Ok I'll give you the whole story.
Bought the boat new to me with a 1986 Mercruiser 170 in it over the summer. Cleaned the carbs and installed electronic ignition and at one point, I remember trying to start the engine and getting a squealing sound (which I later figured was from the starter). It wouldn't go away until I turned off the battery at the battery switch (not ignition switch). Started the boat a few hours later with no problems, didn't think anything of it.
Had the boat out twice with minor little problems since then.
The last time we took the boat out, the day before we left I made sure she started up fine. I hit the start button, engine starts, I let go of the start button, but there's still about a 1/2 second grinding (as if I'm holding the starter on.) I thought, "hmm, that's weird," but didn't call off the trip.
Next day, it's doing the same grinding everytime we start the engine. We were fishing so we started the engine probably 15-20 times on the lake. Toward the end of the day, I start to hear that squealing again, with resistance to turn the engine over. It gets worse and worse every time we try to start then engine. So we get to this cove and I tell dad and cousin that the next time we start the boat, it will be for good to head back to the docks. WELL....I should've said that one start prior to this time. I couldn't get the boat started, it just kept squealing and squealing. We'd tap the starter with a large wrench and it would turn the engine over half a rotation, then squeal some more. Then, instantly, we lost all power. No radio, no horn, nothing. But there wasn't a large spark or fuse blown or anything. So, we went from "fine" electric power, to absolutely NOTHING. I must mention that the boat gets a fair amount of water; I think the outdrive isn't sealed the best (that's a winter/spring project). So at that point we had a good amount of water in the transom area (maybe upwards of 10-15 gallons)(
bad, I know ).
Sorry this is so long.
Well a 2.5 hour tow ride later, we get the boat on the trailer and pull up the ramp (10:00 p.m.). I realized we need to put the outdrive up but we don't have power. So I thought maybe if we put jumper cables from the truck to the boat, it'll give us power to raise up the outdrive. Well, the cable attached to the boat battery starts glowing red and smoking, so I immediately remove it as not to blow us all up!
So I get home, remove the starter, charge the batteries, attach the starter to one of the batteries and it's spinning, and "jumping" that gear to what apparently seems just fine.
Can you guys give me some advice on what to do, what to check? I was just going to buy a new starter, but now that this one seems to be working, I'm not sure where to go. Any troubleshooting tips you can give me?
Is it possible something was shorting out? Why would the starter be squealing, then be fine upon uninstallation? Is it possible the starter can't spin under load, but spins fine when removed? Can I do my own starter overhaul?
Bought the boat new to me with a 1986 Mercruiser 170 in it over the summer. Cleaned the carbs and installed electronic ignition and at one point, I remember trying to start the engine and getting a squealing sound (which I later figured was from the starter). It wouldn't go away until I turned off the battery at the battery switch (not ignition switch). Started the boat a few hours later with no problems, didn't think anything of it.
Had the boat out twice with minor little problems since then.
The last time we took the boat out, the day before we left I made sure she started up fine. I hit the start button, engine starts, I let go of the start button, but there's still about a 1/2 second grinding (as if I'm holding the starter on.) I thought, "hmm, that's weird," but didn't call off the trip.
Next day, it's doing the same grinding everytime we start the engine. We were fishing so we started the engine probably 15-20 times on the lake. Toward the end of the day, I start to hear that squealing again, with resistance to turn the engine over. It gets worse and worse every time we try to start then engine. So we get to this cove and I tell dad and cousin that the next time we start the boat, it will be for good to head back to the docks. WELL....I should've said that one start prior to this time. I couldn't get the boat started, it just kept squealing and squealing. We'd tap the starter with a large wrench and it would turn the engine over half a rotation, then squeal some more. Then, instantly, we lost all power. No radio, no horn, nothing. But there wasn't a large spark or fuse blown or anything. So, we went from "fine" electric power, to absolutely NOTHING. I must mention that the boat gets a fair amount of water; I think the outdrive isn't sealed the best (that's a winter/spring project). So at that point we had a good amount of water in the transom area (maybe upwards of 10-15 gallons)(
bad, I know ). Sorry this is so long.
Well a 2.5 hour tow ride later, we get the boat on the trailer and pull up the ramp (10:00 p.m.). I realized we need to put the outdrive up but we don't have power. So I thought maybe if we put jumper cables from the truck to the boat, it'll give us power to raise up the outdrive. Well, the cable attached to the boat battery starts glowing red and smoking, so I immediately remove it as not to blow us all up!
So I get home, remove the starter, charge the batteries, attach the starter to one of the batteries and it's spinning, and "jumping" that gear to what apparently seems just fine.
Can you guys give me some advice on what to do, what to check? I was just going to buy a new starter, but now that this one seems to be working, I'm not sure where to go. Any troubleshooting tips you can give me?
Is it possible something was shorting out? Why would the starter be squealing, then be fine upon uninstallation? Is it possible the starter can't spin under load, but spins fine when removed? Can I do my own starter overhaul?
