motor locked up!

[catfish1]

this is probably going to sound stupid! but, i am getting a 18ft trihull boat with a 140hp 4cyl inboard motor. i dont know exactly what it is yet(he said he thought it is a ford motor) i am getting it in trade for remodeling his bathroom, the boat is in a slip at the marina. and the marina owner called him and said his motor is locked up! the boat ran good last summer(i know because i rode in it)then the guys at the marina put it in storage for the winter, the boat hasnt run since! when they put it back in the slip this spring they tried to start it and no go! after further investigation they say the motors locked up. since i am going to get this boat, my question is: what could lock up the motor that was stored just one winter? and do you think its possible to free it up after this long? (9-10 months)<br />sorry for the lengthy post guys

 

[Wellcraft 89]

Re: motor locked up!

Improper winterizing, water froze and cracked cylinder wall and rusted internal components!<br />Untill you get it apart you'll never know.<br /><br />Rich

 

[merc 140 pontoon]

Re: motor locked up!

Here's what I would try:<br /><br />1. Hope you're really lucky. Maybe his exhaust flapper has fried off (common), and water surged into the exhaust into the cylinders = hydrolock. Charge the battery. Pull all plugs. CAREFULLY look inside for water. Try the starter--KEEP YOUR HEAD, EYES, BODY AWAY FROM ENGINE--it may turn over the engine and eject all water through the plug holes. If so, then CAREFULLY squirt a good oil into each cylinder. Turn over. CAREFULLY squirt more. Sit overnight. Try to start. Later, have the manifold/riser pulled to check exhasut flapper; replace if gone.<br /><br />2. No water in cyliners--CAREFULLY squirt good oil into cylinders every day for a week. Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll free up.<br /><br />3 Still no luck--have someone tear down engine. If it wasn't winterized correctly, it may have cracked the block, manifold, sterndrive housings.<br /><br />4. No matter what, before you run this boat, absolutely have someone drop the lower unit and replace the water pickup pump impeller, housings, gaskets, seals (maybe 80 bucks worth of parts). This will also change the gear lube. Or don't, and then you'll be sorry when you ruin the head.<br /><br />If you have no experience, let a mechanic do it all.<br /><br />You may get lucky and have a great deal on your hands. Good luck.<br /><br />Steve

 

[Bondo]

Re: motor locked up!

I hate to be the bearer of Bad News, But, I Think you've been Screwed....<br />It Appears you've a 470 Merc..... A Marginal Motor at Best....

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

thanks for the replies. i really wont know whats wrong with it until i get into it, but i just want an idea about what i am getting into. thanks guys!<br /><br />bondo, the motor was really strong last summer, it would plane quickly and run between 45-50mph

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

bondo, i was thinking about the marginal motor at best! and am wondering if there is a different block i can replace it with if need be?<br />if it is indeed a ford block, can i get a car motor and swap all the parts over?<br />when i get it here i plan to pull the heads and take a look, if i dont see anything i will give it a good soaking with deep creep and try to work it loose. the mech at the marina has already isolated it to the motor, so the outdrive should be ok.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: motor locked up!

Bondo? Why do you think it that? From his description, I assumed a 3.0L GM block? Pretty standard for a 140hp, isn't it?

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: motor locked up!

If it a 140hp then its a 3.0l gm block if its a omc or merc unit, The 470 is a 3.7l at 165hp and they are in fact a very good motor just have to pay a little more attention to the cooling system and charging system. Anyway if the 140 is locked up a short block should be about 1100 to 1200 bucks, but the intake/exhaust manifold will need to be checked before it is transplanted to another motor, since its a good chance it is the cause of the failed motor.

 

[Bondo]

Re: motor locked up!

