Mercruiser 190 Starter

[Firewood]

Mercruiser 4cyl. 190. My problem is when I try to start the engine after its been running awhile. We'd been out fishing a few hours and thought a line was tangled on the prop so I shut it off tilted it up....no problem. Then I went to crank it and it would barley turn over. I thought the battery was shot. We sat for a while and wouldn't you know it cranked hard and fast and fired right up. So when we returned to the ramp later that day I shut it down and immedietly tried to crank it again... same problem it would barley crank. We got home, I jumped in and tried it and it cranked hard and fast... What should I do? Heat shield the starter? replace it? more battaries??

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 190 Starter

Could be worn bushings on the armature of the starter, the timing could be off, engine too hot, loose or corroded battery cables (They have 2 ends ya know).<br />Time to start eliminating problems.<br />Check the timing.<br />Pull the starter and have it checked at a starter shop.<br />Check the cables.<br />Look at the temp gauge.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser 190 Starter

The starter is newly re-built. Motor temp is fine, it actually runs on the cool side. I will be replacing the positive lead (even thou it looks fine, I've had a pin hole let salt in and corrode the inside once before.) I will double check the timing but I doubt thats the problem. <br />Has anyone ever had a simliar problem? The starter is located right beneath the exhuast manifold.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 190 Starter

The starter is newly re-built

Does that mean newly rebuilt parts ALWAYS works perfectly?<br /><br />

I will double check the timing but I doubt thats the problem.

You likly have a points distributor if it hasn't been upgraded, and if you haven't done a tuneup, the points may be so bad that it is affecting the timing, if you have done a tuneup and didn't set the dwell and the timing, then you are probably way off on the timing. So don't just disregard a suggestion because "You don't think it could be the problem" it may very well be. That is why you need to check.<br />I have found all these reasons listed causing the problem, that is why I mentioned them. Of course I only work on boats for a living.

 

[Firewood]

Re: Mercruiser 190 Starter

The ignition has been converted over to pertronix equipment, I also added thier high out put coil. The motor was out last spring. While I had it in my garage I rebuilt carb,had starter rebuilt,install pertronix ignition & set timing, new thermostate, new fuel pump, new plugs, new wires, new cap, new rotor. Like I said i will recheck the timing, It should have been set to factory specs, do you reccomend more or less timing than spec'd?