4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

[leoo24]

Hi guys

this is my first post here, hi i'm also new to boating on the maintenance side as i've just bought a crownline 205 with a 4.3 merc efi from a friend, been driving it for a couple of years though but never had any maintenance experience with it.

it's been sat for 12 months and i don't think it was winterized.

i'm taking it for a service and a startup but i thought i'd try cranking it, it just gave me a wirring sound, i recorded it on my mobile, needs quicktime to play i think
whatcounter.com/leo/10-08-08_1351.3gp

i cleaned wiring contacts, checked oil, recharged battery etc


also it's showing signs of surface rust, it had a failed bilge pump last year and on one outing there was a bit of salt water sloshing around in there and i feel that may be the problem? i don't know much about motors, i'm attaching two photos, i can see the rust on the belt wheels easily and it looks like i can clean it off, but what is the other rust on? does it look like it has been done externally from teh sloshing salt water or has it come from the inside? because sea water runs through the cooling system right?

any input would be wondeful thanks

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

The rust on the pulleys does need to be cleaned up before running the engine or you will ruin your belt.

The rust from your risers does not look good. It may be time to take them off and see if they are leaking inside your manifold and into your engine.

Your "whiring sound" could be the starter bendix failing... or something else... Hard to tell without hearing it. Can you turn the enigne over by hand? Take the plugs out and see what they look like, then turn the engine over by hand and see if any water comes out of the spark plug holes.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

Sounds like your starter is not engaging the flywheel.

Does your starter engage the gears using the solenoid (older Delco style), or is there a bendix? You may just need to clean up and lube the mechanism which slides the starter gear out, if it's the older Delco style.

If it's a bendix style, the bendix is probably shot.

 

[leoo24]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

thanks guys

will look to see if there is a solenoid or bendix.

i wondered if those were the exhaust risers on either side of the engine, which from what i've read got me a little worried.

the boat ran like a dream last summer and was pulled from the water without having any hiccups at all, so i assumed no water had got in during usage. Maybe whilst sitting since last year? does the engine retain the water in the system when it's out of the water? or does it drain out? i'm not entirely sure if it was flushed with fresh water at the end of the season.

should i be able to turn the pulleys by hand easliy?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

Once you pull the plugs out, you should be able to turn the engine over by hand.

Do you live in an area where it gets cold enough to do freeze damage? If so.... then you might have BIG problems. Don't know. We don't worry about that here in SW Florida.

 

[leoo24]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

i live in spain, no ice here

i tried turning the pulley by hand to look at the rust on them but they didn't budge

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

By the way - you will have both a solenoid and a bendix. Here is a picture that shows a typical starter: (#12 is the bendix and #16 is the solenoid)

 

[leoo24]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

wow great diagram, thanks.

i may well be out of my depth at the moment, but none the less i prefer to go into a situation knowing what i might expect!

boat is stored at a friend's house so tomorrow i'll be going over and taking the plugs out and turning the engine, fingers crossed there's no water

i've not even looked yet but i imagine they'll be under the plastic cover with the lettering on?

the riser looks easy to get at, is it easy to get off? all the bolts are fairly visible, is it as simple as unscrewing and the riser will lift off? what tell tale signs will i be looking for inside the riser, or in the manifold?

thanks

one other question, that's a great exploded diagram, is there anywhere i'm likely to find similar diagrams for merc engines?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

i've not even looked yet but i imagine they'll be under the plastic cover with the lettering on?

What is it you are asking about? The spark plugs?

the riser looks easy to get at, is it easy to get off? all the bolts are fairly visible, is it as simple as unscrewing and the riser will lift off?

In theory yes.... but with salt water and rust.... anything is possible.

one other question, that's a great exploded diagram, is there anywhere i'm likely to find similar diagrams for merc engines?

Someone will come along and post a link showing info for your engine.

By the way - that diagram simply shows a typical starter. I did not mean to imply that it is identical to yours. It is simply an illustration showing what a typical solenoid and bendix (or starter drive) looks like and where they would be situated on a starter.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

By the way - you will have both a solenoid and a bendix. Here is a picture that shows a typical starter: (#12 is the bendix and #16 is the solenoid)

Right, whether the bendix is actuated by the solenoid or the twisting motion of the starter, is what I was asking about... Didn't describe it very well.

 

[leoo24]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

hi guys

ok had a fun afternoon in taking one of the risers of, and it looks to be ok? to me anyway, inside it had a little flaky rust, a couple of spots of 1mm and one spot, the size of my thumbnail at 2mm. have attached photos, what do you guys think? on the other riser which i didn't remove it's definetly surface rust as it even wipes off the protective coating, in the photo you can see where i've rubbed it off in the middle

i've bought 2 gasket seals as it looks like there were two in there? or has it just come apart and stuck to the top of the manifold and riser?

out of curiosity i got a quote for a set of risers and manifolds at $1.2k, damned expensive here in spain, i need to find an aftermarket dealer

i recall a service a couple of years where the mechanic said something about the starter that he had to fiddle with it as it looked like it had been under water or something, looking at it today i can see what he meant! i really really don't want to get that bugger out myself

i didn't get the spark plugs out as they seem a little tricky also, they seemed that they wouldn't come out without the manifold not being there? or maybe i need some better tools

 

[leoo24]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

and here's the starter

 

[leoo24]

Re: 4.3 merc efi startup problem and surface rust

i just read that there should be no rust inside the gas only chamber, let me get this completely clear, until it hits the rubber sleave the center hole i can see in the riser and manifold is the gas only chamber right? well i found a little rust in there


if it's only a little and i can get it cleaned up good, then i need to look at the gasket surfaces, if there's any pitting there then both new riser and manifolds are to be ordered?