'77 Bus Starter Not Getting Signal

Post by **Sluggo** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:25 pm

I got my seals & bushings in and got the engine put back together. Now the starter will not turn over. It is getting power. I tried switching out the relay. It will turn over when I jump the terminals. ARRGH!!!

Post by **Amskeptic** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:42 pm

Sluggo wrote:I got my seals & bushings in and got the engine put back together. Now the starter will not turn over. It is getting power. I tried switching out the relay. It will turn over when I jump the terminals. ARRGH!!!

Get assistant. Pull wire off solenoid spade terminal. Hook up test light.
Does it light when assistant turns key to start?
>Yes? Reconnect wire to solenoid. Ask assistant to try again.
Yes? You have resistance building in entire circuit. Hard start should take care of it. Try replacement hardstart relay if you already have one.
If you have test light illumination at the wire but no start when you put it back on, starter solenoid/entire starter should be replaced. Bosch has a reduction gear starter that has a lower amperage solenoid that works well.

>No? Troubleshoot at ignition switch and work your way back to starter.

Post by **Sluggo** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:55 pm

Amskeptic wrote:Get assistant. Pull wire off solenoid spade terminal. Hook up test light.
Does it light when assistant turns key to start?
>Yes? Reconnect wire to solenoid. Ask assistant to try again.
Yes? You have resistance building in entire circuit. Hard start should take care of it. Try replacement hardstart relay if you already have one.
If you have test light illumination at the wire but no start when you put it back on, starter solenoid/entire starter should be replaced. Bosch has a reduction gear starter that has a lower amperage solenoid that works well.

>No? Troubleshoot at ignition switch and work your way back to starter.

Hopefully I can get Bottomend over here today to give me a hand. I replaced the solenoid with a known good that Bottomend had in my basement. When I jump the two big terminals or the biggest terminal to one of the spades, it does turn over. I do have a Hot Start Relay. I already tried replacing it. No dice. With my current luck, it will probably be the ignition because that is the most difficult and expensive fix.

Post by **Sluggo** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:11 am

FIXED! Something must have happened to the ignition wire in the harness. I have no idea what. When I used a test light on the end of the wire by the starter, I got no signal. When I pulled the wire in the dash there was a strong signal. When I traced it part way down the harness the signal stopped. I replaced the ignition wire with a new wire from Bottomend. 1000 volt wire for solar panels. Ultra insulated with a 1000 volt rating. Heat, oil and gas resistant too. Good strong start now.

Post by **Amskeptic** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:01 am

Sluggo wrote:FIXED! Something must have happened to the ignition wire in the harness. I have no idea what. Good strong start now.

Good job. Do check the harness from stem to stern to make sure you do not have chafing anywhere along its length. If you have had any sort of short in the system over the past decade or so, you could have melted insulation somewhere hidden inside the harness sheath that has reared its ugly head. In that case, just enjoy your 1,000vt wiring fix.
Colin

spiffy · Post by **spiffy** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:22 am

I like your style, sluggo...'if one nail is good, then 19 nails is even BETTER'

=D>

Post by **Sluggo** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:15 pm

spiffy wrote:I like your style, sluggo...'if one nail is good, then 19 nails is even BETTER'

=D>

Not always. But in this case I wanted to make sure I got a good strong signal. There is definitely such a thing as overkill though. Soon I'll be making a whole new main harness that includes my accessories (when I add them all).

daves_ale · Post by **daves_ale** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:47 am

After the other morning here in N. Texas we had had our first Blue Norther' come rollin' in. Went out to try to start the bus and she wouldn't fire. Then she wouldn't turn over. After it warmed up, still no go. I tried the terminal jumping thing. The starter would whine(spin) but the solenoid wouldn't engage. So I hit the end of the solenoid where it engages to the starter with a hammer a couple of times. I meant bizniz. I mean really, I 'm not looking forward to a starter replacement. GOt back in the bus to try one more time.

Yep, she fired up on the first turn over, everything worked like nothing was ever wrong.

So, when in doubt....Duh, dudu dah! It's Hammer Time!

Post by **Amskeptic** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:51 am

daves_ale wrote: So I hit the end of the solenoid where it engages to the starter with a hammer a couple of times. I meant bizniz. It's Hammer Time!

Hey, youze da HitMan.

daves_ale · Post by **daves_ale** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:16 am

Amskeptic wrote:
daves_ale wrote: So I hit the end of the solenoid where it engages to the starter with a hammer a couple of times. I meant bizniz. It's Hammer Time!
Hey, youze da HitMan.

When it's 20* outside you don't have time to be polite.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

'77 Bus Starter Not Getting Signal

'77 Bus Starter Not Getting Signal

Re: '77 Bus Starter Not Getting Signal

Re: '77 Bus Starter Not Getting Signal