470 mercruiser

thefuzz

Recruit
Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
5
Ok guys/gals I need some HELP?? I know there's a automotive starter that will replace the mercruiser starter on my 83 mercruiser 470 engine can SOMEONE tell me what ones it is ?? mine has the 2 bolt starter with the long nose with the chevy styl selionoid on it.. ALSO if anyone can help with WHY this is so hard to crank over hot or cold, new batt, even with the NEW starter last summer [yea this lasted 1 yr.] so I'm opting to go with a automotiv one v/s rebuilding this one v/s buying another mercruiser one [NOT]...:mad: thanks steve.
 
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Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
3,008
Re: 470 mercruiser

Sorry there is no auto alternative, the 470 uses some Ford 460 parts, but the starter isn't one of them.

The auto one wouldn't meet USCG approval because of no spark protection.
 

fmalott

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
561
Re: 470 mercruiser

you better look at other problems then the starter
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: 470 mercruiser

WHY this is so hard to crank

Because the long armatures on that starter tended to bend and rub up against the field coils. Don't ever, ever, ever even think of using an automotive starter, or distributor, or carb, or fuel pump or alternator in a boat.
 

1977 SILVERLINE

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 11, 2011
Messages
113
Re: 470 mercruiser

check your ignition timing, should be around 8 degrees before tdc retard it to around 4 and see how it works. Also make sure your bat cables aren't too small
 

solar7647

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
1,218
Re: 470 mercruiser

check your ignition timing, should be around 8 degrees before tdc retard it to around 4 and see how it works. Also make sure your bat cables aren't too small

Mercruiser changed the timing from 4 to 8 so I would keep it at 8. The mercruiser bulletin says that it is do to poor gas quality and at 4 it will cause issues.

I would think that your issue with hard starting is the starter or wrong size battery and or cables. I had the same issue and the rebuilt starter I had just bought was the problem....turned out it's solenoid wasn't big enough...I actually burned the thing up in a week, I ended up swapping it with the much larger solenoid from the old starter and it worked with out an issue.
 
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