Boat Will Not Start

[russf]

I have a 1987 Wellcraft ELITE 220 with a 260hp (350) V-8 I/O engine. <br /><br />It acts like it has a dead battery, although battery is fully charged. Occasionally it will turn over, but most of the time the starter just clicks 1 time, engine turns slightly and "sounds" like it has a dead battery.<br /><br />Any ideas on the problem? The solenoid on top the engine has already been replaced

 

[magster65]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Try turning it over by hand, if you can it's a starter or grounding problem. If you can't... that's not good.

 

[russf]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Thanks for replying. Another question though, How do you turn a engine over by hand.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

on your last question - not sure, but i would think a 1/2" breaker bar with socket on the harmonic balancer would do it. that's just to see whether the engine is locked up.<br /><br />now for the cranking prob: <br />-how do you know the battery is good? is it new, has it been load-tested?<br />-did you try adding another battery into the situation, via jumpercables? red to red, blk to blk= twice the 'power'... <br />-have you removed,cleaned,wirebrushed the cable ends on the battery?<br />-make sure battery cable to engine is not loose on the block<br />-has the engine timing been changed lately?<br />-are you using the same battery that was cranking it before? or is this battery the same size (in CCA) as the original?<br /><br />if you have done all that, and the thing still acts like its not strong enough to crank the engine, then you'd probably want to think hard on whether the starter needs repair. worn bushings will do this<br /><br />just my 2cents

 

[russf]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Initially I bought a new battery and that still did not start the engine. then I had the "old" battery tested. And it tested OK. <br /><br />But if the starter is No Good, would it still sometimes start the engine. Seems like if I let the boat sit for a while (like and hour or so) it starts. But as soon as you shut it off it will not start again unless you let it sit again.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

that is a typical starter problem with worn bushings... heat expands... but also, i wouldn't rule out bad cables yet. or a loose starter mounting. ck starter to see if its tight to engine -quick check. then make sure the battery cables aren't corroded. if they have been cut, with aftermarket boltons, and not factory molded/brazed/crimped ends then look for corrosion inside cut wire. <br />good luck<br /><br />PS. since i don't know how hard it is to get your starter off - if you really want a final starter isolation technique, you could take it to someone who has a good test station, and can put an inductive pickup on the starter cable to see if its pulling way more current than it should be.

 

[bolo789]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

change your starter, had the same problem the other day. good luck

 

[russf]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

I was told (and it looks to me) that the entire motor must come out in order to get to the starter. This is on a 1987 WellCraft Elite 220, 260 HP (350 v-8)<br /><br />Does this sound right? And if so sounds like a lotta money? ($1000.00 - $1200.00 just to take motor out and put back in)

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

jeez you're in bad need of a mech to comment here. <br /><br />for $1000 i might be using a sawzall to cut a hole thru the hull to get access, and spending the time to patch it back <br /><br />just kiddin <br /><br />but don't feel like the lone ranger, since most people here always say "a boat is just a hole in the water to throw money into"

 

[DJ]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Are you sure your cylinders aren't full of water?

 

[russf]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

How would I know if the cylinders are full of water. And if so, what causes it.

 

[DJ]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Russ,<br /><br />Pull some spark plugs and then turn it over.<br /><br />If your exhaust elbows or manifolds are leaking, water can find its way into the cylinders, causing hydraulic lock.

 

[flashback]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

djohns19, would the two end cylinders toward the stern be most likely to have water in them or is it mostly just by chance?

 

[DJ]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Not necessarily. I would pull them all.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Russf<br />If it is water in cylinder then almost always the lowest cylinders or back ones.<br /><br />If your timing is too far advanced it will do the same thing. Try pulling coil wire out of distributer and short to ground and see if motor turns over normal. Of-course will not start with wire out but should turn over normal.<br /><br />Also make sure shifter in neutral try moving around and see if it turns over.<br /><br />Connect a remote start switch to you solenoid and see what happends or if you know what you are doing short solenoid with a screwdriver and see if it starts. Check for gas fumes first.

 

[4 Reel Pleasure]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Had the same problem last year motor wouldn't start. <br />Found out that a screw in the distributer had sheard off <br />on the points and I would never have gotten it started.<br />Just a thought. I certainly never knew to think of that.

 

[Juancho]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Change out the starter. Heat always aggrevates a stater problem

 

[boatingfool]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

I cant believe you have to pull the motor just to get to the starter??<br /><br />I have never heard of such a thing,<br />Then again I have'nt heard everything.

 

[DJP]

Re: Boat Will Not Start

Russf, relax, you are being overwhelmed by information, some accurate, some not, take a breather. E-mail or IM me for further assistance if you have not already resolved the problem. Oh and by the way, red to red and black to black will give you twice the amperage not twice the power, better for trolling rather than starting.