4.3L very hard to start?

[G22inSC]

Went for a boat ride today after having a very difficult time getting the boat to start. It is a 4.3L carb motor. Turn the key and the starter would "bump" once and nothing. Battery had good charge. Starter seems fine. After numerous tries, motor finally started and ran fine all day. Got to thinking and wandering if I had water in the cylinder preventing the piston from rising and locking the crank. Does this seem likely or am I missing some other possibility?

 

[Volphin]

Re: 4.3L very hard to start?

Hard to say... all the times I've run into hydro locked boat it required removing the spark plug on the cyl that had water intrusion. How old are the manifolds?

V

 

[G22inSC]

Re: 4.3L very hard to start?

The motor is an original 1997 (with 166 hours) with the old "batwing" manifolds. The boat had been sitting for quite a while with only a few gallons of unknown fuel from the previous owner. I topped the tank off with no ethanol fuel and added a "treatment." I was hoping maybe it was a little buildup in the tank and not the manifolds leaking. I am going to pull the plugs as soon as I get a chance and see if any water comes out or the plug(s) are wet. Did not have to pull the plug(s) to get the motor started. It eventually started after several tries and a little time. Is there anything I have missed.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 4.3L very hard to start?

sounds like this is a new to you boat. assuming it is..

Is there anything I have missed.

i would go look at this. maintaining an i/o is labor intensive and if it's a new to you boat, ya should be doing some pm. also, get the mercruiser s/m that's proper for your rig. you'll find the facts there to help you service your boat. you'll find a maint. schedule in the book as to what to be looking at. sorry to say but the pdf s/m's are gone again. you'll have to get your s/m off ebay, or from mercruiser, or maybe the library (by library don't have them though).

 

[mpdive]

Re: 4.3L very hard to start?

On the electrical side of things......Be sure you have good grounds before banging your head against the wall. High resistance in the starter circuit will cause this problem as will a starter going bad.