I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

OK another update and another question

I let the boat air out all day today and also handcranked the engine with a socket on the pulley this morning and just now. It still will crank by hand even with all the plugs in, it is not easy but not super hard either and tomorrow my friends, wifes brother is coming to replace the starter with me.

Here is my question and my mounting anxiety about this but perhaps it is normal.

When i hand crank it parts of the time it moves pretty easy and other times it is a good amount of work to get it to move, so much so that when i release the pressure on the socket the pulleys will come back a little bit, i also notice that during the hardest part of turning it by hand you can hear like a hissing noise almost like an air leak sound

What is this and is it normal when you are cranking it by hand. I hope i am not doing more damage I was advised here to try and keep it moving while i wait to get it looked at to prevent corrosion, what is that hissing??

 

[mickarch]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

The hissing is likely air escaping past the valves as the open. My motorcycle engine does make a similar sound when I turn it by hand with the plugs in. I think it gets easier and harder because you have the plugs in, so you are turning it against the engine compression until the valves open. If you take the plugs out when you turn it, it will be eaiser and the hiss sound should go away.

 

[Bondo]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Ayuh,...

It gets hard to crank, because you're coming up against the Compression....
The Hissing is the bleed-off...

It's all pretty much Normal....

You're headed down the Right roads,... I predict she'll come through this in Flying Colors....

And,....
It appears you've been Running up a steep Learning Curve,....

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks for all of your help guys, no matter what ends up happening the fact is this forum and the people in it have been a tremendous help and have certainly made a pretty bad situation here as good as it could possibly be as i at least feel i was able to with your help stabilize the situation and hopefully save my boat (I don't think it would be worth it to rebuild it as it would be half the value of the boat). Regardless of what happens the quality of the people here is top notch.

I owe you all and my only hope is that i can continue to learn (hopefully in advance next time) so that someday I will be able to be in a position to help others

Thanks again, i am leaving the boat alone until tomorrow evening when we slap the new starter in, say a prayer for me tonight that she fires up and all will be well. You guys are awesome, thank you so much!!!!

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Napa and Sierra use the same part numbers.Most are Sierra parts but the one Robert ordered is a AC delco starter.
This is another one that should fit if the Napa one is not correct,
Standard ground shipping is next day to Lake Norman.
http://www.ebasicpower.com/pc/MES53...+2+Long+Mounting+Bolts+Mercruiser,+OMC,+Volvo

Hmm i guess i will find out tomorrow but it seems the two starter son that website both say they fit a 1995 Volvo 4.3 engine.

I hope the bad luck does not continue and i have the wrong one coming with the mechanic tomorrow!!!!!!

The one i ordred the guy at NAPA verified in his newest catalog, who knows how accurate that is though... i will be happy when this is over

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Napa is usually good about getting the right parts.
It should be fine...
Another thought,see if they have 2 new bolts for the starter too.
Sometimes reusing the old bolts will cause them to work loose.
Don may have a thought on this but i'm not sure if threadlocker blue is an option if you use the old bolts.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

UPDATE

BOAT IS FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pulled old starter, put new starter in without plugs and it turned over and spit out a mix of water and the WD-40 i had sprayed in. Let it do it's thing then put in old plugs started it up (Took about 20 seconds) ran it for about 15 minutes, swapped for new plugs, idled it out into the lake for about 10 minutes, then cruised for 10 minutes then did a WOT run for 5 minutes (GPS 50mph) ran as strong as ever. Checked oil along the way, no foaming, frothing, bubbles etc, clean as could be. He said he thought we may have to do multiple oil changes but it is clean barely any water got into the cylinders and all is well. He said we will just change it when we winterize which he will do for 50 bucks!! It is good to have a marine mechanic as a Friend's brother. He took about 30 minutes to go thru the entire boat and said there is not a thing wrong or needing repair. The plugs were the original 14 year old plugs which kinda shocked both of us. He said it is a top condition boat and i should not have any issues with it for years to come provided i stay on top of preventative maintenance

Thanks again for all of your help here. You guys helped me keep the engine on life support until i could get a dr there I am beyond estatic that my boat is saved and i owe you all.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Great to hear it Robert. I would bet you won't be getting yourself in this predickament again.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Glad to hear all is well. Welcome to the joys of boat ownership. .
The good times the boats bring you far out weigh the stresses. The feeling you had cruising across the lake when it was all fixed is why I really enjoy working on boats and anything really. Sure the learning curve is a steep @ times, but the rewards are pretty nice too.

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Glad to hear all is well. Welcome to the joys of boat ownership. .
The good times the boats bring you far out weigh the stresses. The feeling you had cruising across the lake when it was all fixed is why I really enjoy working on boats and anything really. Sure the learning curve is a steep @ times, but the rewards are pretty nice too.

I was actually telling my wife after i got home from cruising tonight that it was probably the best boat ride i ever took. I had a different appreciation for something I had taken for granted. I also as you said have learned a lot along the way these past few days and am probably better off for the experience. I am really happy that my boating can now continue uninteruppted

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Thats good Robert!
So you learned to not turn the key off while in gear and moving...lol!

Just picking on ya man! I'm really glad all that was damaged was the starter.

So was the starter gear destroyed?
The starter damage was from the Sea Tow guy telling you to keep trying to start it..

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Starter gear was perfectly fine, it just would not come out to engage the flywheel. Ring gear was perfectly fine also. Really there was nothing wrong outside of needing a new starter which i apparently fried while trying to run the engine over while it was in hydrolock. I am really pleased with the outcome as the mechanic said the drive train looks like it is in top notch condition and this incident did nothing negative to change that

 

[ron7000]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

I went to the sterm and with the drive trimmed up i went to turn the prop as i leaned down i fell overboard and missed ripping my leg open by about 2 inches. This happened TWICE (How embarassing).

who needs theonion.com when you have iboats.


so, how's your leg? get stitches?

 

[ron7000]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

when an engine diesels, it usually is running backwards,

I thought when an [gasoline] engine diesels, that means the engine continues to run like a diesel engine would- where the compression is enough to ignite the air/gasoline mixture and you don't need spark?

and how could it run backwards when the intake stroke would be pushing anything in the cylinder up and out the intake? Where's the air/fuel coming from that's combusting to keep the engine running bacwards?

I don't get it, it must be one of those things unique to "marine" engines... and iboat members

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

who needs theonion.com when you have iboats.


so, how's your leg? get stitches?

I still don't know how i slipped there must be less friction when it is cold as i am on my back deck all the time in the summer with no issues.

Other than a bruised Ego i have a ~12" long by 5" wide bruise on leach inner thigh and a nice slice and gouge on my left ankle. It could have been MUCH worse. There the bruises are if it were the prop would have been my femoral artery. Needless to say i will not be attempting such stunts again

Thanks for all of your help again. I am so happy the boat was not seriously damaged and that boating will continue uninterrupted and i learned a heck of a lot here over the weekend

 

[Lou C]

Re: I hope i did not trash my drive train PLEASE HELP!!!

Glad it turned out OK, you learned something new and are going to be a more experienced boater next year! I put the same starter in my old 88 4.3 OMC a couple of years back, with that and new batteries it's nice to have a 20 year old boat that starts right up!
Water injestion under certain circumstances is an issue with I/Os and you now know what to do if it ever happens again, be prepared to pull the spark plugs, crank out the water, and do a couple of oil changes to get any moisture out.