 to 1 volt total voltage difference between the battery and the engine end when operatin the starter. measuring each cable drop individually may isolate ehich cable is causin the problem.
sounds like its a bad contact or grotty cable somewhere.
the other way to do it is crank it over for a few seconds maybe 5 or 10 then feel all the cables and contacts. a hot bit will be the problem.

JSP · 14 September 2009, 08:53

Feel for a ya mate, hate electrics

ollyit · 14 September 2009, 08:56

thanks for suggestion doggypaddle!

i'll give those things a go

your quite right john, you've rarely got visability of electrical gremlins, a multimeter is worth its weight in gold if you know how to use one correctly

JSP · 14 September 2009, 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollyit

thanks for suggestion doggypaddle!

i'll give those things a go

your quite right john, you've rarely got visability of electrical gremlins, a multimeter is worth its weight in gold if you know how to use one correctly

I don't mate, hate the whole subject! Let us know how you get on mate.

matt h · 14 September 2009, 13:56

sounds like the brushes in the starter motor ollie!! hey, got the aerial, cheers, its brilliant Mr Singleton!!

take the starter off and take the bottom end cap,and check out the brushes, it could also be corroded inside!!

ollyit · 14 September 2009, 14:15

I'll check the voltages on the cables first, maybe replace battery cables if need be - then go the starter motor route - its well covered in the yamaha service manual,

Pleased the aerial got to you in good order, I packaged it up as well as I could, I've got the same on my boat - its perfect did a radio check with the solent coastguard, perfectamundo! on 25watt transmit