5.0 First Start Up!

[TheBlizzard]

Ok couple questions. I searched and searched the forums for threads pertaining to my thread but couldn't come up with anything since there are so many.

The boat/motor in question is a 1989 21' Celebrity with a 5.0 Merc I/O Alpha 1

Anyway, yesterday I put the boat I picked up in December http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=450418 on the muffs and was going to start it up for the first time since I bought it in the middle of winter for a good deal and it was winterized.

I turned the key and just heard a click, then turned it again and another click, my father in law wiggled some wires and then it turned over and started and died. Then it when I tried to restart it, it click again a few times and then turned over. Would this be a solenoid going bad?

Once the next time it turned over it started right up and idled just fine, but there was a howling noise from the back of the motor/drive. It wasn't a knocking noise but just a rumbling noise, and there was not any vibration and the motor was purring like a kitten. I was thinking maybe a kimble bearing but just wanted some ideas before we pull the drive.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 First Start Up!

Sounds like the first thing you need to do is clean and tighten all your battery terminals. Tighten with a wrench, not just your fingers. Whoever invented wingnuts for batteries should be shot. Make sure the cables are good, and the ends on the cables aren't loose, corroded, or strands broken.

Then pull your outdrive and check your Gimble bearing. Sounds like it's all rusty from water in the bellows.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.0 First Start Up!

Would this be a solenoid going bad?

Ayuh,... Possibly, but it's more likely corroded wiring ends...

but just wanted some ideas before we pull the drive.

Is there any oil in the drive,..??
Pull it, 'n Inspect things...

 

[TheBlizzard]

Re: 5.0 First Start Up!

Yeah my battery has wing nuts and I concur that they are stupid idea, but I am going to remove them and put regular nuts on them. Makes sense because I just finger tightened the nuts and cranked the battery post terminals down with my hands just to start it up.

As far as the drive goes; yes I am going to pull it off this weekend and inspect things. It has fluid in it though so it must be something else.

I will update this when I find out what is wrong for reference.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.0 First Start Up!

Yeah my battery has wing nuts and I concur that they are stupid idea, but I am going to remove them and put regular nuts on them. Makes sense because I just finger tightened the nuts and cranked the battery post terminals down with my hands just to start it up.

Ayuh,... Don't forget, those wires have another end on 'em that might need cleaning as well as the rest of the wiring ends of the other wires of the starting circuit...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 5.0 First Start Up!

The whole idea of wingnuts - or even nuts is foolish to me. The better idea is to use a "regular" top post battery. You can even buy marine batteries with both the top post and the "wing nut" style terminals. Mercruiser recommends you use the top post batteries with their engines. So, yes - clean up and tighten your connections... but next time you buy a battery, get one with the top posts and change your cable to match. Much better!

 

[TheBlizzard]

Re: 5.0 First Start Up!

The battery has top post terminals, but it also has two smaller threaded posts as well. So a total of 2 positives and 2 grounds, not sure what the wing nut posts power up but they are there. I would have to rewire the other two wires to go into the main terminals to utilize just the top posts.