Both stater bolts sheered off 3.0

[joeyholzer74]

I just recently purchased a 2002 starcraft 1810 on wednesday. on sunday I was out with family and friends tubing. Turned the boat off then went to start it again and nothing. Noticed both bolts on the starter sheered off. They are telling me 700-1500 to fix now. Can anyone tell me reasons why this may have happened? Or maybe a way to prevent this?

 

[Maclin]

Re: Both stater bolts sheered off 3.0

The engine may have hydrolocked while it was sitting. If the starter was healthy and the battery strong then when it tried to turn over the engine and a cylinder hit the hydrolock condition something had to give.

Water can get into a cylinder thru an open exhaust valve thru rusty manifolds or risers. Also, if an engine is shut off suddenly and the boat is still moving then exhaust water can end up travelling back down into the exhaust passage. Also, if an engine runs on after it is shut off then that can cause what is called reversion, and water can get sucked back down the exhaust. These are just some of the ways an engine can ingest water into the top of a cylinder. When the engine tries to compress the water it can't and that is a hydrolock.

This is just one potential cause of your event.

To check this remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over by hand and see if water is pumped out any of those holes.

 

[Don S]

Re: Both stater bolts sheered off 3.0

Wrong/worn bolts, rough running engine/vibration, support bracket missing, loose bolts.

 

[BamaCharlie]

Re: Both stater bolts sheered off 3.0

I would get a second opinion is possible.
I had 1 bolt break (but this was on a merc) and the shop was able to use a 90* drill and tap it out.
If they had not been able to drill it out the they would have had to pull the motor (which is what you may have to do)
I was also lucky that it did not ruin the starter so they jsut had to bolt it back on.
Good Luck !

 

[joeyholzer74]

Re: Both stater bolts sheered off 3.0

well the mechanic called today and told me he was unable to back the bolts out due to rust. He also said the reason they sheered was a combo of rusted bolts and water in the starter. He said at one time the engine compartment got water in it. Starting to think i bought a lemmon!!