merc 4.3l 1993 not starting issue

[Rick Stephens]

If you pull all the spark plugs and tighten the alternator belt you should be able to pull the motor over by pulling on that belt.

Do not ever put a socket on the nose bolt of the crank and try and turn the motor. If you have to do it at the harmonic balancer you can pull the three bolts holding the shivs to the balancer and insert a little longer bolts, like 1.5 inch or 2 inch and use a long screwdriver between those bolts to pry the motor around.

 

[kulle]

If you pull all the spark plugs and tighten the alternator belt you should be able to pull the motor over by pulling on that belt.

Do not ever put a socket on the nose bolt of the crank and try and turn the motor. If you have to do it at the harmonic balancer you can pull the three bolts holding the shivs to the balancer and insert a little longer bolts, like 1.5 inch or 2 inch and use a long screwdriver between those bolts to pry the motor around.

i'll try the alternator belt tightening method. Is this situation common? I cant imagine i fed up something when putting my outdrive back on, they went in smooth and the u joint and eng coupler were spinning.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I can't imagine just installing an outdrive can do anything to a motor, at all.

I still think you have a dirty electrical connection. Go after the ground wire where it attaches to flywheel housing.

 

[kulle]

so i pulled spark plug on port side, then on starboard side thinking id relieve some pressure to try and manually turn the pulley to the flywheel. when i took out plug on starboard side, water poured out...assuming from all the rain,since i havent been able to get boat in water yet. what does that mean???? and am i hosed? not sure how water got in there!!!

 

[Rick Stephens]

If the flash arrestor is off then rain can drip inside. I had that issue with a boat I purchased, the previous owner left a tarp covering the new motor in it with no other protection. The rear cylinders were full up with water. So was the crankcase.

You need to pull the rest of the plugs, see what you find. Also immediately drain the oil and see what you find in there. Dipstick will not show water. Too much rust and pitting and that motor needs either a rebuild or replacement. And full of water is the reason it will not turn over. Doesn't take much water in one cylinder to hydrolock it.

 

[kulle]

i did take all plugs out and no more water, but cant turn bottom pulley.

 

[Rick Stephens]

What do you see when looking through the plug hole with a flashlight, where the water was?

What is in the oil?

Is the drive off now?

 

[kulle]

What do you see when looking through the plug hole with a flashlight, where the water was?

What is in the oil?

Is the drive off now?

Have not drained oil yet. Just look wet in the plug holes that had the water. Facing the stern, plugs #4 and #6, starboard side rear 2 plugs had some water. I was planning to remove all plugs and shoot some WD40 in the holes in hopes it allows me to turn the motor at least by hand. I have not removed the drive , was hoping I didnt need to. No idea how water would even get in! I keep it covered.

 

[kulle]

pulled all plugs, sprayed wd40 and pb blaster and did put breaker bar on nose bolt of harmonic and tightened. the engine did move a very little, sounded like friction. it then moved a hair again, but starter still spins at high rpm and doesnt seem to engage flywheel. question, of for some reason i have excess of rust built up and the starter cant move the flywheel, is there like a clutch in the starter that would just allow it to spin rather then try to turn the flywheel and break something? i dont understnd why i cant turn the motor over! i just had it running a few months ago! any of options to get the engine turned over before i take it somewhere?

 

[kulle]

UPDATE:

after some more pb blaster i cranked more on the pulley bolt and broke it free. lots of $hit pumped out of some cylinders. the engine then easily turned over. with plugs out,mi fired with key and the engine turned over and i held it in start for a few secs to purge the cylinders. decided its good, put plugs back in and tried to start with key. the engine jumped but then immediately the starter went into high rpm spinning. i could still easily turn over engine with rachet with all plugs in. should i now focus on the starter? possibly broke or damaged it when trying to start with engine seized? as i memtioned when i intiially pulled the starter and bench tested, it looked fine, but not sure if they can look good and still have something wrong that would make the bendix slip if it is trying to engage something stuck.. any advice is apreciated....making small steps.

 

[kulle]

so i talked to someone at a alternator/starter shop and described my situation and they think the "clutch" portion may be damaged on the starter, since the motor jumps a little, but it seems like too much load.

does that sound reasonable since my motor was seized a bit when i initially tried starting? i can now turn it by hand..any advice is appreciated.

 

[kulle]

.....i just decided to buy a new starter...hope it solves the problem.