Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

[goinhungry]

Hi everyone. I've got an 89 Merc. 3.0, 4cyl Chev., Alpha 1 and have a few issues to resolve before I can get it in the water this spring. It's got a wiring short (somewhere) that causes the alternator and battery to overheat (but only when the engine is running), a spun balancer (possibly broken shaft, as the balancer isn't spinning and I haven't removed it to check yet...) and the engine makes a ticking/clicking sound when running (seems to be coming from near the valves). I've seen in other posts that these engines are prone to rockerarm/valve "sticking" and that this is often the cause of that noise, especially when a motor's sat for a while (which mine did before I bought it) and there is the possibility that a good flush/additive can often free it up. My question is what all of your thoughts are as to whether I should take this to my auto mechanic (good friend, who I know does great work based on prior experiences) just for a once-over, to see if these are minor problems/easily correctable, or if that's a bad idea. I ask this only because I've had terrible past experiences with the boat mechanics around me, and won't use them again, so rather than trailer it 75 miles for a repair, I'd prefer to fix any easy problems myself (with the help of this site)or with the help of my mechanic. My first concern would be whether any special tools would be needed for these repairs, and absent having to pull bearings or replace valves, etc., I don't think there would be, so his tools should at least get us to a point where we can make a more informed diagnosis, but I don't know for sure... Your thoughts? thanks!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

That motor is pretty simple, a good auto mechanic should be able to handle what you are describing......JK

 

[Bondo]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

a spun balancer (possibly broken shaft, as the balancer isn't spinning and I haven't removed it to check yet...)

Are you talking about the Harmonic Balancer,..???....<br /><br />That alone would Seriously Concern Me........<br /><br />Your Ticking/ Clicking could be the Broken Crankshaft........<br /><br />I Agree with JK,......... A 3.0l is merely 1 step more complicated than a Briggs & Stratton 5hp motor........

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Bondo - yes, the harmonic balancer, but the clicking started a while ago, so I don't know that the 2 are connected (although anything's possible with a boat...) esp. since the clicking is up near valve cover and the harmonic balance is at the bottom of the enginge. Also, would it be ok to run the engine with the alternator completely disconnected, as I'd like to be sure that the boat functions well mechanically before I undertake the wiring / short issue. thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

would it be ok to run the engine with the alternator completely disconnected,

Ayuh,....Take it Right Off if you like,...... 'Course,.. the waterpump Won't turn then...... <br /><br />Like I said,......<br /><br />The Harmonic Balancer Is/ Should Be, your 1st Major Concern..........<br /><br />If the Balancer Isn't Turning,.... The Crankshaft Has to be Broken,.......<br />After All,..... It's bolted/ pressed Directly onto the snout of the Crankshaft.......<br /><br />My 1st Guess is,...... You Don't have much motor to Play with,....<br />Til you get this 1,...........1st Issue settled.....<br /><br />I've Never seen a 3.0l that didn't have alittle Lifter Clatter...... Just Somes Worse than Others.....

 

[paulrfrancisco]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

In that year 3.0L, isn't the alternator located behind/inside the Harmonic Balancer? or was that the 3.7L

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Thanks for the advice Bondo - yes, my first thought was to take on the harmonic balancer, then disconnect the wiring to the alternator, but leave it bolted in, so I could then run it (with water on...) to be sure it was working, before I went after the electical. I've been told that the balancer has a spring or piece of metal attaching it to the crankshaft, and if this breaks/spins, then the crankshaft may be ok, but the balancer just need replacing - is this true, or is it 100% the case that if the balancer isn't spinning (with all belts disconnected) that the cranksaft is broken too? I haven't taken it off yet, so I have no idea. Thanks for the info.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Paul,.....<br /><br />That's the Lovely 3.7's Nightmare......<br /><br />The 2.5ls,+ the 3.0ls have Always had the Alt. on the Port-side of the motor........

