Starter Source

[travlinman]

Hey Guys,

My bus is having a breakdown fest!   Now is is the starter.

So....I'm looking for a source.

I am in Bishop CA, can I just order one from NAPA or is there another place that is better?

I have  GM so the starter needs to turn counter.

Cheers,

TM

[Len Silva]

I don't think you will have much luck with NAPA especially with a lefty.

If it were me, I would try to get the starter rebuilt locally.

[luvrbus]

Steve,I see you have a V730 get the right starter that one needs to be sealed or it will fill with oil and go out again fwiw 


good luck

[ol713]

  Hi;
    Are you passing thru or do you live there?  If you live
    there and time is not an issue, you could have yours
    rebuilt.  If there in no one there to rebuild yours, let me
    know,  I can have it rebuilt here.  I live in Lancaster, just
    down the road a few hours.
    If time is an issue, then I don't think I can be of any help.
    Let me know if I can help.
                                    Merle.
                                    661/948-8125

[travlinman]

Thanks for the replys!

Len- That was exactly my concern last night.

Clifford - Could you expand on what is involved with sealing the starter, or point me to where I can read about it?

Merle - I'm going to check with the one local shop this morning, I'll give you a ring after I talk to them.

Thanks again guys, Kristen is tearing apart the bed now so I'm going to remove the cover this morning and get started.

Cheers

TM

[Len Silva]

The next question is: Are you sure it's the starter?

[travlinman]

Len,

Just came out of the hole!! We are thinking the same things! Here is what I have ruled out so far-

- I have power to the start relay in the electrical compartment. That power then transfers to the start solenoid when the front or rear start is activated.

- I have power to the start solenoid at the big stud on the back.

My next step is to check all the grounds. They look good but I'm going to check anyway.

Kristen is heading to town to get a heavy duty remote start switch. We had to order this in and it came in today.

So that is where I am at..........Thoughts?

TM

[RJ]

Steve -

Pull the starter solenoid off, disassemble and clean it.  You might find the contacts burned inside.  Often, just flipping it over solves the problem.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[luvrbus]

When you hit the start button you should have power to the small wire on the solenoid also if not it is a bad wire or relay fwiw making the start terminal hot the solenoid  should click,  

Then you can jump the 2 large terminal on the solenoid if the starter spins jumping those 2 without engaging your starter is good if it doesn't the starter is bad ,just be real careful you are dealing with very high amps on those 2 terminals its not a rocket science   

I hope it is just a relay that 60 lb starter is a bitch to remove from that little hole  

[travlinman]

OK here are the results of this mornings diagnostics...

- Pulled all grounds and positive cables and cleaned. These were all in good shape except the engine ground point which was covered in green paint on the block side.

- Tested the small wire from the start relay to the solenoid. This wire is in good shape and is hot when the key is turned to start.

- When turning the key to start the solenoid does NOT click.

- Jumped the two big studs on the starter solenoid, and NOTHING!

After spending the morning lying on the transmission my brain is a bit sideways so what do you guys think? Bad starter, bad solenoid or both??

RJ - I have not pulled the solenoid yet, as you can tell I'm trying to do everything else first!

Clifford - Thanks Again

Thanks

TM

[luvrbus]

With neither doing anything the famous words for GM owners I have a ground problem, do you have a ground cable from the end of the starter to the bulk head ? Start from the batteries and work your way to the starter

I would take a wild guess somebody over time has spliced the cable in some place and that is where the problem will be or if you have the battery terminals that bolt to the cable

good luck    

[travlinman]

Clifford -

Yes there is a ground cable that run from the back of the starter to a bolt that comes through the bulkhead. On this same bolt is the cable that runs to the engine block. There is also a hanger for the transmission cooler line.

First pic is the bolt on the bulkhead with the starter ground on the outside.

[travlinman]

Here is the ground cable at the engine block...

[travlinman]

And here is the back of the starter note that my test leads are still attached.

Check 'em out let me know what you think!

Thanks

TM

[buswarrior]

What is each battery's voltage?

Maybe not enough power to make it happen?

frustrating to be sure!

happy coaching!
buswarrior