'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

[slag]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

T-Max, keep us informed how it goes. I have little doubt it will run for quite awhile and run well.

I'm an IT guy by trade but can read and learn with the best of them. Several years ago, my automatic transmission gave out on my ford explorer. I bought several ATSG manuals, read up on the internet, talked to a few mechanics, and every single one of them said I had no business trying to fix that transmission myself because it was just "too complex". That, to me, sounded like a bet.

I removed the transmission, disassembled it, bought new parts, spec'd it all out, mic'd everything, put it back together (it really isn't rocket science), and the vehicle is still running (strong) to this day.

So don't believe it when mechanics and other people "in the know" tell you you can't do something or that it wont work. This is their bread and butter and many of them think that if you don't do it for a living, you wont be able to do it. If you feel confident it will work and have inspected the parts, then go for it.

EDIT: The only thing I might have done differently is pulled piston #4 and replaced the rings on it and put a light hone on the entire cylinder to have a nice cross hatch pattern up and down the entire cylinder wall, however, you would have had to pull the engine for that and I know you didn't want to do that.

 

[T-Max]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

This is hillarious! I just wanted to post in this thread so I can follow up on it.

Yea, ain't it a hoot and a holler?

BTW, Dear Readers, what you see as the appearance of the top of the piston in my first two pics is due to the fact that there was still some ATF/gasoline mix on the top of the piston when I took those pics. I took them a few weeks ago and didn't see them until yesterday (long story) and I wasn't sure what the heck was goin' on there until it finally struck me last night.

 

[T-Max]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

...EDIT: The only thing I might have done differently is pulled piston #4 and replaced the rings on it and put a light hone on the entire cylinder to have a nice cross hatch pattern up and down the entire cylinder wall, however, you would have had to pull the engine for that and I know you didn't want to do that.

If this were an automobile engine and I could just drop the pan and pull the piston, I'd do just that. But to do that here is just too much of a PITA for me. The Three Amigos might well have already had lots of experience with pulling these engines and might well be all set up for it so that it's no big deal for them.

But that's not my situation and I'm just not willing to devote that kind of effort to it under all the circumstances. I just don't see that the extent of the problem justifies that effort -- for me.

As to these opinions that The Three Amigos have been throwing out here, they are just waaaaaaaaay over the top, IMHO.

I mean, gimme a break, will ya? "Junk"???????????

Oy!!!!!

I don't see it as being so much about being a "pro" or not, as it being pretty much a pissing match for the newbie on the forum. I'm not being duly deferential.

If these guys had just offered their opinions in any kind of a reasonably respectful manner, we wouldn't be here. Something along the lines of your approach, as quoted above, would have been entirely appropriate. But, obviously, that ain't their style.

I mean, what the hell do I know? Look at the number of my posts compared to theirs.

What else do you have to know to know who's right and who's wrong?

 

[T-Max]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

...I don't see it as being so much about being a "pro" or not, as it being pretty much a pissing match for the newbie on the forum. I'm not being duly deferential...

One other thing to consider, to be fair, is that these Gentlemen are (presumably) experienced boaters, which I am not. I haven't even yet been out on da freakin' water.

So having your engine fail and strand you somewhere out on the local highway is one thing.

Having it fail when you're 20 miles out at sea has gotta be a whole 'nother thing.

I mean, it's not like you can walk to the nearby 7-11 and grab a cup of joe while you wait for your wife to come pick you up.

So a little more caution on the seafaring side of things is probably called for.

In my case, however, I don't plan on getting too far from shore for quite some time. By the time I do wader out yonder, the motor will have either failed or have proven itself reliable.

Either way, the matter will be resolved.

 

[45Auto]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

If anybody actually read all his drivel, please send me a synopsis!

Either way, the matter will be resolved.

We bow to your knowledge, great masterboater!

 

[T-Max]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

One other thing to consider, to be fair, is that these Gentlemen are (presumably) experienced boaters, which I am not. I haven't even yet been out on da freakin' water...

...We bow to your knowledge, great masterboater!

You should have played that card BEFORE I pointed out that I am not a master boater -- or any kind of boater.

Alas, you are once again a day late and a dollar short.

 

[Simoniz]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

This is hillarious! I just wanted to post in this thread so I can follow up on it.

Me too!

 

[T-Max]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

Me too!

Guten Tag mein Freund. Ich war in Berlin im Jahr 1968.

I got that from one of the translation sites -- my high school German is a tad rusty (just like my #4 cylinder -- except much worse).

Was in both East and West Berlin back then -- thru Checkpoint Charlie.

Actually, it might have been '67. Can't really be sure now.

Was ist los?

 

[Danny Mc]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

Face palm...this thread just made my head explode.

 

[badkins50]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

Any updates? It's been 20 days since the last time we heard from T-Max. Oh well he is either stuck 20 miles offshore with his cup of joe waiting on the wife or he is to busy having fun cruisen around.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

Thank God for Sea Tow!!! That's the best 149$ I have spent.
I have twins but still have it.J

 

[T-Max]

Re: 'Stuck' Mercruiser 170 will not turn

Any updates? It's been 20 days since the last time we heard from T-Max. Oh well he is either stuck 20 miles offshore with his cup of joe waiting on the wife or he is to busy having fun cruisen around.

Hi -

Thanks for asking. Nothing to update since I haven't done any more work on it yet. I don't know how much further I'll get on it this year but I will be reporting back and checking in from time to time. I'd like to get it back together before Old Man Winter gets here but that might not happen since other things have come my way.

Still, I'm glad that I got this far on it when I did. The boat's been sitting for a few years and the sooner you get into a problem like this, the better off you are. I think I caught my problem in time to avoid any serious damage, so it's just a matter of the labor and a few parts that are involved (looks like just a couple of lifters)