Starter issues with my PD 4104

[vonprum]

I have a 1957 GM 4104.  I knew that the stater batteries were weak so today I bought two new 8D CCA 1400 batteries.  However, after installing them the starter gave out a small grown, just as though the batteries were near dead.  I tried several times but the results were the same.  As I walked past the engine I could smell heat.  It was like hot oily wires.  I don't know how to describe it better but there was the smell of high current flow.  I've owned this bus just over a month and previously it has started normally.  Do I have a bad starter?  It's odd that this would just hit out of the blue because it has always started and run normally until today.  Can anyone shed light on my dilemma?

[TedCalvert]

Better unhook your batteries quickly as you might have a stuck starter solenoid!
Ted

[RJ]

Lance -

4104s from the factory were POSITIVE ground units.

Is yours still stock, or has a previous owner converted the coach to Negative ground?

It may be nothing more than you've hooked up the batteries backwards. . .

Good luck, and keep us posted on what you find.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Scott Crosby]

It could just be a bad ground too.  Check where the ground cable from the batteries connect to the coach.  Disconnect, inspect, clean, and reattach.   But for a 57, positive ground is where I'd start investigating. 

[vonprum]

I disconnected the old batteries and hooked up the new ones correctly.  I think the most likely scenario is a stuck solenoid that probably occurred when I tried to start the engine with the old, nearly dead batteries.  There is a kill switch in the system and I did turn it to off.  Any suggestions?

[vonprum]

So, how hard is it to remove my starter motor?  Are there any links to instructions, diagrams, info?  Also, where can I get a new solenoid?

[siberyd]

Lance,

Check your email, I just sent you something that should help.

Siberyd

[luvrbus]

Best shop on the west coast is located at Bremerton Wa named Blanchard Electric they will check the starter and probably have one in stock 

[chessie4905]

Don't forget to check/ replace that little starter relay in the voltage regulator box. They are cheap enough that you should replace it anyway and keep a spare along. That relay sticks and the starter will start cranking till you disconnect batteries if you are fast enough. Otherwise, fried starter.

[zubzub]

Len has a link to the 4104 and a 671 shop manual (PDFs) THe starter is easy to remove, and can be serviced with simple tools if all is well.

[gus]

Same thing happened to mine, came unstuck as soon as the batts were disconnected.

Mine was a bad start switch.

Good idea to check the starter relay for sticking also. It is in the right rear elect panel.

Corroded batt cable connections to the starter will cause excess heat also.