airborn mercruiser

[lorax]

I hit a big wave too fast. The boat came out of the air and landed hard. About 50 yards later the engine stumbles to a halt. I discover a wire has come loose from the ignition switch. Fix that but now the engine wont start. It cranks slowly and acts like the battery is going dead.<br /><br />I screw around checking some things while the engine cools down. I try it again and this time the starter spins but wont engage the flywheel.<br /><br />Get the boat home take off the starter. The fly wheel teeth look fine and the relatively new starter looks fine as well.<br /><br />I haven't had a chance to bench check the starter yet but I'm wondering if I might have seriously screwed up something else - engine alignment, etc, etc...<br /><br />It's a '89 4.3 Alpha I<br /><br />Any thoughts?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: airborn mercruiser

If you have old batteries or corroded connections someplace, those hard 'THUMPS" can do some strange things. Start checking the battey connections and cables. It's amazing how just a small amount of corrosion on an almost tight connection can cause a problem.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: airborn mercruiser

I had 37 stitches in my knee from not securing a starter on a bench....vise it down (and agree on the checking all your connections for crud)

 

[1996Starcraft]

Re: airborn mercruiser

Check the kill switch and lanyard.

 

[DJ]

Re: airborn mercruiser

Don't discount the battery. Have it load checked. Hard knocks are NOT a batteries friend.

 

[lorax]

Re: airborn mercruiser

37 stitches! Ouch.<br />Thanks for the info. <br /><br />So far I'm not hearing anybody suggested that I probably bent the crankshaft, broke the stringers, ruptured the transom etc. etc...?

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: airborn mercruiser

Lorax - doubtful. I do that sort of thing all the time with a 28' 6,600lb boat - neatly every time out in fact. It is the nature of boating in the ocean. If it is made right and in good shape it is made to take that kind of stuff.

 

[mercrewser]

Re: airborn mercruiser

Pull sparkplugs and check cylindrs for water and plugs for rust. Some guys on this board have accidently pulled safety lanyard killing engine at speed. hot motor deisels and runs backwards reverting water up exhaust into engine (stumbling you may have heard?)

 

[lorax]

Re: airborn mercruiser

Thanks for all the input. I think Mercrewser may have nailed it.<br /><br />There was some evidence of water (very little) on one of the spark plugs.<br /><br />I think when the engine shut down abruptly it swallowed a little water. That would explain why it didn't want to turn over. Then after I abused the starter for a while the pinion gear/shaft key broke. After that the starter would spin but not engage the flywheel. When I bench checked the starter (firmly clamped in vise) the pinion gear extended and the starter spun like mad but it wouldn't work on the boat.<br /><br />A new starter did the trick.<br /><br />Thanks again for all comments.