I have a Volvo KAD32 (170hp diesel, supercharged, turbo 4 cyl) that is 18
months old, performing like a train on a 26 ft Flightcraft flighbridge
cruiser.

I tried to start it today to find the starter motor spinning freely, with no
engine cranking.

I removed all electrical leads and cleaned them up in case of excess voltage
drop, to no avail.

I guess the problem is with the solenoid, not engaging the starter. Any
ideas on what might be the actual problem? There is a white plastic fuse
like fitting on the -ve lead to the solenoid - looks like some sort of fuse
arrangement - would this be likely? I tried taking the starter out, but I
found 2 nuts and removed them - must be another as it won't budge. Any
ideas on how it is removed for inspection?

Thanks

Sounds like the bendix isn't engaging the flywheel. Bench test the starter,
if it's not working (kicking out when the starter spins) a starter shop can
fix it (parts availability ?) a heck of a lot cheaper than a marina
mechanic.
"John Smith" wrote in message
...
I have a Volvo KAD32 (170hp diesel, supercharged, turbo 4 cyl) that is 18
months old, performing like a train on a 26 ft Flightcraft flighbridge
cruiser.

I tried to start it today to find the starter motor spinning freely, with
no
engine cranking.

I removed all electrical leads and cleaned them up in case of excess
voltage
drop, to no avail.

I guess the problem is with the solenoid, not engaging the starter. Any
ideas on what might be the actual problem? There is a white plastic fuse
like fitting on the -ve lead to the solenoid - looks like some sort of
fuse
arrangement - would this be likely? I tried taking the starter out, but I
found 2 nuts and removed them - must be another as it won't budge. Any
ideas on how it is removed for inspection?

Thanks

"John Smith" writes:

I tried to start it today to find the starter motor spinning freely, with
no
engine cranking.

1) Remove cranking motor (starter) from engine and secure on a bench. (I've
used a vice sometimes)

2) Attach leads to cranking motor and the negative to the battery (May have
to remove battery from boat if you don't have a spare handy).

3) Touch the positive lead to the positive on the battery and observe the
business end of the cranking motor.

You should see the pinion (small) gear on the cranking motor come forward as
if it were trying to engage bull gear on the engine.

If it doesn't, you have a defective Bendix drive (part of the cranking motor
ass'y)

If it does, you may have damaged teeth on the pinion gear.

Worst case scenario:

Everything is fine with the cranking motor and you have chipped or missing
teeth on the bull gear of the engine.

Not likely, but it does happen.

Good luck.

HTH


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

Thanks for your info. I had trouble finding the third nut to remove the
starter. Eventually found it, purchased an extension for the socket set
and removed it fine. The cause was some rust on the starter shaft - it was
not allowing the drive sprocket to move forward to engage with the
flywheel - I cleaned it up and all is fine.

My concern now is why did it rust? I will remove again and see if there is
any free water in the bell housing but my limited initial inspection
revealed nothing.


"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
link.net...

"John Smith" writes:

I tried to start it today to find the starter motor spinning freely,
with
no
engine cranking.

1) Remove cranking motor (starter) from engine and secure on a bench.
(I've
used a vice sometimes)

2) Attach leads to cranking motor and the negative to the battery (May
have
to remove battery from boat if you don't have a spare handy).

3) Touch the positive lead to the positive on the battery and observe the
business end of the cranking motor.

You should see the pinion (small) gear on the cranking motor come forward
as
if it were trying to engage bull gear on the engine.

If it doesn't, you have a defective Bendix drive (part of the cranking
motor
ass'y)

If it does, you may have damaged teeth on the pinion gear.

Worst case scenario:

Everything is fine with the cranking motor and you have chipped or missing
teeth on the bull gear of the engine.

Not likely, but it does happen.

Good luck.

HTH


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the
Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

"John Smith" writes:
The cause was some rust on the starter shaft - it was
not allowing the drive sprocket to move forward to engage with the
flywheel - I cleaned it up and all is fine.

Soak the Bendix drive in kerosene.

Just stick the pinion end of the cranking motor in a 1 gallon can, then fill
it with kerosene and soak for at least 24 hours.

It one of the oldest tricks in the book.

BTW, the rust could be coming from condensation that doesn't get driven off
because the engine doesn't come up to operating temperature for a long
enough period of time.

Strictly a SWAG on my part.


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

BTW, the rust could be coming from condensation that doesn't get driven
off
because the engine doesn't come up to operating temperature for a long
enough period of time.



I agree with Lew