Engine problems

[BPower]

I recently bought an 89 bobcat 743 from my boss. It has worked great for a few weeks but when I ran it today there was a lot of white smoke coming from the engine compartment. I opened the door and the smoke was coming from the starter. The wires from the solenoid were up against it and it looks like it burned the casing around them. It was also slightly dripping oil from the bottom. Not sure what the tubes on the bottom of it are for but that's where it was leaking oil. I'd appreciate anyone's input. Thanks

 

[mrbb]

just a guess, but I think the OIL your talking about is, more likely the wire insulation or some plastic melting and dipping off and falling down, smoking as it does, and your thinking its oil?

are all your fuses good? and is battery hooked up correctly , as well as wires to starter?

 

[BPower]

Thanks for responding. I could very well be melted wire coating. It didn't smell like oil but felt like it. It's the first sister I've ever owned. Everything seems to be hooked up right. The starter got very hot to the touch. Did you get a chance to watch the video I attached? Thanks again

 

[mrbb]

yes when a starter is hooked up wrong it can cause things to burn up and get ruined or worse, same with having battery connections wired wrong
thats why I was wondering if fuses are OK and of correct size, as if someone added over sized fuses, you can have a fire or damage to things

I'd be investigating the fuses and making sure all are good and of correct size, as well as again, checking to make sure battery and starter are wired correctly

and I would for sure have battery disconnected when your parking machine , till you figure things out!

 

[oiu789]

It was working prior to this issue so the starter and battery must be installed correctly. If the starter did not disengage after starting that could happen. Could be electrical or mechanical issue causing this. IE contacts in starter relay welded together, or contacts in starter solenoid welded across contacts, wire to solenoid shorted to 12v supply could be the start switch. Could be starter drive stuck in flywheel. loosen starter and listen and feel if the starter disengages. It may act normal after it sounds like it got hot and was damaged.

 

[superniceguy5687]

I recently bought an 89 bobcat 743 from my boss. It has worked great for a few weeks but when I ran it today there was a lot of white smoke coming from the engine compartment. I opened the door and the smoke was coming from the starter. The wires from the solenoid were up against it and it looks like it burned the casing around them. It was also slightly dripping oil from the bottom. Not sure what the tubes on the bottom of it are for but that's where it was leaking oil. I'd appreciate anyone's input. Thanks

Hi There, not sure if you got an answer or not. Your starter stayed engaged when you started it. With the engine running the starter stayed engaged and with the engine rpm the starter cant handle that speed, and it was spinning at the speed of the engine. My take, you cooked your starter, and you will have to get another. I would go through the whole starting system from the switch to the starter and find out why it stayed engaged, when it should of disengaged

 

[haymaker]

Hi There, not sure if you got an answer or not. Your starter stayed engaged when you started it. With the engine running the starter stayed engaged and with the engine rpm the starter cant handle that speed, and it was spinning at the speed of the engine. My take, you cooked your starter, and you will have to get another. I would go through the whole starting system from the switch to the starter and find out why it stayed engaged, when it should of disengaged

It would be nice if we got updates so we know what the, cause, remedy and results were!

 

[Jim A]

Hooking up battery in reverse polarity will blow alternator diodes .

When running voltage should climb up from 12.5 resting to 14v+- at high idle.
Lucky you have an older machine without high tech ECM or $$$$$$$$$