1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

[Big-E]

Hey guys, <br /><br />First id like to say im a long time reader 1st time poster. Now on to my hair pulling problem. <br /><br />Ive been rebuilding this little 17 foot bow rider for the last year and just rebuilt the motor myself. This is not the 1st motor ive rebuilt but this one is making me feel like. I am 99% sure i built the motor right (she spun over by hand on the motor stand just fine), when i say it wont spin over i mean crank. I just had the starter rebuilt and upgraded to a high torque motor. I have a brand new 600 ca battery in there. Right now all she is doing is clicking like a dead battery. I have the crown vic jumping it and same story. The odd thing is I hit the key before i hooked up spark and filled the tank with gas and it spun over just fine. But as soon as i giver her water/fuel, and spark she just clicks. <br />I know i need to adj the vavles stlil but i can't really do that when it wont turn over. It wont even spin over w the plugs removed. A half hour ago it spun over like a champ and now nothing. . This is very agrivating.. I want to go fishing.. <br />any ideas ??? <br /><br />BTW. I can't spin the motor over by hand due to the 3.0 L's having no crank bolt. Main pully is pressed onto crank. <br /><br />Motor info<br /><br />1988 Mercruiser 3.0 L <br />Bored .040 over<br />crank turned .010 under<br />everything on motor is rebuilt<br />serial # not on motor "i think that plate got boiled off by engine shop" <br />I followed all torque specs excat to manuel for motor. <br /><br />thanks in advance, <br /><br />Big-E

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

I would look at the electrical connections & wires for corrosiopn. On old wires somtimes they look O.K.,but there not. A starter takes alot of juice. That's where I would start.

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Thats just what i though also. I just cleaned up both cables and made sure i had a good clean ground. I even then added another new + piece of 2 gague along with added a 2nd ground. Still just a strong click. I know this motor is tight but its not that tight. Yet after i posted this it went and cranked good again for a few seconds then just click. <br /><br />BTW now i had plugs out of motor. <br /><br />thanks

 

[vipzach]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

What is clicking? Starter, or a solenoid? Have you checked voltage at the battery, at the starter, solenoid. After it quit cranking was anything really hot, starter, battery?

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Voltage is perfect accross everything. Its the starter thats clicking. The starter is accually bumping the motor a couple teeth "as in flywheel teeth" at a time. When it stops cranking the battery cables are very hot. The starter is warm but not terrribly hot. The top of the battery is a bit hot too. But i can't tell if thats from voltage or the florida heat. <br /><br />thanks,

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

I know you had the starter re-built but.......it should crank like a fiend with the plugs out. I suspect the starter itself.

 

[vipzach]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

I am no master mechanic, but I suspect the starter or maybe battery. Take both out and have them tested.

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

J. Kopec, thats what im stating to think. The machine shop states i now have 9.8:1 comp pistions and the starter shop stated i need a high torque starter. This rebuilt starter is pretty much doing what the old one did accually. And they told me it was all torn up inside and bascially just reused the shell. They also stated the old starter was a low torque unit. I'm starting to belive i didnt get high torque internals. I'll have to pay them a visit tomorrow. <br /><br />thanks,

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

I just got off the phone with the starter shop and they assured me they built me a high torque starter and its good. They advised before i bring it in to change out old battery cables and state i possibly may need to shim the starter away from the flywheel. DOes this sound right? When i 1st took the motor out and removed the old starter there were no starter shims. Since im now at work i will try these things tomorrow. Anyone else have any other ideas? <br /><br />thanks,

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Changing the wires would be something I would do, just to be sure there not the problem. Just because you test out at 12v doesn't mean that you are getting enough amps. As I said before, just because they look good doesn't mean they are. As far as the shimming issue, I have never had to shim a starter. It doesn't sound right to me. You might want to start another thread to get some diffrent input on that one.

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

i agree with you on shimming the starter dosnt sound right. I was just going to try it. Was on the phone with my dad a little while ago and he said his old 21 foot century with a 350 had a similar problem. He said it ended up being a corroded wiring that ran from slave solinoid to starter solinoid. <br /><br />I'm pretty sure i just have a wiring issue on my hands. Those old power wires sure do get very hot after trying to start it after only 20 seconds or so. <br /><br />thanks,

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Good luck-Let the forum know how you made out...J

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Those old power wires sure do get very hot after trying to start it after only 20 seconds or so. <br />

Ayuh,.......... I Think you'll be Happy with the Results............

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

[/quote]Ayuh,.......... I Think you'll be Happy with the Results............ [/QB][/quote]<br /><br />I can assume you think i have bad battery cables? <br /><br />I hope i am happy with the results ( i just want it to run) <br /><br />thanks,

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

I'll Bet that there's Green, Corrosion,... inside those cables,.... The way You describe the issue.......

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Update***<br /><br />I changed out the battery terminals and upgraded them from 4 gauge to 2 gauge. Hooked it all up and still nothing. Then i took starter out of boat and bench tested with battery. Just clicked. Brought starter back to starter shop and they pulled apart starter and found the solinoid (sp?) had some arcing inside. They replaced the solinoid (no charge) and told me to make sure i had a good ground on the block , He stated this because he says the arcing was from low voltage to the starter and it was most likely a ground issue. He had put a nice paint job on the remained starter so he took a wire wheel to the mounting points and make it nice and shiney. He advised i do the same to the mounting point on the block. He also advised to run an extra ground to one of the starter bolts to make sure. I had the battery checked out one more time and advanced auto states its good to go. Since it was raining most of the day today i will have to wait till tomorrow to give her a go. <br /><br />I'm keeping my fingers crossed but this may just be it. <br /><br />Thanks for the help guys , I will keep you all posted. <br /><br />Big-E

 

[jdizzil4shizzil]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

im having the exact same problem with my exact same engine... what ended up being the problem... i have cleaned all wires and brand new starter... same problem still exists... that click might send me to my grave... please help

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1989 Mercuiser will not crank (help)

Click on the link, and follow. <br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=011012