Re: Bravo vs. alpha
So, you are saying that his engine is toast because it's over 10 years old? And that is why it won't crank and start with the boats batteries, switch and cables, yet it will starts fine when that system is bypassed (Jumped) .............. Man, am I sure glad you aren't troubleshooting my starting problem
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no, im telling him to check the batteries, then check to see of the engine will turn over without too much resistance.
like i said above, salt water intrusion, or fresh water for that matter, will mimic a bad battery/starter problem. it will cause the starter to seem like it is dragging, or that you have week batteries.
the reason is because the rings are deteriorating and causing additional friction in the cylinder walls. when the engine gets hot and the parts expand, the alluminum pistons will expand more than the cast iron cylinder walls and thus increase the friction from the deteriorating rings and cause the engine to be harder to start.
and yes, at 15 years old, unless it has a closed cooling system, it is just as likely to be the problem as a bad starter or two bad batteries.
im not speaking rehtorically, or just guessing what could happen, i had the exact same problems with twin 454s on my donzi. they were only 8 years old and looked brand new on the outside. 8 to 10 years is about all your gona get from salt water motors unless they have a closed cooling system and the risers and manifolds are replaced every 3 ot 4 years. 15 years on a freshwater motor is a good life span, and water intrusion should not be rules out at this point.
the problem is the heads. they are cast iron, just like the risers, but the thickness of the metal between the exhaust ports and the water jackets on the heads is around 1/8 inch. they were never designed for marine applications. they were designed to have a rust inhibitor constantly flowing through them, antifreeze for example.
after 15 years, the manifolds might have been replaced a few times, but the heads have not. and the cast iron seperating the water from the exhaust in the manifolds and risers is THICKER than that in the heads.
like i said, check the batteries. then use a pry bar to check the engine. if it turns without too much resistance, ie, you should be able to turn it with the plugs in, and certianly with the plugs out if you cant get good leverage, then check the starter, starter selonoid, or battery cables.
the reason i suggest checking the starter last is because spending 200 plus dollars on a marine starter might be a waste of time on a 15 year old motor.
a dragging starter is the first symptom of water intruison. at 15 years old, i would have bought the boat with the understanding "i" would be replacing the engine during my ownership.
but thats just me. a mechanic.
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