1989 Southwind motor replacement

[Eddie Foy]

I am trying to understand how a shared ground could cause the problem you describe. When you think of it, all grounds are shared as they are all at zero potential.

[RonS1985]

I didn't quite get it either. However, the instant I separated them it began turning over. Somehow through the neg cable the house battery (which was very dead) was stealing power from my new main battery.

[Midniteoyl]

It wasnt exactly the ground that did it, but removing the battery from the circuit. You could have just as easily removed the POS from the dead batts.. 6 of one, half dozen of another..

[RonS1985]

Good point.

[Eddie Foy]

The fact that the ground was shared is immaterial. By removing the ground from the bad battery you took it out of the circuit. Removing the pos would have the same effect.

[RonS1985]

Originally Posted by Eddie Foy

The fact that the ground was shared is immaterial. By removing the ground from the bad battery you took it out of the circuit. Removing the pos would have the same effect.

I think so, too. Either way, I worked. Now I need to buy a new marine house battery. Although all of this has been a nightmare it has had a silver lining. Other bad items have come to light that could have been an issue later down the road. Once I get the rest of the old girl repaired I should be a happy camper for awhile.

[RonS1985]

Hiya folks, its been awhile since I've posted anything. Got the old girl running again. Now I'm getting the bugs out of her and some fine-tuning. I still have to solder my radiator where I nicked it putting the motor in, and replace a broken bolt on the exhaust manifold. Otherwise she's nearly ready. Once I get better situated financially I plan to upgrade. I recently got my Class A CDL so I can drive anything now. So, has anyone been camping somewhere exciting lately?

[cook elandan]

Good to see you back

[Eddie Foy]

Sounds to me like you have a long way to go.

[RonS1985]

Originally Posted by cook elandan

Good to see you back

Thank you. I'm always here, just been a bit busy getting the old girl fixed up for this summer and getting my CDL.

[Conquest102]

Great to hear you are getting her ready to hit the road!!!! I miss mine sometimes been following this from the beginning LOVE the pics.

[cook elandan]

Understand about that. Have been working on mine also, rebuilding engine and transmission, then changed mind and now rebuilding a Vortec and 4l80e for it instead. All fun..

[TEFFY]

Since the engine started by disconnecting the ground from the house batt to the chassis, that means that the positive sides have to also be connected somewhere. My old Allegro had a Ford? starter relay that connected both sets of batts together. It was called "emergence start" and the switch was on the dash just to the left of the steering wheel. It allowed me to charge the chassis batt with the onboard gen. The positive sides may also be connected by a bad isolator that is meant to charge both batts while going down the road. One of the circuits that the PO put in could be this set-up.

You do need to get this corrected as you are using the chassis batt and the house batt to power all of the 12 volt items in the camper. Come Sunday afternoon and time to power up to go home and then you find out that not only is the house batt low but the chassis batt will be low also and the "Ole Girl" won't start. Of course you could take the chassis batt out of the equation while camping by removing one the the cables. By all means the two sets of batts should not be connected so one batt can drain the other one.

[Eddie Foy]

It is scary for someone who claims to be an electrician!