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| Starter Question - Chris Craft Conste... |
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dwbudd
New member
Username: dwbudd
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2021
| | Posted on Monday, February 08, 2021 - 07:47 pm: | 
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Hi All
new poster with a quick question. I have a 1966 Chris Craft Constellation, 30 footer. Powered by two 327 (210hp) engines. I had the boat out Saturday, cruising around for an hour or so, 2000 rpm. Engine ran, no problems. Coming into the slip, the port engine stalled (which happens from time to time at low RPM). Went to try to start it up, and the starter "made a click" but did not turn over. Got into the slip with just the starboard (a bit of a pain, but that's life).
Confirmed that, turn the key, starter makes a click, but no life. Have never had this problem with my starter before.
Question is this - I also have an old MG with the inertia (Bendix 'crash') starter, and it will at times do the same thing - click and then do nothing. The problem can be "solved" by putting the car into 4th gear, and gently rocking it, thus freeing up the Bendix from the flywheel.
My years of experience with the MG (a 1952 TD) leads me to believe that this is a similar problem, but want to confirm with the brain trust here. Is this a similar symptom with the old marine engines/mechanical starters? If so, what is the solution? Can't put the boat into fourth gear and push it to free the Bendix.
I finally bit the bullet and got a new starter for the car. Do I have to replace my starter in the Chris Craft? It is going to be a chore - much harder than in the car (whole job took less than 30 minutes).
Any thoughts greatly appreciated. |
ldobbins
Senior Member
Username: ldobbins
Post Number: 232
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 08, 2021 - 08:54 pm: |
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Greetings,
1. The problem needs to be diagnosed. It may be as simple as a bad battery cable or connection. You are hearing the starter solenoid engaging but not the starter. It could also be a battery that has given up.
2. Before replacing the starter (and after checking the above) you will need to determine if this starter is an automotive rotation or marine (reverse) rotation starter.
Your Port engine turns a left hand prop and your starboard engine turns a right hand prop. In other words, when in forward as viewed from behind the boat, the left hand prop (port) will turn counter-clockwise. The right hand prop (stbd) will turn clockwise. Now to determine which starter you need, you must identify which direction your engines are turning.
For a 1966 Chevy Chris Craft 327, You will need to see which model you have AND as important, are your engines Flywheel forward or flywheel aft? The early versions of the small block Chevy conversions were marinized so the flywheel (normal rear of engine)was actually mounted toward the front of the boat AND the transmission was driven off of the normal front of the engine. Later engines including the 327 were conventional and the transmission was mounted to the flywheel end.
You need to know this to determine the rotation. IF your port engine is installed flywheel forward then the engine actually turns backwards to drive a left hand prop, thus you have a reverse direction or non-automotive direction of the starter. BUT, if it is flywheel aft, then it is standard automotive rotation and a standard automotive version of the starter.
Can be confusing at first until you wrap your head around a couple of the above details.
At any rate, the starter should have a part number that can be found for replacement but is also fairly common parts for a GOOD motor generator shop to rebuild.
Cheers,
Lew The Left Coast Sterling Guy |
dwbudd
New member
Username: dwbudd
Post Number: 2
Registered: 02-2021
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2021 - 10:34 am: |
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Hi Lew
Thanks for the reply. It was getting dark when the starter decided to quit, so I could not get a good look at the cabling. It's always possible that there is a bad cable (or also possible, a bad ground I suspect). Will need to go at it with a voltage meter as a next step. |
dwbudd
New member
Username: dwbudd
Post Number: 3
Registered: 02-2021
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2021 - 03:09 pm: |
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Lew -
It is going to be a BEAR to get the starter out for bench testing. Getting in their (it's obviously inboard) Is going to take someone with Spider Man's flexibility.
The starter is aft (it's a 327F engine). |
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