Failure to start - stranded

[boardrider]

I have searched here and found some great troubleshooting ideas about why my boat won't start, but thought I'd share my experience to get some input on what you all might think it would be. So I finally rebuilt my outdrive (married upper and lower units) and got out on the lake for the first time with my wife. We were living it u and loving. We had the whole lake to ourselves. We drove around- stopped awhile - started back up - drove around and of course when we wanted to return - no start! To me it sounded like the battery. At first it turned over storng (without starting of course) then it got slower and quieter- until nothing. The starter wasn't getting juice. So, we got blown to shore on the other side of the lake, tied her up and ran 2-3 miles back to the truck and drove to get a new battery. Hiked the new one back in and the same thing happened.<br /><br />Now I'm thinking it must be a connection somewhere, so I will clean and check all connections, then move on from there with the test light procedure. Just curious on thoughts of my specific symptom.<br /><br />Oh yeah we made it home because a friend of a worker at Kragen heard about us and dropped his boat in the water just to come help. Damn we were lucky.

 

[boardrider]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Oh yeah it's a 260 mercruiser with a alpha one outdrive (type "R" lower)

 

[Don S]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

If the engine cranked over ok with the new battery, that means water in the cylinders was probably not the problem.<br />Check the cables and connections, even the terminals that are crimped on the end of the cables. Corrosion will cause the problem.<br />As well as a dragging starter.<br />Could also be the timing is off on your engine.<br />When was the last time you did a COMPLETE tuneup.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Did your friend who came to your rescue get you started or did he tow you back? Sounds like the battery was fine you just flattened it trying to start the engine. <br /><br />Here is a simple reference if you ever get stuck again, I suggest you practice the routine as I have outlined it below incase you ever get stuck again;<br /><br />Your engine needs 4 things to start and run; Fuel, compression and spark in that order and at the correct time. There is no reason to think the timing has changed and you won't lose compression in every cylinder at the same time so we can eliminate that as the likely cause. That leave’s spark and fuel, both are easy to check, for fuel remove the flame arrester and open the throttle, you should see fuel being squirted into the carb throat area as the throttle is opened. If yes than its time to check the spark, you can do that by removing one spark wire and putting a screw driver into the plug socket and placing the shaft of the screwdriver a 1/8 inch away from a clean metal component of the engine and crank it over, you should see a spark jump between the gap. If that checks out than you have all the ingredients for an engine that will run, from there you may have flooded the engine in which case you need to ensure the choke is full open and than open the throttle fully and crank the engine until it starts, should not take much longer than 5- 10 seconds to clear the excess fuel and fire into life. If the engine still won't start than its time to go back to the timing, either cam or spark. But if that’s the issue than its time to get on the phone or the radio and call for help. Remember a poorly maintained engine can and has proven fatal! Good luck.

 

[horsefly38425]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

When you ck for spark,if you don't have spark ck coil for 12+ volts, if you don't have volts ,CK neutral switch .

 

[boardrider]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Well the last time I had a complete tuneup - who knows? I just bought the boat in Nov. with a damaged outdrive and finally took care of that. The engine is in superb shape as it was replaced in 2000-2001, but again I don't really know about a tuneup.<br /><br />As for the "friend" - he wasn't a friend of mine at all, but a complete stranger who heard about our dilemma from HIS friend at the auto parts store and he came and towed us out on a whim that it wasn't the battery.<br /><br />I really think it is probably a corrosion issue as I remember seeing traces of it on the cables. Then maybe the starter after that. Like I said - it would crank and then fade away to nothing fairly quickly as if the starter didn't have enough juice to spark good enough. I remember my truck did a very similar thing when the terminals were corroded - I cleaned them - it still did it- then I cleaned them again xtra good and it cured the problem - so crossing my fingers this is the culprit.<br /><br />If it was a flooding issue, wouldn't it just crank and crank, but not start, instead of going "dead?"<br /><br />THANK YOU all for your advice to a new boater, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[boardrider]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Also, what is a "dragging" starter Don S? Thanks.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Did the cables get warm from all the cranking?<br />That would indicate internal corrosion & resistance....<br />It may be time to replace both of the cables...<br />If that doesn't work, replace the starter....<br />Do a tune up once you get it running.....JK

 

[boardrider]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Didn't notice if the cables were warm or not (didn't check), but the engine was warm when we returned from our couple hour journey back to the boat, but that was probably just normal from it running it I think.

 

[horsefly38425]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

dragging starter can be caused by lots of things bad brushes/springs /bendix /solenoid/or the swicth /armature/and more. AS for going dead do you mean starter would not try to engage or just got weak would not turn eng. over? MY rule of thumb is if it don't start in 10-15 revs. let it rest a while

 

[boardrider]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Stopped engaging - to me sounded like a dead battery in a car. Cranked a few times, then quieter + slower/weaker, then nothing at all when I turned the key. If I waited, it would start cranking again then die again. Still haven't gotten in there since I parked her.

 

[bijou22]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Just had a similar problem and it turned out to be engine flood. Once she is flooded thats it!!! You can try and start her all day and all that will happen is you make the battery flat. Remove one of the plugs and smell it for fuel.If you smell fuel, remove all plugs, and turn her over for a split second to eject any fuel from the cylinders. Clean all the plugs by putting them under a naked flame, then wire brush and re-fit. Hope this works for you as it did for me

 

[boardrider]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Not to sound like an idiot, but by "turn her over" for a split second, do you me turn they key in the ignition, or is there something manual to do?<br /><br />Thanks for the responses

 

[bijou22]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

Sorry, I meant turn the key in the ignition.

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: Failure to start - stranded

outta gas?