Flywheel does not want to move

[puffer fish]

Created this new thread since I have a new issue...

(1989 evinrude 48 spl - Just redid carbs and changed spark plugs and put it back together)

Now the flywheel does not want to move when the starter hits it, which moved before i serviced engine.

flywheel barely budges when i try to turn it by hand ...and I believe this is supposed to be able to be hand turned? idk

Should I try to lightly strike it with a rubber mallet or get a rope on it and yank?

Advice and help is greatly appreciated!

 

[F_R]

No, your motor has died and gone to heck. It has been ingesting water into the cylinders. We knew that when you said it had rust on the plugs. Sorry for the death sentence.

 

[Johsnson Outboarder]

My guess is it’s gone.

 

[puffer fish]

OK so i forced it back and forth a hair at a time until it was moving about 25% of the rotation

I got the starter to spin it all the way around when cranking

Has not started yet but it will spin...Doesnt appear to be rotating at full speed intended yet

so.... Im going to try to work it free

NEW PROBLEM: now the starter teeth are getting stuck every start attempt

I will keep you posted and i appreciate any advice! Thanks guys!

 

[puffer fish]

Oh also i have a battery switch and cable 1 is not enough power....so also maybe a cable issue =0

 

[F_R]

You aren't listening.

 

[puffer fish]

Ok the boat is alive somehow

After a recharge of my battery, the 2nd run the flywheel starting spinning correctly after a few start attempts.

It farted out the first few starts and then fired up.

I ran to walmart and got a can of seafoam...poured about half the can into my gallon of fuel and just ran it about 10 minutes

My wiring is definitely in need of replacement the #1 positive wire is not working right but at least she is alive

--

cured the sticky starter issue by putting gun oil on the spring/shaft beneath the "teeth" of the starter

...

lower unit stuff is next maintenance and wiring lol

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Since you didnt listen and did in fact get it running again you have a few options.

Take it out and run it while staying within an area you can get help if it does quit for whatever reason.

Then after having run it to clear out whatever might be going on inside do a compression test.

Best case scenario is you have a bad head gasket and haven't done too much damage to the internals and get a few years more use out of it.

Worst case scenario is you take my advice and go off shore and the motor dies leaving you stranded on a desert isle with nothing but coconuts to eat, and your new best friend becomes a volleyball you name Wilson.

 

[JerEazy]

^ this.

but likely toasted. If it does run and it was a leaky head gasket and the water caused a rusty “lock” then yah you might be able to salvage it (for a while).

Do a a compression test ASAP.

 

[puffer fish]

Do a a compression test ASAP.

Roger that I will keep you guys updated.

I believe you guys are right and it was locking with rust and if I waited another week it would be dead.

I did run it again last night to burn off some more seafoam and to make sure it doesn't lock back up.

It actually sounds better than it ever has with the carb cleaning and correct plugs in.

Hope this puppy keeps kicking but I am mentally prepared for the worst, I am going to do some kind of short trial in the intracoastal and open it up all the way soon as well.

 

[F_R]

Intracoastal??? Yeah, I sort of knew you were running in salt water. If you have any hope at all of saving that motor, you must find and fix the water leak.

Nevertheless, I'm still telling you that motor has gone to h----.

 

[Tim Frank]

You can lead a horse to water....

If there was enough salt water getting into the innards that plugs are rusting, it is almost a sure bet that there is etching and worse in the crank and big-end bearings and journals....maybe even small ends also.
The motor is talking to you and you are not listening to it, either.
Running it in this condition is a bit like running a racehorse with a broken leg.
You are not going to win and you will just hasten the time when you have to shoot it.
Repair the leg and it may not win any more races, but may have a pretty good life anyway.

If you are OK with a low confidence level in your propulsion, carry on.
I you would prefer a more reliable runner you are going to have to strip the motor down further to assess internal condition.

In the end, however, it is your time and your $$$.

Just make sure your cell phone is charged and you carry oars or good paddles.

 

[puffer fish]

Lol thanks guys... for now I just go back and forth to the island everyone parties on and I have SeaTow.... I a definitely not making a run to the bahamas.... I will try to get a photo up of the spark plugs i described as orange rust... I feel like the guy who sold me this boat gave mightve just pulled them off 2 weedwackers because I feel they are way older than 2 years based on the outside appearance outside the combustion areas.

And i am listening... but what do you want me to do? throw the engine in the garbage? I am trying to keep this baby kicking =)

 

[JerEazy]

With any luck (short term) replacing the head gasket will stop the water leak. Damage has been done, but you may have extended the life a bit.

And I do understand what you are saying. New motors aren’t in budgets for everyone. So sometimes you make the best of what you’ve got until you don’t have it anymore.

 

[Tim Frank]

Lol thanks guys... for now I just go back and forth to the island everyone parties on and I have SeaTow.... I a definitely not making a run to the bahamas.... I will try to get a photo up of the spark plugs i described as orange rust... I feel like the guy who sold me this boat gave mightve just pulled them off 2 weedwackers because I feel they are way older than 2 years based on the outside appearance outside the combustion areas.

And i am listening... but what do you want me to do? throw the engine in the garbage? I am trying to keep this baby kicking =)

The Cliff's Notes version is that a lot of guys with way more knowledge than I, are suggesting that the motor is on life support. You are cutting a lot of corners and IMO should not have tried further running without greater disassembly and assessment. It is almost certainly more damaged now than when you started.

I you would prefer a more reliable runner you are going to have to strip the motor down further to assess internal condition.
]In the end, however, it is your time and your $$$.

You might get lucky. These are pretty robust motors and I have seen some badly mistreated ones defy the odds.
As long as you are aware of the risks....and you seem to be, good luck.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

With any luck (short term) replacing the head gasket will stop the water leak. Damage has been done, but you may have extended the life a bit.

And I do understand what you are saying. New motors aren’t in budgets for everyone. So sometimes you make the best of what you’ve got until you don’t have it anymore.

Not that it was in salt water, but......


I bought a poulan 655BP chainsaw that sat under a tree for quite some time before I found it. It was a nearly new saw but had been dropped breaking one casing half where the top handle mounts and it was cheaper to replace than to have it fixed.

Now this is a beast of a saw at 115cc so I took a chance and gave the guy a few pennies for it and took it home knowing it was full of water.

Full of water...Full for months. And not a boat motor, this is a severely high strung engine capable of turning 13K RPM.

Took it home and drained it and left it to dry in the hot garage for a week. I doused the internals with fuel at 32:1, filled the tank and fired it up, surprisingly it ran really well after a couple minutes.

So now, much like the OP I have a motor with a sketchy past. When I need it I use it and this costs me nearly nothing.

Should I have rebuilt it? Sure, but to have it rebuilt would have cost me $500-600 for a saw that will at that point last me 50yrs the way I use it.

And if it blows up?

What am I out.

If it were me I would fix whatever is letting water in, and run it while looking for a backup motor.

 

[puffer fish]

Thanks everyone for your input!!!

I appreciate it

I will look into the cost of replacing this seal/gasket for sure

 

[puffer fish]

Compression was 90 on the top 89 on bottom =)

 

[flyingscott]

Compression was 90 on the top 89 on bottom =)

That is not good!

 

[oldboat1]

Check testing procedure -- both plugs out, screw-in type tester. Crank until the needle stops moving, and record result. If you get the same numbers as before, see if you can borrow another tester and try again. Then replace the head gasket after resurfacing mating surfaces (wet/dry sandpaper and a flat surface). Retest compression.

Note that the head gasket is probably around $30, and replacing it risks broken bolts. Use care. If compression readings are better after tweaking test process or with a different gauge, that might be a place to stop.