How to Change a Starter ???

[kimchee]

Okay... First off let me begin by saying that until you actually experience certain things related to boat repair, you simply DON'T KNOW !! I mean, not even a manual can teach you to get a 5 foot metal pipe, and use it to get leverage on a socket wrench to remove spark plugs .... go figure??? (the plugs were rusted...)<br /><br />Anyways... Now for my next obstacle....<br />THE STARTER....<br />I actually would rather let the marina mechanics do it... But when I starter talking to them... They started saying things like...<br />"It is definitely starter related, and MOST LIKELY it is the starter... BUT !!!! It could be the flywheel... " WHICH MEANT I WAS AT THEIR MERCY !!! Yikes !!! <br /><br />SO !!! I would like to do this one on my own + any help you guys/gals can give me...<br /><br />It seems easy enough, just 2 screws, and I am home??? right? Yeah right !!!<br /><br />The marina mechanics say $200 (part) + $100 (labor). Flywheel (we have to talk... yikes !)<br /><br />Is this a easy, moderate, or hard task ???<br />I was told removing it, is moderately difficult..<br />But installing a new one is another ballgame...<br /><br />Can you guys help me please???<br />I have a 1996 5.7L mercruiser V8 I/O <br />The starter is located on the starboard side under the engine towards the back of the boat...<br />Looks hard to reach, but I am skinny so, with a long socket extender, and some elbow grease, I should be able to get to it... <br />But the long screw and bolts look pretty RUSTED...<br />Any guidance on how to combat the rust would also be a tremendous help !!!!<br /><br />THANKS SO MUCH...<br /><br />----------------------------<br />To the comment about dumb people....<br />"You must see me walking around alot !!! he he he"

 

[prockvoan]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

For a DIY,I give it a 2 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 the hardest.<br />First off,spray the bolts with some WD-40 or something like that.Let it sit for a day,spray it a few times.<br />Biggest problem is getting to it.Sockets or box in wenches is a must.If you can get a hammer to the back of the bolts even better.A LIGHT tap to them will help break down the rust bond.<br />A new starter should be around $150.00,give or take $10.

 

[steve n carol]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Try this out, I think I referenced it correctly...sl<br /><br /> www.iboats.com

 

[sea wolf]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

WD-40 is ok, but I use PB Blaster. The stuff is amazing. Use a 1/2" drive breaker bar if u need to.

 

[trebor0301]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

I just replaced mine.If you can take the starter out then I suggest before you buy a new one have the old one bench tested.Take it to any decent parts store and they will check it for free.Could save you some cash.Sometimes a bad ground or loose wire is all that is wrong.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

all depends on access. I have several that require engine removal for access and did a 4.3 v6 today in ten minutes. was easy money today. I am with saewolf, PB blaster is good stuff.

 

[kimchee]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Steve, I like that wife in the short skirt idea...<br />Still trying to get that image out of my mind...<br /><br />Anyways... Thanks everyone for your guidance...<br />I took a good look at the starter today, and it seems that the anchor screws for the starter are very long... thus making the socket difficult to use... Second, as I stick my upper torso into the bilge area to get into a beeter position, I can see 2 small screw holding the starter cap in place (I don't suppose these screws can help, can they??) It would be too easy...<br />But I digress... I believe, 1 of the 2 screws you all are referring to I can see, and easily access... The other however, I cannot... But I assume it is on the opposite side as the one I see... If this is the case, then I will have to work on the second screw on FEEL ALONE. Is that how you all do it, or maybe mirrors, or maybe I am assuming incorrectly, or I have the wrong screw... Please help with this....

 

[kimchee]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Does the PB in "PB Blaster" stand for anything?

 

[kimchee]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Is there anyway to find out if it is a flywheel problem vs. a starter problem without removing the starter???<br /><br />I understand that when there is a starter issue... 95% of the time it is a problem with the actual starter, and NOT the flywheel... Can you guys confirm this ???

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

No. Remove the starter and inspect the gears & pray that it is a starter problem....Yes usually a starter problem.... As far as pb blaster....it should be pdb blaster....I.E. Please Don't Break...... ....JK

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

$100.00 labor ? I've changed many starters that I would rather give someone that much to do it for me,but I'm the mechanic,so it's not an option.<br /><br />And YES it does let you know how badly you've damaged your shoulders and elbows etc. over the years.If only that $100.00 was pure profit.<br /><br />DHP

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

hahahah I am with DHP. many jobs I would gladly pay someone else to do. then the reality sets in that I am supposed to figgure out how to servbice something that was never designed for service. you would not believe how much we have to do by feel. last week I had to lay in the fish box hole and burn off the brackets and nuts holding the front braces on a jackshafted volvo. told my fire watch that in case of fire put me out first. have burned off the studs on many OMC cobras with ford engines with a mirror and the oxy rig. but about the worst yet was 2 years ago I had to pull the motor, volvo 5.7, to replace the seawater pump. no access due to hull design. I could touch it with two fingers but that was it. and my sleeve length is 33 inches . did an oil filter on a donzi some years back that requied the engine to be lifted about 4" to remove the oil filter. filter was so old it finally rusted through. had a remote setup when I was done.<br /> but I have learned to love the new delco reduction gear permmanant mag starters. about 1/3 the weight of the old ones with field coils. if yours is not equipped with it now would be a good time to change.

