Bench testing a starter.

T

Tim Ayers

Well-known member
I'm having a bit of brain fog, but if I wanted to bench test a starter, besides ensuring its clamped down securely, all I need to is attach the positive to a ground at the back to the case and then attach a negative jumper to the terminal stud? Is that correct?

Thanks all!
 
Yes Sir, well don't "attach" the hot to the post, maybe just touch it to it UNLESS you want it to run for a bit!!!! Ground to any bare part of the housing OR to the bolt that holds it together and you may want to "nut" the two bolts to keep it together.
 
It will run no matter which way you hook it up, polarity don't care.

I just hook up a cable to the terminal post, stand on it on the floor, and scratch the other cable to the metal case, not the aluminum, and she'll go if it good
 
Should also mention, put some nuts on the long studs that normally hold it on the block, but you knew that.
 
Make your last connection with the jumper leads on the starter case and not on the brass terminal stud so as not to damage the brass terminal threads. A proper test bench would also test the torque of the motor. Regards, Kevin.
 
Exactly. Thats why I said bolt the cable on the stud first, then scratch the other lead to the case. Steel, aluminum will burn bad marks, and even the bolt heads for the long bolts will get scared up, just scratch the metal case. sparks will fly, lots of amps going on there, but no damage to threads or bolt heads
 
Presume they are all 6v? Bubba put a high torque starter in the 42 Mercury and there is a OE looking starter in the parts bin. I wanted to pass this on to someone who might want an original and would feel comfortable bench or floor testing this one first. I've got both 12v and 6v batteries around the shop.
Would battery charger and cable also energize a starter if set to the correct volts/amps?
 
signsup


A 12V battery will also work on a 6V starter, especially for just "testing". It will not hurt it!!!
 
Most important when checking if starter works without correct test fixture is just intermittently touch power to activate. DO NOT let it free spin or your armature will self destruct. Starter armatures are not made for high rpm.
 
I worked at a shop rebuilding starters, genny, and alternators. In my many years, I never had one go from letting it spin up on the bench. Starters typically don't have the ability to to rev out like an engine, unless of course your putting higher volts to one than it was designed for. 12v to a 6v or 24v to a 12v ect. In those circumstances , I'd say yes, just text it long enough to see it spin up a bit but let off quickly.
 
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