1981 90hp seized - what do I do?

clueless75

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
102
I recently bought a boat with a 1981 6 cyl. 90hp merc with a seized engine (knowingly, it was a good deal for the boat even without the engine). The flywheel won't turn at all - not even the slightest bit. I pulled every plug and discovered the very bottom (Cyl 6) had quite a bit of rust on the plug, and it was fairly hard to remove. Unfortunately it's the bottom cylinder and the lower cowling is in the way for me to properly inspect it but I took my phone and flashlight to try and see but the piston is near the top of its stroke so I can't see the cylinder walls. The top of the piston looks like the others, but the plug looked like it hasn't fired in a long time (when the motor did run) as it was dry as a bone with rust on top. The motor sat for about 3 years prior without the previous owner ever starting it or turning it over or nothing. I did a bit of research and bought some Sea Foam oil to squirt into the plug holes (much more in the bottom cylinder suspected of rusting) with the motor tilted all the way up so that it's almost flat. I poured some oil in yesterday and let it sit, today I put oil in and also put a socket wrench over the flywheel nut and tapped it a few times in each direction, to no avail. I squirted more oil in, and closed it up and left. What I'm wondering is am I doing everything right? I don't put much value on the motor as I can pick another one up fairly cheap, so I'm just looking to at least try to get it unseized and use it for however long it lasts afterward. I have not taken the leg off yet, but I will do that tomorrow. Is there anything else you guys recommend? I will try to oil and tap it once a day for a few weeks if nobody says otherwise. I've also heard of being able to heat the cylinder inside and it would be easier to unseize? I wouldn't mind trying that but how would I heat it up as it is the hardest to get to cylinder? Also, should I take any precautions as the Sea Foam stuff is a petroleum product and might ignite if I try heating up the cylinder? Any responses will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,931
Bottom crankshaft seal failure...don't waste your time as rod bearings cylinder,,crankshaft and lower bearing are damaged. Pull it apart and see if worth repairing..
 

clueless75

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
102
Bottom crankshaft seal failure...don't waste your time as rod bearings cylinder,,crankshaft and lower bearing are damaged. Pull it apart and see if worth repairing..

What would cause all that to happen?
 

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,931
Bottom seals fail..water is sucked into bottom cylinder..water goes thru bearing around crank...thru rod bearings and into cylinder...if its locked its junk. Even if you do free it the cylinders will be rust pitted and the surface rust will never let the rings live and bottom bearing will be locked up and you wont free it unless torn apart. JMO get a diffent motor if you want to get on the water.
 
Last edited:

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
You may be able to sell some of the parts, other than its value is in its weight as scrap metal.
 

clueless75

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
102
Alrighty thanks guys! I'll be on the lookout for a new motor. In the meantime I'll probably just tear it apart for the hell of it. Maybe I can fix it, otherwise it would be nearly sorted for the scrap guys!
 

Schtoopid

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 23, 2016
Messages
77
Parts are worth a bunch on Ebay. Probably part it out for $500-$1000.
 
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