 

[trebor0301]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

It could be the seleniod.I dont know if many will agree but you could try to bypass the seleniod by taking a screwdriver and touching both bolts.if its a bad seleniod but a good starter you will here it crank over.

 

[Lou C]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

And one more thing--<br />DISCONNECT the battery before starting this job!<br />Because if you don't have a rubber insulator on the pos connection on the solenoid, and the wrench hits a ground while you are trying to remove it, you will make a nice big spark in the bilge, which is always a bad idea with an inboard!Besides the fire danger you can get burns from shorting to a ground!<br />My neighbor, who is a rather impulsive shade tree type of guy, got 2 degree burns on his wrist from a watchband when it shorted a pos batt connection to a ground. Remember most batts in boats can deliver 500-600 amps, even tho it is only 12V so be careful.<br />I would check the batt cables and replace them if there is any green corrosion on them. And make sure you put a rubber insulator on the solenoid end of the pos cable. That way if you are changing spark plugs one day, and the ratchet happens to touch the solenoid you won't complete the dead short to ground! I put in a dual batt system last year, replaced all cables and cleaned all the grounds, no starter problems since then. <br />That's why it is nice to have a batt switch, always turn it off before doing any electrical work.<br />I second the PB recommendation, spray it on the day before and let work in.<br /><br />And Rod yeah I know what you are saying about impossible to work on stuff. I try to get stuff that is not hard to work on if I can. So I drive a Jeep with the ancient AMC designed 4.0 six it is a mechanics dream, everything is easy to get at. My 4.3 Cobra is not too bad, the only tight stuff is the ps cooler on the back and the ps stuff back there. OMC used some good coated manifold studs they came right off and were not rusted at all. Why they don't all use a stud and a nut so you can get penetrating oil on em I will never know! (1 bolt is cheaper than a stud and nut, of course!)<br />I just hope I can still get parts for this old tub in a few years. May have to do the Volvo conversion then.

 

[kimchee]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

WOW !!! Thanks GUYS !!! I will let you know how it turns out !!!

 

[kimchee]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Okay... Here it is, step-by-step...<br /><br />1- Pump all the water out of the bilge, because if you drop the starter into the water, then it will be as good as garbage...<br />2- Switch off all power... **Very good advice**<br />3- Locate the 2 screws which hold the starter in place... For me, it was 2 upside-down screws (1 which I could see, the other, had to be felt...<br />4- Using the correct size socket wrench, hold it in place... Using a nice long metal pipe (3'-4') with a 1" diameter, hold it up against the wrench. Then, with a hammer in the right hand, start slamming on the pipe towards the back of the boat. This is the only way I know how to dis-lodge tight screws. (hardest part)<br />5- Repeat for the other screw... (2nd hardest part).<br />6- That's it... The starter should literally fall-off... Now, you just have to make some notes, of which wires are attached where on the solenoid, which sits on top of the starter. Then disconnect, and fully remove the starter...<br />7- I simply brought the starter to the marine shop, and was told they only had new ones in stock... It turned out to be a: part number: 10095, which is suppose to be some kind of a "staggered starter." It cost me $124+tax.<br /><br />JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE AGAIN FOR HELPING ME THROUGH THIS !!!!!<br /><br />Hey, BTW, the PB blaster was good stuff.. But I think I would have been able to get it out without it, it was kinda' overkill...<br /><br />Oh yeah... One more thing for all the people using my steps... If you use a socket wrench... MAKE SURE IT IS IN NICE AND TIGHT, or else you may grind down the screw, in which case you may as well take out a 2nd mortgage to pay the repairing costs !!!!<br /><br />This was my most biggest project, and I saved $176. But the gratification you get from repairing your own boat is priceless...

 

[seahorse5]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

If you need a new Delco permanent magnet gear reduction starter, it is a bit more than $150!!!

 

[steve n carol]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Congradulations!!! welcome to the club!!!<br /><br />How was the flywheel?<br />did you turn the engine over and look at all of the Teeth?<br /><br />Any skinned knuckles? hahahaha....<br /><br />Yeah, these guys are GREAT!!!sl

 

[kimchee]

Re: How to Change a Starter ???

Turn the engine... to look at the flywheel ???<br />No-one told me about that... yikes...<br />However, the little part of the flywheel I was able to look at did seem like the entire flywheel was pretty rusty... I guess this is common for a 1996... But, I guess what matters is, is that it worked like a beauty after I changed the starter.<br /><br />Hey Steve, I still can't get that image of your wife in the mini-skirt out of my mind... The imagination is a powerful thing...