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

paul, the alternator is bolted on to the right (starboard) side of the engine. and the balancer spins the alternator and waterpump on the same belt.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Ayuh,..... Well,........<br /><br />As I said,......<br /><br />The Harmonic Balancer is Bolted/ Pressed onto the snout of the Crankshaft............<br /><br />No Wires,......<br />No Straps,.......<br /><br />Just a Press-Fit,+ 1 Big Bolt...........<br /><br />You'll Need a Puller to Remove it,............<br />And,........<br />A Press to Install it,........ <br />Using the Big Bolt to Install it leads to Stripped Threads in the Crankshaft.........<br />Don't Do It.......<br /><br />Good Luck,.........

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Bondo - there are 3 smaller bolts on the front of this one. Is that just a cover and the bigger bolt's behind that? I'd assume that my mechanic would have a puller and press at the shop, but I'm about as newbie as they come. If it is a crankshaft, should I have a marine mech. do it, or at that point is it still just a chevy with marine-specific parts?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

The 3 Little Bolts hold the Pulley to the Balancer..........<br /><br />Your Bud shouldn't have any Issues with it,......<br /><br />There's Nothing Special, or Marine about it.....<br /><br />If He Doesn't have the Press to Install it,......<br />Don't,.......And I Mean DON'T let him Beat it On......<br />1 or 2 Good Swats with a BFH,+ the Thrust Bearing will be JUNK.......

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Thanks Bondo. So if the pulley isn't spinning, then either the 3 bots have sheared (not the case here) or the crankshaft is shot. How involved is the crankshaft replacement - does the engine need to be disassembled?

 

[paulrfrancisco]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Not that I'm a mechanic.. but if the crankshaft was sheered wouldn't you be able to pull the end stub of the crankshaft out of the seal with yout hand, or in fact spin it with you hand if the belts are off? The balancer is attached to the end of the crank with a large bolt and has a key on the shaft and is on quite tightly so I doubt you woul spin it freely if the bolt was loos and the key was sheered...

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

The pulley does not spin either by hand, or with the engine running - although I only ran it for 10 seconds - just enough time to see that the water pump wasn't spinning - so it could very well be the case. The other thing is that the engine did run smoothly when it was running - no clanking or clattering, but then I dunno if a broken crankshaft would result in noises at idle.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

its common for the water pump to lock up, especially if it sat with no water or antifreeze in the block, air is rather tough on them<br /> carefully watch the balancer while someone cranks the engine over.<br /> if it does not turn odds are the crank is broken but I have never seen a 2.5 or a 3.0 break a snout. all the 3.0 and 2.5 motors I ever saw in my life had a port side mounted altenator.<br /> normally the distributor,ignintion coil and the oil filter are mounted on the stbd side.<br /> I have also never actually seen a 2.5 or a 3.0 with a crankshaft balancer bolt but it could be added I guess.<br /> list of things I never saw grows daily.<br />while occasional valvetrain noise is normal mine is very quiet.<br /> usually that 4 banger will stick a valve due to a bad riser/manifold.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

my experiance is that it is a pressed on unit,not bolted like the V8 motor.

 

[goinhungry]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

Thanks guys. Rod, I had tried running it without the belt on last fall, so the balancer was free, but it still wouldn't turn. You are correct in that it is on the port side (I dunno what I was thinking...)When it warms up a bit I'll have it pulled and report back with my findings. thanks to all for helping out.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

This engine can't run if the crankshaft snout is broken such that the balancer won't turn. The time gear is right behing the cover and with no timing -- no running!. It would really be doubtful the crank would break between the timing gear and the damper (unless of course someone hammered on it). If that were the case, give the damper a tug and it should fall off in your hand.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Auto Mechanic? SOLVED!!!

goinhungry, sounds to me like you need to do a little time in front of your engine. Try this, slip the drive belt(s) off. Put a spanner on the bolts that fix the pulley to the harmonic balance and see if you can remove the bolts, they should just undo, next remove all the spark plugs and put a large socket on the large bolt that secures the balancer to the crank and turn it clockwise. The engine should turn, if it does than next turn it anti-clockwise, the engine should turn again, if you can turn the engine either way with the socket and bar than I'm betting you do not have a broken crank. Do that and than let us know what happens, we can than start the diagnosis from there. Good luck!