Replaced Battery cables today

turbinedoctor · #1 04-25-2009, 01:31 AM

Well after owning this boat for three years and thinking it was just the nature of the beast how it seemed to be turning over slow, I found that it was the cables from the battery to the engine. More exactly the negative cable.

Before trailering down to Wachapreague and putting over,I started it on the hose at home, it started but slow as normal, after arriving and putting into the water it was so slow it would not even start. Checked the battery connections, tight and fairly clean. Checked the starter connections, tight and fairly clean. Knowing that the battery had just been charged I decided this trip was a bust and headed for home to do some looking.

Pulled the battery out, hit it with the battery tester and got great readings. Put battery back in and cleaned the connections, it turned over like normal now. Being that my day was shot anyway and not liking the way it was turning I decided to dig a little deeper.

I followed the positive wire from the battery to the battery switch and checked those connections. A little dirty but not too bad. Next stop is the starter soleniod, again a little dirty but not too bad. Ground connection from starter to engine and at battery was clean and tight.

I did a few cranks while checking for voltage drops on each positive cable from the battery to the starter. Over the whole cable I had 1 volt drop, not too bad. Thinking I was and the end of the line and my slow cranking was still the nature of this beast I thought about the negitive cable. I checked the voltage drop from the connection at the engine to the battery post and found a 3 volt drop. Now thats what I've been looking for. 3 volts on the negative and 1 volt on the postive gives me a 4 volt drop total circuit. 12 minus 4 equals 8 volts, no wonder why it's been cranking slow.

I pulled the cable out, to take to my trusty people at Thorne's Marine in Stockton, and found a piece of electrical tape on a section that was hidden until now. After removing the tape I found what it was there for a reason, a nick in the insulation, and sure enough it was corroded to the point that the cable was almost as stiff as soild wire for about a foot. This spot in the cable plus the fact that the cable was a size 6 is sure to be the cause.

Well the boys at Thorne's fixed me a cable to the length and end configeration that matched my old cable but the cable is a size larger, #4. I returned home and installed the cable and gave it a quick crank with a battery that was not fully charged by now and it turned over noticably faster.

After charging the battery over night, I put some fuel to it and gave it a try. WOW this thing turns over a blue million now. I used to have to choke the heck out of it and fight to get it to start, but this time it was as effortless as an old two stroke could be. Well $83 and 6 hours later I am a happy boater.

Moral of the story, When checking battery cables, start at one end and follow it all the way through.

spareparts · #2 04-25-2009, 07:24 AM

I use a load tester and check it at teh engine, then put one cable back on the battery, load test, then swap out the cables so you are testing the other cable. It will check every connection and cable. Funny thing, it allways seems to be the negative cable that bad

Airslot · #3 04-25-2009, 09:38 PM

Nice job Turbo. You know Kevin is my neighbor. They are great guys.

RWilson2526 · #4 04-25-2009, 09:47 PM

It is amazing what you can get used to and live with for so long a period of time...then when you finally fix it and realize how simple it was you cant believe why you didnt do it sooner. Happens to me all the time.

turbinedoctor · #5 04-26-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airslot

Nice job Turbo. You know Kevin is my neighbor. They are great guys.

I haven't met anyone from that area I didn't like yet.

Even you Air.

Have you made your move closer to the golf course yet?

turbinedoctor · #6 04-26-2009, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

It is amazing what you can get used to and live with for so long a period of time...then when you finally fix it and realize how simple it was you cant believe why you didnt do it sooner. Happens to me all the time.

I can still remember the day we took the boat out for a sea trial before we bought it. While the guy was starting it and having a little trouble, he said "it just started doing that" and I figured I would find and fix the problem. Others who owned the old inline Merc's told me they were all that way and I got used to it. Now, as in the past, I see that if my gut tells me it should be better then it probably should.

reelapeelin · #7 04-26-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbinedoctor

I can still remember the day we took the boat out for a sea trial before we bought it. While the guy was starting it and having a little trouble, he said "it just started doing that" and I figured I would find and fix the problem. Others who owned the old inline Merc's told me they were all that way and I got used to it. Now, as in the past, I see that if my gut tells me it should be better then it probably should.

Congratulations, Turbo!!...I've done stuff like that and when ya get it fixed, it almost feels like ya got a new boat!!...