Starting Issue

[dpstk78]

I have a DLT 3000 that has had issues starting for some time. I replaced the solenoid, battery and the starter. It worked for a little while but now its back to its old tricks. When I try to start it the engine tries to turn over but it acts like it does not have enough power. The starter where the batery connects to it begins to smoke. I checked and the engine is not seized and the compression is good. The only guess I have is the ignition harness. Can anyone help this knowledgeable enough to be dangerous? Thank you in advance.

 

[joyjoy66]

We had the same problem starting our boat motor. It didn't want to turn over and it smoked! After spending almost $900 on repairs and still no fix, my brother figured out the battery cable was bad. Cost....$8. LOL Hope that helps a little.

 

[niteowl]

I read that you changed your solenoid. Did you have this same problem of it smoking before? If not, I would
track your electrical wires and make sure you did not cross your grounds with the hot wire or wired the
solenoid wrong. Also, if you did wire the solenoid correctly check the battery cca (cold cranking amps) and
make sure it is correct to the horse power you are cranking. If you are using the correct cca battery check the
brushes in your starter, they have brush kits for starters that repair them if they go out.

 

[reddragon]

sounds like a short in the starter or the post... or most likely in the cable line somewhere.......but could well be too much resistance in the cable from a defect or broken on the inside..[so check continuity from the battery + to the starter post]....also ..when's the last time you adjusted the valves?...that can build up enough resistance that you start to cook starters

 

[dpstk78]

Okay, I have replaced the starter again, checked ground and power wires from the battery to the starter. After replacing the starter it will try to turn over but seems to not have enough power to get it going enough to fire. I tried a truck battery (vehicle off) from battery ground and starter positive. That did the same thing. It just seems to not have enough power. I did not see the comment about the valves until I relaced the starter etc. I have never went that deep into the engine before. How do I access the valves?

 

[BKBrown]

Have you taken off both the positive and negative battery cables at both ends and made sure they are clean. Sometimes it is as simple as poor or dirty connections. How old are the battery cables ?

Also - when installing the new starter, are you holding the base of the starter lug when you tighten the cable ? If that lug turns, you can short it to the starter housing (inside).

 

[reddragon]

well need the engine model/type/code numbers...they're usually on the valvecover on briggs.........................in a nutshell.....you pull the sparkplug...pull the valve cover [ get lots of rags for oil mop up].....turn motor clockwise with your hand on the flywheel screen until your on the compression stroke and put screwdriver in sparkplug hole to feel the piston rise [when the the rocker arms are both loose]....then use a feeler gauge to test clearence between the rocker tip and valve stem......if out of spec.......use [ usually] an allen wrench and a boxend to to adjust.....most re in the .003 - .006 range ( HOW TO ADJUST VALVES) FIX HARD TO START Lawn Tractor with OHV Briggs Engine- MUST SEE- Part 2/2 - YouTube