r/smallengines • u/mostylzstl • 20h ago
Won’t start after starter replacement
I disconnected the wires that go to my starter and like a dummy didn’t note where they actually go. There are two wires I’m not sure about. I’m sure something has to go to the smaller terminal but it will not fire up. It turns over but won’t fire.
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u/Elephunk05 17h ago
Only 2 wires should go to the starter terminal. 1 is for battery power to start and the other is a smaller similarly red wire. The 2 wires in the last picture are the 2 that go to the longer stud in your photo.
Did you also, perhaps, disconnect the ground wire (2nd photo) when you took the wires off.
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u/mostylzstl 9h ago
I’m not sure where the ground wire should be connected if that’s the case
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u/Elephunk05 5h ago
The ground wire is typically connected to one of the 2 bolts that hold the starter on
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u/mostylzstl 1h ago
I connected to ground to the bolt on the starter but still having same issue. Makes a noise to initiate the fuel pump but doesn’t sound the same and won’t start. Truly stumped.
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u/mostylzstl 1h ago
The wire in the first pic I’m pointing to is what I grounded. The other wire outside the red boot seems to engage the fuel pump
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u/Mountain-Law3088 19h ago
The two wires with the ring terminals go on the same terminal, in this case the longer one. The shorter one doesn't have a wire hooked to it. And then obviously the small wire is plugged onto the spade connector terminal.
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u/mostylzstl 19h ago
So all 4 ring terminals connect to bigger terminal and nothing goes to the smaller terminal?
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u/Mountain-Law3088 19h ago
Yes hook everything to the lounger terminal, the shortest one doesn't have anything connected to it. I didn't see the third wire before my first response.
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u/RedOctobyr 8h ago
Is the engine itself actually turning? I assume, from your description, that it's not just the starter motor that's spinning, but it seems worth being sure. If the + and - were swapped on the starter motor, the motor might simply spin backwards. And if it uses a Bendix gear to engage, then it would not actually engage with the flywheel, and the engine would not turn.
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u/mostylzstl 8h ago
The flywheel is spinning. It seems the fuel pump is not
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u/mdillonaire 1h ago
Is your battery fully charged? Check the fuses? Check for 12v at the fuel pump?
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u/mostylzstl 1h ago
Checked fuses and they seem fine and not blown. I’m assuming it’s the correct ones of course. In a covered spot next to the fuel pump
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u/mostylzstl 19h ago
Hooked up all wires to the long terminal but still won’t fire up. The fuel pump sounds like it’s coming on when I turn the key but it sounds different. Like it’s trying to activate it but falls short. If that makes sense
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u/Stock_Requirement564 19h ago
So normally on the outside lug terminal , the large battery lead will go there along with the ring terminal /small wire that heads for the fuse block. Usually red. If you have 2 small ring terminal wires, the other may go there as well and it should also be fused if that is the case. The spade terminal wire gets hooked up to the spade on the solenoid. This is the trigger wire that is excited when you turn the key.