thebigtman

I've got a 1990 454 with ~14 hours on it since the rebuild. I'm still breaking in the motor. Yesterday after running the engine up to operating speed for about 20 minutes I shut it off waiting for my turn at the dock and it wouldn't restart. It seemed like the starter was "heat soaked" or something. My water temps have been low (about 130) but yesterday the risers felt a lot warmer than 130 when I shut it off and felt around. It was very hot to the touch. When I tried to crank the engine, it would barely turn over and then the starter would quit. Also, I noticed my neg battery cable was hotter than hell and my passenger noticed it let off some smoke when I cranked the starter.

Here's what I'm thinking...
1. Check the seawater pump (just replaced it before it went back in this year), check the oil cooler for debris and the two lines running to the risers in case the check springs are bad.
2. Check my negative connection. Maybe I have a bad ground.
3. Check water temp sender...maybe my temps are higher than normal and the engine is running too hot.

Any other ideas? As far as I know, the starter is original.

Thanks for any help!

Tim
San Antonio, TX

MILD THUNDER

iTrader: (3)

If the connections are good, I would vote for a bad starter. Its probably drawing a ton of amps, causing the cable to get so hot.

thebigtman

Do you think I could be having an issue with my cooling system too? The risers should be warm but not so hot as to burn you, right? Would you happen to have a part # for the starter? The boat is 50 miles away right now.

Thanks,

Tim

Edward R. Cozzi

Have seen this symptom many times by a poor ground at the bell housing.

Vinny P

Just to add to what was said above... What is the compression and base timing set to?

thebigtman

Compression is 9:1, base timing set at 14 degrees.