Starter keeps cranking ???

[Richard]

As per another thread, I replaced my solenoid on my starter yesterday.

I'm a little confused. If you will pardon any butchering of words, here's what I've got.

The solenoid has three terminals. Two heavy lugs and one "trigger" tab. Unless I went dumb in the meantime, when I took the old one off I had a heavy copper strap from one lug of the solenoid to the base of the starter itself. I presume this is the heavy current to actually crank the motor.

The other lug had the heavy wire from the battery and a cluster of maybe three other wires bundled together.

The last attachment point is the little 'trigger' tab that for lack of better word, is the lead to the key that starts the whole process.

Oh, and the very bottom of the starter has another couple of wires bundled to it as well. Perhaps just a grounding point for them, I don't know.

All I did was take the old solenoid out, put the new one back.

I went to crank it and let go of the key. The engine kept cranking & cranking & cranking as though Casper the Ghost was still holding the key.

Fortunately, I have a blade style quick disconnect to my negative post (to kill any chances of battery drain during weeks or months of non-use) and I was able to lift the blade to kill the starter.

Tried it again and same thing....just kept cranking away.

huh?

I'll admit I'm dumfounded on this. I got the machine started, and lifted the disconnect. With the noise of the engine starting, I don't really know if the starter disengaged on its own or if the breaking of the circuit by me did it. Everything works fine once started.

It was getting dark so I drove the machine out of my father in laws lawn and brought it home and parked it.

I'll probably get back to it this weekend.

What might cause the starter to STAY in starter mode?

Here's one thought I had. As I recall, when the solenoid is energized it pushes (or pulls?) a lever and this moves the bendix gear inside the starter. This process ALSO connects some contacts to deliver the heavy current to actually engage the starter itself.

The plunger on the solenoid fits into a slot on the starter side. If perchance, this didn't fit properly and therefore, created a "larger" length plunger, could this phantom extension be keeping these contacts touching each other until I lift the negative lead on the battery??

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Did the solenoid go back on without binding? Just wondering if putting it back in maybe it got distorted a little making the contacts stay energized. And before everyone else mentions pictures do help.

 

[Argosy]

Was there a spring inside the solenoid to return the plunger. Did you put that back in?

 

[ihuntbear]

i think you put one wire on the wrong post.sounds like you put the run wire on the start and the start on the run.It shouldn't keep cranking because of any spring.just my .02 cents

 

[J_J]

Check your key switch and see if there is voltage when you release start.

Try the screwdriver trick acrtoss the terminals.

The arm that shifts the Bendix may be binding.

Do you have the starter lug and the batt supply lugs reversed?

You might have created a latch on relay situation. It works like this. Once the relay is energised, it may grab a voltage to keep it energised until the current is broken.

 

[Craig Clayton]

If it is not a huge job why not pull the starter at this point in time and have a look around. You will probably find that the bandix throw is alot dirtier than you think. This also lets you check the action on the bench and then the wiring should be sorted or confirmed.
Craig Clayton

 

[jonyyuma]

Check your key switch and see if there is voltage when you release start.

Try the screwdriver trick acrtoss the terminals.

The arm that shifts the Bendix may be binding.

Do you have the starter lug and the batt supply lugs reversed?

You might have created a latch on relay situation. It works like this. Once the relay is energised, it may grab a voltage to keep it energised until the current is broken.

Good advice, look for some throw that is mech. holding the plunger too.

 

[mlauk]

The contact points in the solenoid might have welded together, due to low voltage. Is this a 24 volt system?

 

[Richard]

Did the solenoid go back on without binding? Just wondering if putting it back in maybe it got distorted a little making the contacts stay energized. And before everyone else mentions pictures do help.

Yes, I agree with the pictures. Was getting dark and I had to go last night. I plan to get some.

 

[Richard]

Was there a spring inside the solenoid to return the plunger. Did you put that back in?

Yes/yes