starter sounds like not lining up. Hear loud metal on metal sound for second

[volleybiggs]

When I start the motor I hear a loud metal on metal sound and nothing else. I tried twice and stopped. This is the first I have used since last summer. I used a cranking motor but have a large marine batter I will try tomorrow. I was reading online about car motors and they described how to use a breaker bar to turn the fly wheel. Has anyone tried that?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Is the motor turnin' over at all,..?? Pull the starter, 'n see what's up with it,.....

 

[Maxum88]

I had something similar...ended being a bolt was sheared off holding my starter to the motor. Bought the boat like that and starter seized the first time out. Had it rebuilt and motor pulled to drill it out. With only one bolt, no matter how tight you get the one, it isn't anything for the torque of the starter and will cause it to become misaligned with the flywheel. The shop said the misalignment was also causing the starter armature to not retract and stay engaged on the flywheel, causing a loud whine.

 

[Fishermark]

Yep - first thing you need to do is to ensure the motor CAN be turned over. Would suggest pulling the spark plugs and evaluating their condition. Then seeing if you can turn the motor over by hand. If so, then you can find out what's going on with the starter. If not... then more work is going to be needed!

 

[volleybiggs]

No Title

Just wondering how do you turn and engine by hand? Hooked up my big marine battery to it and had the same result. The battery cable and screw that holds the cable to the wire gets crazy hot after one crank. I read a little on line sounds like solenoid, This is a mercruiser 4.3 1995 from reading on line and my manual isnt there just two bolts on the bottom of the starter that holds it in place? Also I guess while I am asking questions I saw I am low on power steering fluid. What type of powering steering fluid is recommend for a boat?

 

[Bondo]

The battery cable and screw that holds the cable to the wire gets crazy hot after one crank.

Ayuh,.... So is the motor turnin' over, or are ya just gettin' one big Clunk, when ya turn the key,..??

Wires, 'n connections get Hot, when there's resistance from poor connections, 'n corrosion,....
Or,.... When excessive amp loads are applied,.....

If the motor won't turn over, it could be Either issue,....

If the motor won't turn over, Pull the drive off, it turns with the crank shaft,....
If it still won't turn over, Pull All the spark plugs,...
If it Still won't turn over, Pull the motor,....

Yes, the starter is held on by 2 bolts, straight up,... 9/16" socket,....

 

[volleybiggs]

yep you got it! it is a clunk. I have been trying to describe it but yea a clunk a LOUD clunk. I am going to give the starter a try first since it is easiest to do and I am guessing I can take it to Autozone to test it. I trailer it year round and had it winterized and it ran good up until October so I am hoping it is the starter. What are chances the engine would seize up from just sitting? I really hope that one bolt does not kill me I have read about a bolt being super close to the crank cover.

 

[Bondo]

What are chances the engine would seize up from just sitting? I really hope that one bolt does not kill me I have read about a bolt being super close to the crank cover.

Ayuh,..... You'll break that bolt on the crankshaft snout,...

Pull the drive, then the spark plugs, 1st,.....

It Sounds like the starter is Tryin, but the motor ain't turnin',....

 

[volleybiggs]

I will take your advice. And do spark plugs first . Not sure when they were replaced so good reason to do that. When you say pull the drive you mean the drive belt and then turn the crank shaft pulley I am guessing with the drive belt off I should be able to turn the crankshaft pulley. I am not infront of the boat now but I was looking on line and to turn the crankshaft you put the wrench on teh bolt that holds the pulley on and turn it to the right? thanks and sorry for all the questions..

 

[NHGuy]

No bud, pull the sterndrive. Then try it. If no love, pull the plugs, then try it. Watch the plug holes for water escaping when you crank the motor. If it ejects water from the plug holes when you spin over the motor come back and tell us.
Do not try to turn it with the crank bolt, if you break off the bolt it will be hell to pay. The clunk is your starter meeting resistance.

 

[volleybiggs]

Dang that sounds like that is out of my range of repair. I was thinking of pulling spark plugs seeing how they looked. unhooking belt and then seeing if I could turn the pulley that goes to crankshaft by hand. IF the engine is not seized would I be able to turn the pulley by hand. If I couldnt would you recommend sprying wd40, Diesel or something called miracle something in to spark plug holes letting sit and then seeing if I could trun by pulley by hand. I have done lots work on my cars so working on the inboard part of the boat does not worry me to much but I have never pulled a stern drive.

 

[81 Checkmate]

If you can work on a car then you can do as Bondo pointed out. Read up on how to pull the outdrive, no biggie and proly needs an inspection otherwise. Then do the steps Bondo said then report back.

Question - How did you winterize it?

 

[volleybiggs]

I have had the boat 4 years and I take it the same mechanic each year and he does the winterize work for me. The outdrive should be really good. 3 years ago I had someone steal it! and I got a new one. Never had to use my insurance on a car or boat but it was sweet to have it paid for. Can you tell me if I take the serpintine belt off should I be able to turn the pulley that goes to the crank shaft?

 

[Fishermark]

You can usually find a couple of bolt heads on the pulleys that you can put a screwdriver between to turn the engine. It actually helps to keep the belt on - that way you can use the various pulleys.

But if you cannot turn it over by hand, then it is important NOT to use your starter. Things start breaking that way.

As I mentioned earlier... the removal and condition of the spark plugs will tell you volumes.

 

[NHGuy]

Pull the spark plugs, hit the starter. Tell us what happens. If it still clunks put it in forward gear, unhook the trim rams, unbolt the 6 nuts, remove drive and hit the starter. Tell us what happens.
You risk breaking things by trying to manually turn the motor at this point.

 

[volleybiggs]

No Title

Hi thanks for all your advice. I pulled the back two spark plugs on both sides. Is there a trick for the front two or do you have to unhook the coolant hoses?
But I got 4 out and am including pics. The are not rusted look like most I have gotten when I changed cars. BUT when I did the back right one when you are in boat and looking back it is on the right and closes to the prop. Anyway ALOT of water came out of the spark plug out! What should I do now?

 

[Bondo]

This is a mercruiser 4.3 1995

Ayuh,..... My guess is the portside exhaust manifold is rusted out or busted,....

It depends on how long the water was in there, whether the motor may survive, or not,.....

Ya gotta move/ remove whatever's in yer way of gettin' at whatever yer workin' on,.....

That's Mechanicin',.....

 

[volleybiggs]

So I am guessing if I take off the coolant hoses and all the coolant come out it wont hurt anything. How do you think water would end up there? Does it sound like a cracked head or maybe just a gasket?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Isn`t the plug length a bit long for that motor?

 

[Fishermark]

....ALOT of water came out of the spark plug out! What should I do now?

That's why your starter would not turn the engine over - water does not compress.

There is a good post in the stickies at the top of the page regarding water in the oil. You can click on the DIY section at the top of the page... or click here for the post.

One of the first things you want to do is to get some oil in the cylinder where the water was and try to salvage the cylinder and rings, etc. Get the rest of the plugs out and put some oil in each cylinder and turn the engine over.