1978 OMC 140hp powerhead starter can hardly turns

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  • July 15, 2020 at 9:10 pm #208714
    Beno
    Participant

      I have a OMC 140hp powerhead (140TL78C) 1978? serial J4989592

      I have a Deep cell fresh battery hooked up to it fully charged. When I engage the solenoid the flywheel does a slow Rrr- R- Rrrrr

      I can take my thumb and turn the flywheel (I can’t whip it around or anything, but I can turn the engine over with just my thumb)

      I Rr-r-rrr’d the flywheel over like 10-15 times, the starter gets so hot you cannot touch it. I removed the starter and cannot hold it, I have to wait for it to cool down.

      Anyone know of any good tests to do? should I test the starter somehow?

      thanks
      Ben

      July 15, 2020 at 9:39 pm #208717
      dave-bernard
      Participant

        US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)

        may just need a good cleaning.

        July 16, 2020 at 1:48 am #208731
        frankr
        Participant

          US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)

          Might be burnt up if it got that hot?

          July 16, 2020 at 5:46 am #208732
          billw
          Participant

            US Member - 2 Years

            When cranking there should be a MINIMUM of 9.5 volts between the starter terminal and ground. If there is good enough voltage, and the starter is as hot as you say, the starter is probably trash, like Frank says. And it DOES happen sometimes, with those starters, too. Bad connections and bad brushes are easier to explain how to troubleshoot than a burned up starter but ultimately, if that were the case, you wouldn’t be seeing the starter getting that hot.

            Long live American manufacturing!

            August 19, 2020 at 10:53 am #212046
            Beno
            Participant

              I got a new starter in and installed it. Turns over like no tomorrow.

              I would gather that some internal copper windings on the starter went bad over time.

              good learning opportunity.

              August 19, 2020 at 4:52 pm #212085
              billw
              Participant

                US Member - 2 Years

                It wouldn’t be the first one, that’s for sure. Glad it’s fixed.

                Long live American manufacturing!

                August 19, 2020 at 9:36 pm #212113
                need2fish
                Participant

                  Smells just like burnt windings to me. Last time I took a starter for rewinding, it was just over $100.

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