She won't turn over

[Lunker Lander]

Hi fella's, I have an older 19'6" Wellcraft bowrider with a Mercruiser 898 I/O and it is out of the water until the salmon are in. I periodically crank the motor just for a second to change the position of the pistons within the cylinders so they do not form rings on the walls. The last time I did that, the engine did not turn at all and there was a loud noise like when you try to start the motor when it's already running. Is my starter pooched or what? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

[ajarvis]

Re: She won't turn over

From the sound of it I would pull the plugs, mist the cylinders with oil and see if you can roll the engine over by hand. Hopefully the engine isn't locked up. The bendix didn't mesh right, I would pull the starter and check it out. If the teeth are damaged the flywheel is as well.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: She won't turn over

turn the crank manually thru 360 degrees .....if ok ...you pobably got a starter issue ....... make sure you have a FULLY charged battery .... if still a problem check for bad connections - the most likely starter problem !

still wont crank properly .... check that the starter bolts are tight

As you are only cranking and not starting you may have siezed the drive clutch ..... so hook up some water and try actually starting ....

still not working pull the starter and check the drive .... test the starter by putting in a vice ...... the drive pinion should pop forward AND then retract.

if all that works you starter is probably toast ...sorry

 

[Bondo]

Re: She won't turn over

Is my starter pooched or what?

Ayuh,... That would be My guess...

 

[Don S]

Re: She won't turn over

Have you checked to make sure the battery is fully charged and the terminals are all clean and tight?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: She won't turn over

Assuming you get the starter fixed, rolling the engine over like that is not a good idea. You aren't starting the engine and you aren't (unless your cranking for a minute or so) pumping any oil to the engine. By cranking the engine and not starting it you are squeasing the oil film from all the wear surfaces and basically grinding metal on metal.

As far as rings and cylinders, cycling them with no oil will do far more damage than leting them sit after being properly fogged for storage.

That's exactly what I was thinking, Bubba.

Properly winterized and fogged, what you are doing is useless, and possibly harmful.

 

[Lunker Lander]

Re: She won't turn over

Thanks for the input guys, I will head out there next weekend and give it a try. I will keep yall posted.