OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

[Carsten]

Just bought an Sunbird with an OMC 4.3L Cobra engine - I know that the boat has not been used last season.
I am trying to start the engine but the starter could not turn the engine at all: ( just big sparks at the + battery terminal. By pulling the belts back and forth I got the engine a litlle looser but still not enough to get the starter going. What should I do next? - take the plugs out and put some oil in the cylinders? and try turn turn the engine without the plugs should be easier without compression right?

Your advice is apreciated - Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

take the plugs out and put some oil in the cylinders? and try turn turn the engine without the plugs should be easier without compression right?

Ayuh,.............

That sounds like an Excellent Plan...........

If it Doesn't free up,.......
Pull the Outdrive to make Sure that It's not the Problem......

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

Just bought an Sunbird with an OMC 4.3L Cobra engine - I know that the boat has not been used last season.
I am trying to start the engine but the starter could not turn the engine at all: ( just big sparks at the + battery terminal.

We had the same problem with the exact same setup (even same brand boat) for the last couple seasons. Swapped batteries, messed with some cables - did the basics more or less. Nothing really helped.

Bought a <$90 starter off ebay and it has turned over quick and started smooth ever since.

Not having been run in a yr+, however - does present a whole other list of possibilities.

I would start with a good cleaning at both ends of both battery cables, and put a good strong crunch on the terminal bolts at the battery.

I hopped in my sisters boat one day ('94 4.3 in excellent cond.) which had already been run several times throughout the day. Turned the key and got nothing but a smell of burning electronics. I thought something had REALLY been damaged. The breaker on the engine had even tripped. Eventually, someone thought to grab a pair of pliers and put a good twist on the battery cable wing nuts. Problem fixed.
I couldn't believe that's all it was.

 

[Carsten]

Re: OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

Dear Forum,

I got a little further - removed the plugs sprayed in some oil - and the engine turns better now but the starter does not do the job yet = Can somebody explain what happens when the sparks are happening at the plus terminal and then you have to wait 5 or so miniutes before you can do another attempt. I have a brand new marine battery that's fully charged.

Bond-o the out drive does not seam to be the problem - could it be that I need a new starter- any further way to verify that.

Would it help if I removed the belts and let the starter get some "exercise"?

Thanks again for your advice

 

[Carsten]

Re: OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

I will clean the battery terminals/cables as much as possible - and thighting the nuts a s much as possible

Thanks

 

[Carsten]

Re: OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

I got much futher - by cleaning the big fat copper cable going to the plus terminal of the battery everything works! the starter pulls the engine with plugs great and fast!

However the engine will not start, I tried to put starting fluid in the caporator but no luck - there is no sign of any ignition - maybe I should start a new tread on this?

Thanks again!!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: OMC 4.3L Cobra (1989) -engine does not turn easily

I got much futher - by cleaning the big fat copper cable going to the plus terminal of the battery everything works! the starter pulls the engine with plugs great and fast!

However the engine will not start, I tried to put starting fluid in the caporator but no luck - there is no sign of any ignition - maybe I should start a new tread on this?

Thanks again!!

Yup!.....