1998 Volvo Penta 3.0 GS Brand new starter casting broken

[mattgonyea]

Short Story: I had the the starter replaced about a month ago. My boat wouldn't start, but something was turning. I looked at the starter and noticed it had broken off from the motor. What would cause this? How can I prevent this from happening again? Did this damage the motor, or should I just put another starter in?

Long Story: 3 months ago I bought a 1998 Four Winns Horizon QX, since then, I replaced the batteries, Ignition, Shift Cable & Control Parts, Starter, Thermostat, Impeller, Siphon Valve, Fuel Filter, Fuel line.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Good news it's the starter that broke and not the block.

Could be miss shinning or hydrolocking that caused it to break

 

[mattgonyea]

Is there anything I can do to prevent Hydrolocking or miss shinning so this doesn't happen again?

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you have hydrolocking is most likely because your riser gasket is no longer sealing. Is this a salt water boat?

If so, time to inspect the riser and manifold

 

[mattgonyea]

Thanks, I'll make sure to check that.

I've only owned it a few months, the previous owner only had it in fresh water according to him, I've only used it in fresh water. beyond that I don't know.

 

[Assassin3F]

Pull the spark plugs and inspect the inside of the cylinders with a small flash light. I would pull the plugs one at a time and then reinsert to avoid mis-re-installing the wires or you can label the wires appropriately so you can get everything back right and tight. I would do that check first before anything else. If the engine is hydro-locked you need to know that first. The exhaust elbow is one place to go to check for a water issue if it isn't hydro locked there are other possible causes although to be honest I can't think of another alternative that would cause the starter to fracture like that.

Mr. Danforth correct me if I am wrong...Mis-shinning is when the starter isn't aligned properly with the fly wheel...the starter flexes a bit when the motor engages and if the starter sprocket and the flywheel sprocket are running in different planes or at an angle to one another the starter can run right off the flywheel and 'stretch' the mounting bracket until it fractures.

Also from your picture this fracture looks like a brittle fracture not a ductile fracture. I am guessing your starter was housed in cast Iron and not steel...if not you might have grounds for a warranty claim if there is nothing wrong with the engine...steel would neck in a ductile (due to tension) fracture and the surface of the break would be at something between 30-50 degrees in a lab test break. Basically if there is nothing wrong with the engine/drive and you can turn the crankshaft with a wrench then it might be a manufacturers defect but I would check first.

 

[mattgonyea]

I received the boat back from the mechanic. The boat was not hydro-locked. They determined it was a defective starter and replaced it at no cost. I asked about damage and/or misalignment, they looked for damage to the flywheel while they had it apart and didn't see any issues or possible causes. Thanks for all the input!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Glad it's fixed.
​Sometimes if the timing is off it can do that.
Don't know why but the guy that showed me a lot said it's possible?????????