Need some guidance

[ibBoatingJimi]

I have a 1989 (I think) Chapparal 195 XLC with a Mercruiser 4.3 Litre V6 engine I/O

I was given this boat. Long story short...it's been out of the water for about 4 years...sitting in a driveway under a cover. My friend who owned it before, did have this thing running great...just needed some tinkering. He replaced the starter when he had it, and when he decided to stop messing with it, was when the exhaust manifold cracked. He claims it happened while it was stored in his driveway.

Fast forward to now. I replaced the manifold. No signs of cracks on the block, at least I can't see any. I extracted the oil out through the dip stick tube and at least 3 quarts of, what I believe to be, water came out before I noticed any oil come out. It didn't smell like gas.

I put fresh oil in, connected a new battery (fully charged) go to start it...nothing. Except all my gauges work, and accesories work. Trim, blower, etc also work. If gas gauge is correct, it shows 3/4 tank full...so I haven't drained the gas...however it doesn't even turn over. No clicks, no crank...its just does nothing as if the battery was dead. I don't want to have to take this to a mechanic just to be told my engine is crap...mainly due to the fact of getting my boat in and out of my steeeeeeep driveway is a pain. So if I take the boat out of my driveway, it's either to the water...or the mechanic on the way to the water.

I was hoping posting on here, I could get some feedback on things I can try that I haven't done yet...and if all else fails...I can't do said things...if bringing it to A mechanic would be worth it.

 

[Troublehead73]

I have never had a boat in this condition but water is very hard on bearings, seals etc. I would drain the oil a couple times before starting it to get any other residual gunk out of it. I have gone as far as putting a gallon of diesel fuel in the crankcase and pulling the coil wire so it wont try to start and turning it over a few times to flush out bad stuff...

As far as the starting there should be a red button on top of the motor, this is a circuit breaker and might need to be reset. simply push in the button if it clicks it was tripped. There may also be an inline fuse near the starter if the reset doesn't work. If not try the old tapping of the solenoid

BAD GAS is called bad gas for a reason... Save the headaches and drain the tank and change all the filters before you try and start it or use an outboard boat tank for testing purposes.

Just my thoughts

 

[ImperialV184]

Maybe turn the ignition and have someone with a volt meter at the starter to see if power is going to it. Gas turns to varnish if you leave it sit. Running that through the engine could foul the carb and force a rebuild. I drained mine and used it in a cheep lawnmower to get rid of it...............probably not the best idea.

 

[ibBoatingJimi]

I have never had a boat in this condition but water is very hard on bearings, seals etc. I would drain the oil a couple times before starting it to get any other residual gunk out of it. I have gone as far as putting a gallon of diesel fuel in the crankcase and pulling the coil wire so it wont try to start and turning it over a few times to flush out bad stuff...

As far as the starting there should be a red button on top of the motor, this is a circuit breaker and might need to be reset. simply push in the button if it clicks it was tripped. There may also be an inline fuse near the starter if the reset doesn't work. If not try the old tapping of the solenoid

BAD GAS is called bad gas for a reason... Save the headaches and drain the tank and change all the filters before you try and start it or use an outboard boat tank for testing purposes.

Just my thoughts

The diesel method, excuse my ignorance, but when you say turn it over...you mean manually? Which I have tried to do and it won't budge. Either I'm not using enough torque as I am only using a ratchet, or its completely seized up. Which leads me to another question...if starter is indeed good, and it's getting power. Would a seized motor act as if a battery isn't connected? I turn the ignition and get nothing

 

[fhhuber]

Its hard to turn anything bigger than a VW engine by hand... especially if the plugs are in.

Pull plugs.

get some foaming spray oil (fogging oil) and spray a bit in each cylinder.

Let it sit a few hours.

Then try to turn it over.

Don't give up yet if that doesn't work. Its just a first try.

 

[thumpar]

You will still get voltage on the gauge with a bad starter. You need to get a meter and start checking for voltage. Even if the motor was locked the starter would clunk if it was good and got voltage. Keep in mind if you find that it won't turn over the drive could be locked and not the motor.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Also disconnect your connections from battery to motor, especially the ground, and wire brush them bright shiney clean.

Get rid of every drop of 4 year old fuel - and instead of spending to put more in the tank, just run a line from the fuel pump directly into a small gas can. That skips all the stuff that gets crudded up.

DO NOT EVER try and and turn a motor by the harmonic balancer bolt. You will break it or strip it out and then the crank has a bigger problem.

Lots of Marvell Mystery Oil, or Dextron II, or fogging oil in the cylinders. Likefhhuber said.

It's actually really easy to pull a motor out of a boat. 1.4 the work of a car or truck. Just have to have something tall enough to grab it.

Rick

 

[Troublehead73]

The diesel method, excuse my ignorance, but when you say turn it over...you mean manually? Which I have tried to do and it won't budge. Either I'm not using enough torque as I am only using a ratchet, or its completely seized up. Which leads me to another question...if starter is indeed good, and it's getting power. Would a seized motor act as if a battery isn't connected? I turn the ignition and get nothing

Sorry for the late response. Using the diesel to clean the motor from the inside out, it will help to fold out any water that might be trapped in the bearings. Sadly you have to get it to turn over with the starter first... I was eluding to the "next step" I would take if I found water in the block