Thread:

Power Wire and Starter Question

Ok, I have a 454, no idea what compression ratio. I use a car starter, and the thing barely cranks. It is a bottom mount and occasionally does get a little wet, but it barely cranked even when it was new. When you remove it from the engine and hot wire it with no load it spins freely and fast. My power to the boat is ran through the starter relay. Is that normal? Or should I run another wire to the battery for the boat power? Also what is everyone's opinion on the Hi-Torque Hitachi style starters? I saw some on ebay for $80. My buddy has one, not in a boat, and it works well.

Oh and I am way to poor to buy a new housing to run a top mount starter.

You can also add a starter relay whitch helps alot! The power goes from the battery to the front then to the back of the boat to power the starter! This is a long ways and could have voltage drop. Also what is the timing set on? High timing will also cause starter drag! Hope you get it fixed! WT

Coby

Originally Posted by Widetrack

You can also add a starter relay whitch helps alot! The power goes from the battery to the front then to the back of the boat to power the starter! This is a long ways and could have voltage drop. Also what is the timing set on? High timing will also cause starter drag! Hope you get it fixed! WT

Coby

Not sure what the timing is at. I never put a gun to it. The thing runs fine since the day I got it. It usually starts almost immediately with just 1-3 cranks. I don't know if the starter relay you are mentioning would be favorable for my boat. All of my power connections are on a distribution power block located next to the engine. I don't think it would make much sense in my case to run wire all the way to the front and risk a voltage drop.