Mercruiser 454 MAG MPI won't turn over

[BigDaddyBeard]

Ok so long story short... My old man bought a '98 C Hawk a few months ago and shortly after he was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and has since passed. It's been sitting in the slip waiting for him to use it but that never happened. I took it out for the first time, and was running about 2000 rpms and the motor just quit. I went to put it in neutral and the shift lever felt tight, but tried to start it and it just won't turn, surges but won't turn. Tried turning the crank and it's fighting me. Not sure of where to start trouble shooting, but I believe the motor is fine, is this a stern drive issue?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Maclin]

Welcome Aboard!

Sounds like it could be hydrolocked. Water in the top of one or more cylinders. Remove all the spark plugs, then crank it and, if the engine turns over, see if water sprays out of any of the spark plug holes.

 

[tpenfield]

:welcome:

+1 to the possible hydro-lock. Are you in salt water or fresh?

 

[alldodge]

I went to put it in neutral and the shift lever felt tight, but tried to start it and it just won't turn, surges but won't turn.

While you might have hydrolocked, it might also still be in gear. The Bravo drive does not like to be shifted without the motor turning. Find the slave solenoid inside the box on the port side. Use a jumper to cross the top two large terminals, and at the same time have someone keep pressure on the shifter trying to pull it back into neutral< don't pull real hard, just steady pressure.

If its hydrolocked then when the solenoid is engaged the motor will not move. If its just in gear, then it will only be a short partial crank before it goes in neutral

 

[Bondo]

Not sure of where to start trouble shooting, but I believe the motor is fine,

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,.... To rule out hydro-lock, pull the spark plugs, 'n look for water,......

 

[BigDaddyBeard]

Sorry for the delayed response. Pulled the plugs and no water, with the plugs out the motor turned but you can hear something banging around. It's in the drive somewhere so I guess now I have to haul it out to see what I'm dealing with