5.0 HO OMC Starter Issues

[HSBarker81]

Ok...so i moved on from a 1983 Merc 120 to a 1994 OMC Cobra 5.0 HO on a 22' Seaswirl Striper. <br /><br />I got a great deal on the boat ($3000) w/ trailer, and he even gave me a 5.7 350 chevy with omc rigs on it in the deal. <br /><br />The problem is that the starter won't engage...i've tried jumping it across the solenoid, but it just makes a loud click. I've replaced the battery and I've done the best I can as far as tapping the starter with a rubber mallet to "free" it. Anyone have any ideas as far as ways to test or fix this...possibly a link to a manual online? <br /><br />Thanks, <br />Harley<br /><br />ps- for those of you who helped me on my other boat, thanks...i had the gimbal bearing and u-joints replaced and it was like butter...i sold it to buy the new one

 

[Don S]

Re: 5.0 HO OMC Starter Issues

Maybe the starter is already engaged in the flywheel and the engine or drive is froze up.<br />Can you turn the engine by hand? If you can't, pull the drive and try again. Could be a problem with the drive or gimbal bearing being froze up. <br />If you still can't turn the engine by hand pull the plugs and look for rust or damage on the plugs.

 

[HSBarker81]

Re: 5.0 HO OMC Starter Issues

The plugs look ok and I can turn the engine over with a breaker bar and socket without much strain (plugs out). It ran fine, but sat a year...i've read some other people talking about their starters doing this after they sit that long. If the motor turns over, the starter should work? Or, are you saying something in the drive itself could cause this to happen? I was under the impression that the outdrive only kicked in when you put the boat in gear...<br /><br />thanks,<br />h

 

[sirparks]

Re: 5.0 HO OMC Starter Issues

Just had a similar situation with my Mercruiser 140 MR. I disconnected the wires from the battery cable terminals and sanded/wire wheeled everything greased them up and put on new clamps & posts and it started fine. Before that it just made the clicking noise and acted like a dead battery. There was just too much corrosion and it was sucking up all the amps.

 

[HSBarker81]

Re: 5.0 HO OMC Starter Issues

sweet...if he knocked 2800 off the price and that's all i have to fix, i might just **** myself ;x

 

[HSBarker81]

Re: 5.0 HO OMC Starter Issues

hmm...i'm having problems turning the motor over, so i'm afraid the starter wasn't the problem. Tomorrow I am going to pull the manifolds and get down to where i can soak the cylinders to hopefully free the motor up. I'm looking now to replacing the whole long block possibly, but I have a few questions before I do that. <br /><br />1) Does anyone have any links for places to purchase motors?<br /><br />2) Is the long block the same as a ford 5.0 motor (meaning are the only things changed the dist, starter, carb, etc...)?<br /><br />3) I may be interested in getting the 5.8 351 instead...will that all match up the same as far as fitting and my manifolds and accessories?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Harley