Volvo starters

[poppasmurff]

I have a '91 BAHA 270 XLE w/ dual 4.3GLS's. The starters on them are seized from moisture. Does anyone know how to get them out with out pulling the engines?

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Volvo starters

I assume you already tried giving these guys the ol' taparoo?

A lot of times when starters seize, you can tap on them with a wrench or a hammer and they'll free up.

Just a thought...

 

[JustJason]

Re: Volvo starters

Unfortuneately thats a boat specific question and not an engine specific question, and you probably won't get a correct answer for it here.

If the engines have to come out, then they have to come out. The boat is in front of you, and not in front of us. You can see if you can pull the manifolds to give you more room, especially on the port engine.

I'd do a google search for midget marine mechanic with monkey arms in your area.

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

Well I ran completly outta "tap" juice, I used so much of it. As for being a spacific boat issue I thought it was a Volvo issue, the starter bolts go in from the bottom of the engine. Thanks for the input though.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo starters

ALL Chevy V6 and V8 engines have the starter in the same place, Volvo doesn't change that.
Boat specific means the boat builder built a boat with everything so tight you can't get to anything. Happens all the time.
I have had boats that have to have the engine pulled to replace the raw water pump impellers, and one had to have the engine pulled to replace the spark plugs. As Jason mentioned, were you able to remove the exhaust manifolds to access the starter?
PS:
Tapping on a starter is nothing more than a way to determine if you have a starter problem or not. Not a method of repair.

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

Ok well looks like I am gonna have to pull the starboard engine to gain access to both starters, upon examination I see that they were sitting under water for a time and now have rust stains on them. I am going to build a hoist on my aft deck to mount a chain-fall on. attached is some pics of this nightmare.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Volvo starters

Method of repair, probably not. Method of actually getting a starter to start....sometimes!

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

Method of repair, probably not. Method of actually getting a starter to start....sometimes!

LOL as a measure of desperation in most cases!!!

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

One starter down.....one to go......Ok well, contacted previous owner and found out that he had both engines and out drives replaced 5 years ago at a local marina. The previous engines were four cylinders, and now are a pair of 4.3 GS engines. Now I know that this is not a design flaw on the manufacturer's part but the previous owners part. The boat originally came from a salt water environment and that was the reason for the engine and out drive swap. I guess only 40 hrs in a fresh water environment after 14 years in saltwater isn't enough to rinse her out good enough. Now I am going through the boat seeking out all the salt water damage. So far I have the holding tank out as it has rotted out, replacing all the bilge pumps, water pumps, and disassembled the toilet system, all the water facets and drains. LoL feels like I have miles of hoses to replace, along with still one more starter to figure out how to get to. Thanks for all your input.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Volvo starters

You really have a project on your hands. 'nutcase

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

Here are some pictures of my in progress work for you all. Enjoy.

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

Some of the interior work....(never ending I guess....)

 

[Lou C]

Re: Volvo starters

Were you smoking a cigarette down there? LOL....that alu tank looks like it was laying in salt water...my boat is in salt water 6 months out of the year so I know what you mean...I still have the OE gas tank and had it out for a deck replacement 3 years ago...looked good then but who knows.....
This is why salt water people like outboards....I doubt I would ever get another I/O in a salt water setting....at least on mine I can get at the starter...oil filter....plugs...etc....

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

LOL as a matter of fact I was smoking......lol it was my smoke break......an being to hard to crawl out I had my assistant pass me my smoke instead. As for that tank.....thats my grey water holding tank. What a mess to clean out the compartment that was in. EWW EWW EWW!!!! Thank goodness for wet/dry vacs.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Volvo starters

Pretty sure I would not be smoking down in an engine bay like that. No matter if the hatches have been open all day there could still be a gas leak that you do not know about.

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: Volvo starters

Ok all it's been some time and I wanna thank you for all your input....Replaced both starters....then...found out that the wiring connecter for the port engine has had about half the pins pulled from it and now are all mangled. No electrical to that engine. Any one with a suggestion for repair would be helpfull or is that just a rewire job? Starboard engine runs like a champ though. Hopefully next year she will be heading for her sea trials!! (again!!)

 

[JustJason]

Re: Volvo starters

If you brought it to a shop, they would have to replace the harness and cannon plug to keep it the way it was.
But if your diy'ing it. You can cut the cannon plugs off, strip back the wiring, and put it back together with male and female spade crimp connecters.