Starter generator issue

gwbrehm · 03-13-2012, 05:29 PM

My workhorse quit running today and I took a look and found the starter motor would turn over real slow then quit. I checked the voltage at the solenoid and found it was less than 4 volts going to the starter. But when I removed the cable to the starter and checked the solenoid it was right at 12 volts. I looked at the brushes without removing the generator and they looked fine. I'm assuming the starter is the problem but not sure whether I need a rebuild or brushes or possibly something else.

simple man · 03-13-2012, 05:41 PM

Sounds to me more like a discharged or bad battery. Try jumping the cart with a vehicle. Without more info, I'll guess a voltage regulator, if the battery is just discharged, but first get your battery checked out at a shop. The starter - generators are fairly reliable units.

gwbrehm · 03-13-2012, 05:57 PM

Thanks for the reply, I have it on a charger right now. Neglected to mention it earlier. I'm going to give an overnight charge and try it again tomorrow. I assumed the battery was good because it drove off then died, but it has been sitting a while. Glad to hear the generators are reliable, I thought perhaps it was dragging due to an internal problem.

simple man · 03-13-2012, 06:01 PM

It may charge up, but if it has a dead cell it will go dead again just sitting. Once you do have it running, check the charging rate. It should be around 14V at a normal driving speed.

gwbrehm · 03-13-2012, 06:09 PM

I hope its that simple, batteries aren't cheap but a lot less work to replace,

racin161 · 03-14-2012, 07:04 AM

Cart and Cheap that just don't add up.

I use my cart to run from the house to the shop most times so it really don't get enough run time even though I have a new battery every once in awhile I have to put it on a charger. Remember your dealing with a starter/generator and a generator really don't start charging until about 1200 rpms as opposed to an alternator which will charge at idle. A voltage drop at the solenoid seems to point to a bad cell in the battery under a load. Charge it and see what happens or have it load tested at your local parts store.

gwbrehm · 03-14-2012, 10:47 AM

That was it thanks for the advice!! Charged it up overnight and runs like a champ. Tested the output of the generator and am getting 14volts, I thought it was the starter dragging/shorting and not a dead battery. Saved me the expense of a starter rebuild. Now it's a wait and see if it holds a charge, still may be a bad cell

simple man · 03-14-2012, 11:26 AM

Glad it was the simple route!

The generator portion of the S/G doesn't have a huge capacity and takes some driving to recharge the battery. Unlike a vehicle which constantly charges, these use the starter a lot when you stop and go!

racin161 · 03-14-2012, 12:51 PM

Another happy customer!! Great news

DOOmsman · 03-14-2012, 03:09 PM

Also keep in mind as a battery gets old it gets arthritis like us.
It will take what is called a surface charge but will have no reserve.

03-13-2012, 05:29 PM	#1
gwbrehm Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeastern, VA Posts: 79	Starter generator issue My workhorse quit running today and I took a look and found the starter motor would turn over real slow then quit. I checked the voltage at the solenoid and found it was less than 4 volts going to the starter. But when I removed the cable to the starter and checked the solenoid it was right at 12 volts. I looked at the brushes without removing the generator and they looked fine. I'm assuming the starter is the problem but not sure whether I need a rebuild or brushes or possibly something else.

03-13-2012, 05:41 PM	#2
simple man Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bunnell, Florida Posts: 2,408	Re: Starter generator issue Sounds to me more like a discharged or bad battery. Try jumping the cart with a vehicle. Without more info, I'll guess a voltage regulator, if the battery is just discharged, but first get your battery checked out at a shop. The starter - generators are fairly reliable units.

03-13-2012, 05:57 PM	#3
gwbrehm Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeastern, VA Posts: 79	Re: Starter generator issue Thanks for the reply, I have it on a charger right now. Neglected to mention it earlier. I'm going to give an overnight charge and try it again tomorrow. I assumed the battery was good because it drove off then died, but it has been sitting a while. Glad to hear the generators are reliable, I thought perhaps it was dragging due to an internal problem.

03-13-2012, 06:01 PM	#4
simple man Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bunnell, Florida Posts: 2,408	Re: Starter generator issue It may charge up, but if it has a dead cell it will go dead again just sitting. Once you do have it running, check the charging rate. It should be around 14V at a normal driving speed.

03-13-2012, 06:09 PM	#5
gwbrehm Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeastern, VA Posts: 79	Re: Starter generator issue I hope its that simple, batteries aren't cheap but a lot less work to replace,

Today
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03-14-2012, 07:04 AM	#6
racin161 Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,515	Re: Starter generator issue Cart and Cheap that just don't add up. I use my cart to run from the house to the shop most times so it really don't get enough run time even though I have a new battery every once in awhile I have to put it on a charger. Remember your dealing with a starter/generator and a generator really don't start charging until about 1200 rpms as opposed to an alternator which will charge at idle. A voltage drop at the solenoid seems to point to a bad cell in the battery under a load. Charge it and see what happens or have it load tested at your local parts store.
racin161 Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,515

03-14-2012, 10:47 AM	#7
gwbrehm Getting Wild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeastern, VA Posts: 79	Re: Starter generator issue That was it thanks for the advice!! Charged it up overnight and runs like a champ. Tested the output of the generator and am getting 14volts, I thought it was the starter dragging/shorting and not a dead battery. Saved me the expense of a starter rebuild. Now it's a wait and see if it holds a charge, still may be a bad cell

03-14-2012, 11:26 AM	#8
simple man Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bunnell, Florida Posts: 2,408	Re: Starter generator issue Glad it was the simple route! The generator portion of the S/G doesn't have a huge capacity and takes some driving to recharge the battery. Unlike a vehicle which constantly charges, these use the starter a lot when you stop and go!

03-14-2012, 12:51 PM	#9
racin161 Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,515	Re: Starter generator issue Another happy customer!! Great news
racin161 Gone Wild Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,515

03-14-2012, 03:09 PM	#10
DOOmsman Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reddick IL Posts: 11,220	Re: Starter generator issue Also keep in mind as a battery gets old it gets arthritis like us. It will take what is called a surface charge but will have no reserve.

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