Boat won’t start.

[Summersnow]

I have a 1999 sea ray 190 with a 4.3 mercruiser. Just bought it and the guy said the flywheel came loose and they replaced it and the starter last year. Took it to the lake and it started up 4 times just fine. The last time we tried it somewhat tried and then a loud clunk sound. My friend thought it was the starter. I get it home, check the battery voltage (1 was at 12.37 and 1 was at 12.80). Then I tried replacing the starter. Same problem. When we replaced the starter, you could see metal grinder up just below the starter on the flywheel housing and the side of the flywheel was recently grinded up.

 

[alldodge]

How did the starter bolt holes look along with matting surface? Wondering if there is something that is causing the starter to not fit correctly

 

[Summersnow]

I didn’t look at that.

 

[Summersnow]

I didn’t look at that.

 

[alldodge]

Hopeful it won't do it again, might have been just the starter

 

[tpenfield]

Process of elimination . . .

what did the starter bendix gear look like on the starter that you removed?

You might want to see about getting a borescope/inspection camera so you can look into the flywheel housing to see if there are any metal pieces further in there (loose bolt that fell out, etc.)

Does the engine spin freely by hand?

 

[Summersnow]

The engine did spin freely.

 

[Summersnow]

The starter gears looked the same as the new starter. We even tested the starter that was on the boat before un-booking the connections. The gear came out and spun freely. But thought the starter wasn’t strong enough under load. I wonder if I would’ve heard the flexplate wobbling around when we were driving it

 

[alldodge]

It doesn't have a flexplate, its a flywheel, and its heavy. From your pic it doesn't look off, but if dolts are broke or loose that would cause issues with the coupler