removing starter mercruiser 3.0

bigred55

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Jul 14, 2014
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I have a OW380726 3.0 mercruiser. I am trying to remove the starter. I have unhooked the battery, the large term with the wire coming from the battery, the small term with the yellow/red wire. I then loosened the bolt on the bottom, the one to the right when in the boat facing the motor. The one on the left up against the flywheel I got loose, but it seems like it isn't backing out for some reason. I've been 1/4 turning it for about 10 minutes straight and when I fell under there the bolt is still tight to the metal. Any help???
 

Bondo

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Ayuh,..... Keep turnin' it, it's a long winded bolt,....What size wrench ya usin',..?? 9/16", or 1/2",..?? The newest Merc starter bolts have an extended head, that takes a 1/2" wrench, leave more space for the wrench,....
 
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bigred55

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Ayuh,..... Keep turnin' it, it's a long winded bolt,....What size wrench ya usin',..?? 9/16", or 1/2",..?? The newest Merc starter bolts have an extended head, that takes a 1/2" wrench, leave more space for the wrench,....
Thanks for the reply. Yes I'm using a 1/2 inch. Finally got someone to turn the wrench while I felt the bolt and it is stripped. What's the best method to remove it? Standard star socket or similar tool for stripped bolts or what? I tried to get a pair of vice grips under there and squeeze them shut. Near impossible
 

Bt Doctur

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There impossible to strip using a 6 point socket, But if you did, pulling the motor is the best option
 

bigred55

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I forgot to mention, it's the bolt you can't get a socket on up next to the flywheel. I've read somewhere you can remove the flywheel and access the bolt with a socket then? Is this true? How much of a pain are we talking? Thanks
 

Fun Times

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Be sure to physically support some of the weight of the starter so that the last bolt isn't doing all of the holding while you remove it.
 

bigred55

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Now I could use some refreshing on which wires go where on the starter solenoid now that I've got the new one in. Thanks
 

Bt Doctur

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the battery cable goes on the top lug along with the red wire(system power) and the orange wire(alt ) the small yellow W/ red stripe goes to the small lug closest to the block
 

bigred55

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I don't see a purple/yellow wire. Ivery hooked the yel/red wire to the small term closest to engine, and hooked the cable from the battery and the cable with the white box on it to the large bronze terminal. I now have a sky blue wire that I believe wasn't hooked to anything when I removed the starter but could be wrong. Here's a picture
 

alldodge

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I don't see a purple/yellow wire. Ivery hooked the yel/red wire to the small term closest to engine, and hooked the cable from the battery and the cable with the white box on it to the large bronze terminal. I now have a sky blue wire that I believe wasn't hooked to anything when I removed the starter but could be wrong. Here's a picture

Your pic didn't make the trip. You won't have a pur/yel wire, it would be used for an electric fuel pump

If the light blue wire is original it would go to the oil pressure sender to gauge
 
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