Long time lurker, first time poster. Folks here have helped me through several issues, thank you. I read a post that would've helped me out this morning, and I'll be switched if I can find it again, so I finally signed up.
I have a 1972 Starcraft SS 18 with a 120hp MerCruiser 120, love the boat and was dealt with great sadness yesterday. I had to be towed in.
Here's what happened, I towed the wife and kids around in a tube for about an hour, all went well. Dropped them off on a beach and went for a spin around the lake. On my way back to the beach, engine slowed and eventually died. When I turned the key, it clicked, as other have stated it was a clunk more than a click, so much so that it'd move the steering wheel. It would not turn over. After floating about, and occasionally clicking/clunking, the motor did turn over, started and I was off. I slowed as I got closer to the beach, it died and same series of events ensued.
Here's what I'll do this week:
1. Pull plugs check for water (oil was crystal clear, so no water in their).
2. Try to turn over w/o plugs
3. Pull starter and try to turn motor by hand
4. Perform compression test
4. Worse case, pull lower unit, see if it frees up
Few questions: How do I test the solenoid? Any way to repair gears if they are bound? If motor is bad, any installation suggestion for putting a 4.3L in place of the 120, specifically anybody build motor mounts for an aluminum hull?
Final note, the puzzling part of the starting process, to me, is the boat has to be in neutral, what the heck?
I have a 1972 Starcraft SS 18 with a 120hp MerCruiser 120, love the boat and was dealt with great sadness yesterday. I had to be towed in.
Here's what happened, I towed the wife and kids around in a tube for about an hour, all went well. Dropped them off on a beach and went for a spin around the lake. On my way back to the beach, engine slowed and eventually died. When I turned the key, it clicked, as other have stated it was a clunk more than a click, so much so that it'd move the steering wheel. It would not turn over. After floating about, and occasionally clicking/clunking, the motor did turn over, started and I was off. I slowed as I got closer to the beach, it died and same series of events ensued.
Here's what I'll do this week:
1. Pull plugs check for water (oil was crystal clear, so no water in their).
2. Try to turn over w/o plugs
3. Pull starter and try to turn motor by hand
4. Perform compression test
4. Worse case, pull lower unit, see if it frees up
Few questions: How do I test the solenoid? Any way to repair gears if they are bound? If motor is bad, any installation suggestion for putting a 4.3L in place of the 120, specifically anybody build motor mounts for an aluminum hull?
Final note, the puzzling part of the starting process, to me, is the boat has to be in neutral, what the heck?
