1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

RR_Maillet

Cadet
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
8
Hello everyone,<br /><br />I have a 1996 Merc 3.0 LX and the boat has been sitting for about Six years. I changed the oils and put some Mystery Oil in through the spark plug holes. Although i can not get it to turnover. I know that the engine has to be broken free, someone told me to look for a bolt at the front of the engine where the pully hooks up to the Crankshaft and turn that bolt. So I checked that out and there does not seem to be a bolt on that pully. So I do not know how to break the engine free. I know there is a way, I hope you guys can help me out. And anytips on what else i should do to the engine before I turn it over to prevent any Damage. Thanks guys for your help.
 

RR_Maillet

Cadet
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
8
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

When i try to start it i just get a clicking noise. I changed the battery and I have new plugs for it too, just need to get the engine broken free.
 

Westdevil

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
Messages
48
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

sounds like the starter/cylinoid bad on starter
 

qaztwo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
384
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

If its simply a starter or battery then your in luck, if that does not help then try squirting some mineral oil into the cylinder and let it sit for a day or so. then try the starter, if that does not work place a breaker bar on the front crank pulley bolt and try to spin it by hand. If that does not help you might have to pull the head or heads, i don't know if a 3.0 is a 4 or 6 cylinder and smack the pistons, I find the end of a wooden hammer handle works best. I just went through this, because one of my pistons had rusted to the cylinder wall.<br /><br />some crank pully's bolt onto the harmonic balancer. you have to remove the crank pulley which might be held on by several small bolts, along with your belts if they are still on. In the center of the balancer is the large nut.<br /><br />best of luck.
 

RR_Maillet

Cadet
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
8
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

I can hear the cylinoid click but the starter wont turn because the engine is stuck and needs to be turned to be broken free. How can i break the engine free is there a bolt at the front of the engine where the pull yis on the crankshaft that i can turn? in order to break it loose?
 

RR_Maillet

Cadet
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
8
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

Hey thanks alot qaztwo, but i got a question for yea do i have to pull the engine to get the pully off and get to the engine. It seems like ther eis not engough room to get at it.
 

qaztwo

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 26, 2004
Messages
384
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

If you can get to the bolts on the pulley then no, you shouldn't have to remove the engine. The balancer though slides on the crank shaft about an inch and uses a key to keep it from moving, butt since you do not need to remove the balancer you should be okay. If you can not get to the crank bolt, another option is to remove the starter and use the fly wheel teeth and a pry bar and rotated the engine. I would suggest that you find out which way the engine normally turns and rotate it the opposited direction.<br /><br />best of luck.
 

qaztwo

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 26, 2004
Messages
384
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

Hey RR just to give you an ideal of how strong a little rust can be. On my engine only one of the cylinders was rusted and only about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of it and a 2 foot breaker bar with a 3 foot pipe extension did not move the crank. Also in the first post I said mineral oil should of been mineral spirits
 

RR_Maillet

Cadet
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
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Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

Hey qaztwo,<br /><br />Yea i put some mystery oil in the heads and i have been checking out the pully to see which way im going to go at this, and my problem is that there seems to not be enough room between the engine mount bracket and the pully to get to the three bolt ( that hold on the pully, I think there is three bolts on this engine and then you get to the crank bolt) because I have been feeling in the center of the pully and there is a circular object set into the pully but it does not feel like the bolt so im thinking i have to take off the pully to get to the bolt. What do you think. <br /><br />I was also thinking of moving the engine through the flywheel, but what is the reason for moving it the opposite directions of what the engine normal goes???<br /><br />Thanks for all of your help.
 

qaztwo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
384
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

reason for turnimg engine backwards is because the the starter tried to turn it the correct way and had no luck if there is simply a ridge of corrosion built up on the cylinder wall, maybe all you have to do is back it off and try the starter again. Not saying its going to work, butt I like tring the easy and cheap thing first. If you can get two of the bolts off of the pulley you could then go down to your local home store and pick up some longer ones and thread them into the holes. Then using a pry bar and the newly install bolts try to turn the engine. A word of caution if you apply to much force to the bolts they will shear.<br /><br />I'm going to do a search and see if I can find a pic of your engine, and the crank pulley.
 

RR_Maillet

Cadet
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
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Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

Yea I tried all night at work searching for a picture of the engine and i couldnt find one, if you have any luck let me know. Because i dont even know what it looks like in the front of the pully. Like what bolt sizes it is and stuff. If i had to i was going to go down to a local Marine and have them look it up on there parts computer. i think that im going to try to get at the fly wheel tomm, take the starter off and nudge the wheel with a pry bar. I would like to do it from the crank but it seems too big of a task.
 

qaztwo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
384
Re: 1996 Merc 3.0LX Not Turning Over

I did a google search and found a so so picture of the front of your engine and it does look like the front engine mount is in your way. I'm not a big fan of supporting the engine by the oil pan but you could place some mixtures of 6x6's and 2x4's under the engine and remove the front mount. You might get lucky and the pan does not go all the way to the front of the engine, thats your call though. As far as the size of the bolt, I believe mine was 15/16. I've seen oil wrenches that have a belt that goes around the oil filter and back to a handle. It might be posible to use one of those around the pulley, and use it to turn your engine over. You could also make one yourself with a belt and a piece of wood or pipe. Anyway just some ideas.<br /><br />Best of luck
 
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