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rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:37 pm

trying to power up my 36' trifly (guess I am further from startup than I thought) hooked up 2 batteries by the genny, it will turn over but no lights or power to the rest of the boat. Went to install two batteries to the engines as maybe this is why I have no power... then it hit me, the boat used to have chryslers but now they are mercruisers...uh oh, any thoughts on how to connect the starters? Do the chryslers have a separate soleniod and the chevs have one on the starter itself?
http://i46.tinypic.com/30kds21.jpg (manifold in my shop still)
http://i49.tinypic.com/6ql5wi.jpg " "
http://i48.tinypic.com/289ly1f.jpg " "
http://i50.tinypic.com/2ivzdw6.jpg (starboard engine w/ soleniod)
http://i46.tinypic.com/16idqfp.jpg (port engine)
http://i45.tinypic.com/2e0so7p.jpg (gen pic)

also the manifolds were left outside last winter (previous owner) anything I should know about them? anything inside that could have seized? should I take them apart or just put them on the engines? I have 11 days to launch so there may well be a few more panic posts coming! I have already arranged a marine transport firm to pick it up and launch, I think if I did not set a deadline summer would have passed me by so ready or nor I am going to launch!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Dave

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:07 pm

Dave what you have Is not a hard fix but it is not something some one can fix for you online . I believe you should hire a good tech to hook it all up, if you feel this beyond what you can do. It maybe the only way to meet your dead line

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:47 am

+1 what Paul said, Merc's use 2 solenoids and slave and the one on the starter and the manifold should be ok. and if you don't have 12v dc through out boat you don't have it hooked up right. And trying to fix the mess of wires with being able to trace them is just a guess. Sorry but get Pro help or at least a Bud with some boat know how..

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:25 am

Looking at those manifolds I would at least clean them out and make sure no rust buildup then pressure test for leaks before you put them on.
Is the starter for that second engine missing or just not installed?
Is the front battery wired to the genny?
You might want to seal those butt connectors and also look at replacing the wire-nut visible on the right of genny picture.... not good in marine application and certainly not in engine room.

Looks like you have a lot of work to do.... if it were me I would focus on the work and not the launch... I think you are jumping the gun with that 11 day deadline to launch and risk putting her in before she is ready.

bobg · Post by **bobg** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:45 am

ready123 wrote:Looks like you have a lot of work to do.... if it were me I would focus on the work and not the launch... I think you are jumping the gun with that 11 day deadline to launch and risk putting her in before she is ready.

+1. Don't rush it and end up like this guy

http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=3524

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:09 am

thankyou for the input guys!

the port starter is going in this morn (checked LH/RH)

for testing I connected the two gen batteries with jumper cables

I will be going over all electrical connections and clean/solder/shrink wrap as required thanks for noticing

Bob called me on another matter this morning and the emergency start switch came up, and as he described how it worked a lightbulb went off! this is the solenoid I was asking about. That info coupled with the wiring diagrams I pulled off the internet last night means I have the last (hopefully) pieces of the puzzle.

Also it seems the engine grounds must be on to power the boat and as this is with my starter hookup it seems this is my power problem. I was under the mistaken belief that the gen batteries supplied the boat power.

let you know how it goes at the end of the day...thanks again for the input

Dave

p.s. I have ordered the manuals and info off Bob for the boat, this should help

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:32 am

I am still concerned when you say the gen batteries.... the gen should only have one battery. The other if it is a house battery should NOT be connected to the gen.... it should be charged by the 110V charger(powered by shore power or genny power) just like the engine batteries.

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:52 pm

well I connected up the starters and associated wiring in the engine compartment and I now have lights and power to the boat! Starboard engine turned over and tommorrow will work on the port side hoping to fire both engines by Monday. if I can find a way to flush my fuel tanks out which are empty it seems

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:26 pm

Don't know if this applies to all triflys but the vintage I'm thinking of which had Mercs took it's 12 volt power for lights etc from the port ignition switch. The engine harness must be hooked up.

This model had a hood over the gauges that tilted up for access behind the gauges. There is a fuse block that is powered by a wire connected to the ignition switch.

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:01 pm

Big D wrote:Don't know if this applies to all triflys but the vintage I'm thinking of which had Mercs took it's 12 volt power for lights etc from the port ignition switch. The engine harness must be hooked up.

This model had a hood over the gauges that tilted up for access behind the gauges. There is a fuse block that is powered by a wire connected to the ignition switch.

yes thanks I had to hook up the engine harnes's to get powerno hood over the gauges