Flywheel not turning

[holstrom7171]

Hello all,
I just bought a 1969 Thunderbird with a 85hp Evinrude starflite on it. The owner stated that the motor had been rebuilt and had about 25 hours on it. However it had been sitting for the past 5 years. I charged the battery and tried to give it a start and the starter engaged but did nothing. I pulled the plugs to attempt to turn the flywheel by hand but can not. what can I do to get the wheel broke loose without hurting anything? Please help

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Flywheel not turning

well i would get a flash light and look in the plug holes for rust. can you turn the propeller by hand, if not drop the lower unit, and see if the flywheel will turn. you could either have a seized lower unit, or a seized power head. if power head is seized, 99% rebuild is in order. breaking it loose is not usually a successful solution.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Flywheel not turning

I agree with TSD sorta but would not jump to a rebuild just yet. With the plugs out and the engine tilted up put several tablespoons of Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder and let it sit for a day. Then take a socket wrench to the flywheel nut and see if it will break loose. You may get lucky. To be sure take the heads off and have a look see. You may be OK if it breaks loose easily however you won't be able to check the rod or main bearings. Let us know what you find.

 

[holstrom7171]

Re: Flywheel not turning

yes I can turn the propeller by hand when I turn it I hear clicks, which I think is normal.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Flywheel not turning

I'd also put the engine on it's front and put some oil in each plug hole and wait and then see if you can turn it with a wrench. If not after a few days, I'd also drop the lower unit.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Flywheel not turning

agree with Steve.

 

[holstrom7171]

Re: Flywheel not turning

hey solittle,
so I did what you said with the oil, but now I have another question. I put the oil into the sparkplug holes then let it sit for a day and I decided it would be easier to try and crank on the flywheel with the motor in the down position. so i put the plugs back it so that the oil would not run out and all of a sudden all of the oil from two of the cylinders leaked down somewhere and was coming out of where the propeller is at. What do you make of this????

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Flywheel not turning

that is the exhaust, you blew the oil out the exhaust. you should have drained the oil first.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Flywheel not turning

When you attempt to move the flywheel, do so gently rocking it in one direction then the other.