Mercruiser 3.0 probleem with start and popping

[Mauriceglastron]

Hi, I need your help with the following.

I wintered my glastron SX 175 with mercruiser 3.0 181 CID. after winter I charge oil/spark plugs /filters and started immediately. A few weeks later I wanted to put the boat in the water. It started immediately but in neutral it died. Then after I hardly could get it running. The engine was popping a lot and I got it running s few times but never stable. Then my starter died. I replaced the starter and I also found out that the cable harness was niet making good contact. So I fixed that. I got The engine running one more time and very stable. Also in neutral. After a few hours I tried again. Nog running. lot of popping noise until my starter gave up. The starter clicks and turns (high pitch sound) and also the solenoid and relais seems to be okay. ( I checked this also while disconnected from the motor). So what could be the issue? Why is the motor nog cranking white starter seems to work. could It be that the large gear had just moved so even if the starter works fine it will never get intro the langer gear. And what is causing the motor to run very unreliable and hardly get it running (popping), but if it runs it sound perfect. Thanks for your advise

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...... It sounds like when the motor starts, it's runnin' lean, so service the entire fuel system, from the tank to the carb,....
The starter not engagin' is either low battery voltage, or a bad starter bendix drive,....

 

[Mauriceglastron]

Many thanks. I think you are right for the fuel system issue. On the starter I am not sure as the bendix is connecting / not worn out but the connection to the flywheel is just not close enough (it slips).
I gave up myself as for the fuel system as I needed a mechanic anyway. So brought my boat to the repair shop. They will take out the engine to really check the engine completely. I expect a 'nice' bill.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Many thanks. I think you are right for the fuel system issue. On the starter I am not sure as the bendix is connecting / not worn out but the connection to the flywheel is just not close enough (it slips).
I gave up myself as for the fuel system as I needed a mechanic anyway. So brought my boat to the repair shop. They will take out the engine to really check the engine completely. I expect a 'nice' bill.....

pull the starter and have it serviced. the starter distance to the ring gear is standard across all GM motors. what you are getting isnt slipping. its improper bendix travel from the stater.

if the mechanic is pulling the motor, expect the bill to be about $1500 - $2k

 

[Mauriceglastron]

Hi Scott, many thanks. So you are saying the solenoid doesn't work properly, I can get that replaced / replace myself.
For the fuel system, do you think this could be water in the gas? If I can avoid the big bill I want to let the mechanic know.

 

[Scott Danforth]

for the fuel system, start at the tank and work your way to the carb. cleaning and inspecting along the way

for the starter, pull the starter and take it to a starter/alternator shop and have it tested.

these are all things you can do yourself. because if you have to take your boat to the mechanic for all this stuff, boating becomes too expensive

however since you already dropped your boat off at the mechanic, its a little late. you already have a bill the moment they start filling out the paperwork.

 

[Mauriceglastron]

Thanks Scott.... Right. unfortunately it is what it is, and indeed I expect a nice bill. Indeed boating gets expensive.