Batteries and starter got fried, now no power.

Im having problems getting my duce running. I hooked up some batteries and turned the accessory switch on and got the buzzer, which i then disconnected. I cranked the engine over a little but even without the injectors installed, the starter was struggling to turn the motor. After a few seconds I stopped cranking but then I heard a quiet buzzing sound, I looked at the starter and it was smoking from where the battery cable attaches to it, the batteries were smoking from the terminals and the insulation on the crossover melted a little bit. I disconnected the terminals as fast as i could but that took some time and I think I blew a fuse or fried something, I could smell something burnt. I let it cool down but I still have no power to the whole vehicle. Is there a fuse box or breaker? Did i fry the starter solenoid or something? what could have caused this? maybe a stuck starter relay?

I'm no electrical whiz, but one thought would be did you get the batteries in series, or parellel? If parellel, that might have had an adverse reaction on the solenoid, but I'm not sure

Yep, definitely make sure your batts are hooked (-) to chassis then (+) to (-) then (+) to truck wiring. Check your (+) wire and make sure the insulation is in good condition. It's possible the batt box has pinched the wire and it's grounding out at the frame or body. Smoke, heat, fire, etc... all indicate some sort of short. Follow your starter wires out too and make sure they are in good shape. My CUCV had the (+) wire to starter rubbing against the exhaust man. which cooked the insulation and caused a dead short.

I hate wiring problems<img src="emoticons/icon_smilie_bitchin.gif" alt="Bitchin"><img src="emoticons/icon_smilie_bitchin.gif" alt="Bitchin"> At least the deuce is dang simple compared to a modern computerized nightmare.

Also be sure your connections to the battery and the starter are tight. Running that many amps through a poor connection causes lots of heat. I have seen a post partially melt off a battery because of a not fully tight battery terminal during cranking.

Yep, I burned a finger last winter because of a loose terminal.

Fujinama,
See that's how you get a super cheap perm in your hair. When my wife wants one I ask for a little help in jump starting 'Storm. Funny how that only worked once with her.......

If the starter was smoking, pull it off and tear it down. If the brushes are going, you can replace them and go on. If you keep trying to start it with bad brushes, you can fry the armature. It sounds like the insulation was breaking down around the cable stud on the starter. That is not too hard to fix, nor that expensive. As a matter of fact, it is fairly common in Fla. where the salt air gets to things. Ask Kenny, I'm sure he has seen that plenty of times over the years.
Regards to All
Robert Miller

I had a similar problem tonight. I am was putting new batteries and I only got lights with no buzzer. Got some 750cca batteries and put them in. Buzzer started and when pushing the starter I got smoke from the terminals of the batteries. Quickly shut off accessory switch. Felt the battery cables and they were very hot. I tightene up the cross over cable and tried to start. Nothing! No lights, no buzzer, nothing. The second set of batteries were both brand new.
I had this truck running a week and a half ago. When I got it started then the starter seemed to spin up an then turn over the engine. Could the starter be going bad? Did I fry anything trying to get it started? Could the starter be stuck into the flywheel?
Help?
Thanks
Scott
NC