I'm sorry, When I saw

(he said he thought it is a ford motor)

I saw 470......<br /><br />If it's actually a 140hp, 3.0l, 181cid, Iron Duke... I believe that is a good thing....<br />The Aluminum Merc/Ford 470 was an experiment that Failed to catch on.... Even though it makes more power, I'd pass on a boat equiped with 1.....<br /><br />To answer your Swap Question.....<br />You can put ANY motor in ANY boat......<br />It depends on How Much You're Willing to Spend.....<br />That said, Some motors are easier than others... The V-block Chevies are the Easiest + Most common.... They can also be found in automotive app.s... The 4cyl. in-lines, the GM,+ the Merc/Ford are pretty much Boat motors Only..... The newer 2.5l GMs are very different....<br />If it IS a GM 3.0l, Ive got 2 of them under my bench... I'll give ya a Complete Motor for what Northern Eclipse says a Short Block is worth.....

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

thanks bondo, i'll keep that in mind. in the meantime i guess i'm going to tear into it when i get it here, i will know alot more about it then. i'll keep in touch, thanks again you all!

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

i got the boat home today, it says OMC 140 on the valve cover, its a 4 cyl and the boat is a 79 model. i pumped about 1 1/2 gallons of watery oil from the crank case today, and i removed the spark plugs. i found one of the spark plugs had rust all the way down the threads to the electrode of the plug, it looks to me like the water was pooling on the outside of the plug and seeping into the cylinder. anyways i was kinda wondering if this is a good model of a motor to have? the outdrive has OMC on it also. sorry guys but i dont know a thing about inboards, but i do have a service manual with it!

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: motor locked up!

Hey Bondo, I'm in NJ and need a 3.0, just put a connecting rod through the block on mine. What shape are yours in? I'd be willing to meet you somewhere in NY and pay cash. <br /><br />Let me know! Give me some details on the motor if you have the time and are interested in selling one. You can email me at huminski@optonline.net.<br /><br />Let me know!

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

huminski i'm sorry to hear that your block is screwed but if you want to ask a question, start your own thread! dont come in and mess my thread up, its very rude.

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

ok, i pulled the head today! water & rust in the intake/exhaust manifold, a little surface rust in the cylinders but no pitting (should hone up good) its still locked solid, i filled the cylinders with kerosene, i guess the next step will have to be pulling the block out if i cant get the pistons free. if anyone has any thoughts on it, please feel free to say something. thanks!

 

[bubbakat]

Re: motor locked up!

get you some marvel mystery oil and put in the cyl and leave for a couple days that stuff will free up about anything

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

thanks bubbakat, i'll try it out.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: motor locked up!

Catfish, mess your thread up? Give me a break. I asked a simple question in response to another post in this thread. Shoot me.

 

[catfish1]

Re: motor locked up!

huminski, if you ask questions on my thread it can easily turn into a thread all about your problem and not mine. the question you asked was about you needing a block, bondo may reply and others that would sell you a block also. its just better to stay on topic and not to start other topics on other peoples threads. just letting you know that! i wont shoot you for it, but somebody else may.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: motor locked up!

My apologies catfish. I had posted another thread as well. I saw the post from bondo and since there was no option to email or private message him, I just replied to it where he posted it. Don't mean to steal the spotlight so to speak.

 

[Norm Malcosky]

Re: motor locked up!

Hey Catfish1,<br /><br />Before pulling the engine, try to break the pistons (engine) free by one of two methods:<br /><br />1. Put a socket & breaker-bar on the front harmonic balancer bolt and see if you can pull it over manually. (i.e. no starter) Just don’t break the bolt off by too much torque.<br /><br />2. Remove the starter and using a crowbar between the bell housing and the teeth of the flywheel, apply some force. Again don’t break any teeth off the flywheel – or you will be replacing it as well. <br /><br />Once you have it broken free, I would hone each cylinder to remove any rust (etching) of the cylinder walls before reinstalling the head. You may also want to recondition the head by getting a valve job before reinstalling it.<br /><br />Sounds like the water got into the engine after “layup” last year which may mean either bad exhaust manifold, bad exhaust riser, or bad “layup” procedures (if they were used at all).<br /><br />Oh well, you have a long winter to play and fix your new toy. <br /><br />erie_guy