Hot Electrical Smell While Cranking

[87ChevyMan]

Hello all,

I have an 87 Chevy C10 with TBI 350/Automatic.  Lately, my engine has been turning over very slowly when I crank it.  Of note, I just replaced the heads on my motor with higher compression chambers, and replaced all my valve train components; I guess it's possible that my new configuration is creating too much resistance for my old-worn-out (stock) starter. 

Something really wierd happened the other day.  When I went to crank the truck, it barely had enough juice to turn at all.  I just replaced the battery with a new 750 CC amp, so I know that's good.  What was even more strange than the tough cranking on this particular occasion was the smell of electrical burning after turning the ignition.  This is the first time I have ever noticed this, and I have since cranked the truck again on multiple occasions without the same problem.  I was wondering if anyone had ever witnessed something similar, and might have some ideas on what the slow cranking issue might be?  Also what do I make of the electrical burning smell?  And are the two problems related?


Thanks,

87ChevyMan

[Jason S]

As long as your electrical items are connected correctly (including good, clean ground connections) I suspect you have a worn out starter. I've had them where they turn over very slowly, but check out fine on a bench test. When replaced with a new starter, the engine spun over like it should.
 

Also what do I make of the electrical burning smell?  And are the two problems related?

If your starter requires too many amps to turn over (worn out), then the positive wire can/will get hot and start burning.

[bake74]

     I just fixed my sons 79 blazer with some what same symptoms. It drove fine, then nothing and he could smell the same electrical burning.
     Inspected and found the wiring at the starter, especially the 2 fuse-able links were heated to the point of being hard, replaced the wiring in that section along with the fuse-able links.  My sons starter was a cheap junk yard one he had a friend put on, so I replaced that also at the same time.  That was a week ago, and now running fine.