Starter didn?t disengage

[drill_and_buck]

Originally Posted by Bob Martin

My starter solenoid stuck on too.....after 900 hours. My repair included a panel light indicating the starter was engsded.

+1 on what Bob did. It?s very easy to place a small LED on the panel that blinks when the starter is engaged. Cheap insurance

[Mitch757]

You might also check the starter gear to ring gear tooth clearance. My neighbor's RV with an IO390 required a shim to get the right clearance for clean engage/disengage operation.

If a shim is needed, make your own...The factory shim is almost $500!

[MCA]

The Vertical Power systems and most newer EFIS units have an input to sense that the starter solenoid is engaged and show a corresponding alert. One wire and worth it!

[Walt]

Originally Posted by MCA

The Vertical Power systems and most newer EFIS units have an input to sense that the starter solenoid is engaged and show a corresponding alert. One wire and worth it!

Exactly how does it sense a physically stuck solenoid?

[climberrn]

Originally Posted by Walt

Exactly how does it sense a physically stuck solenoid?

I have mine wired to sense voltage after the firewall starter solenoid. Obviously that would tell you if it?s the firewall solenoid or ignition switch.

Was wondering the same thing Walt, about sensing a stuck solenoid on the starter.

[gammaxy]

I'm pretty sure you're correct that it's an issue with the starter solenoid. There's a ~30A transient when the solenoid is first engaged that should drop to ~8.5A. It drops because there's two coils on the solenoid and the second one gets shorted out when the switch is engaged. If either the battery isn't attached or the switch somehow fails, it will reach ~34A steady state--that's a pretty big clue that the problem is with the starter solenoid rather than the button. I recently measured this on the SkyTec starter on my Aerovee engine.