MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

[theginns]

I have a 1985 Chaparral with a 350 V8 Mercruiser with a brand new refurbished outdrive (2 months old). The boat was running fine the last time I went out. Took it out two weeks later, and it wouldn't start. Took it out of the water, went home, and tried starting it. After turning it over (I guess it kind of got too hot), the starter that is attached to the motor burnt up. I took it to a mechanic, and he said that the motor was seized. He said they tried to loosen it by hand, but it wouldn't budge. They checked the spark plugs and found rust on them. He said that it would cost 4 or 5 hours ($450.00) labor just to tell me where the leak was coming from. It would cost at least $2,500.00 to get it fixed, if not more. Any ideas out there???

 

[KaGee]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

Hard to say for sure, but your manifolds or risers leaked most likely. If you are in salt water, after 24 hours your motor was scrap iron. From what the guys say around here, manifolds in salt water have a life expectency of around 4 years +/-.<br /><br />As for the motor, 350's are a dime a dozen. Check out RAPIDOMARINE.com.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

Kagee is right on about the source of water & exposure to salt. Even if you weren't in salt water, 2 weeks exposure to fresh water means the motor is most likely junk.<br />If you have a lot of mechanical ability, you could try to save it, but, I am guessing that you don't.<br />Look on e-bay or in the Florida boat traders... a complete engine is what you will end up needing or wanting. The good news is that there are lots of them in Florida. They can get pricey though.

 

[theginns]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

I only bought the boat about 6 months ago, and new manifolds and risers were installed (maybe I got took).

 

[Chris1956]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

theginns, If the manifolds are that new, you should see little rust on the outside or the inside of them. If the manifolds and risers are indeed good, the gasket between them may have been installed improperly or is missing. I had a case where when I went to put the boat into the water this year, it was hydrolocked. I had run the motor some weeks before on the hose, and everything seemed fine. Turned out that a riser-to-manifold gasked allowed water to leak into two cylinders. I dressed up the gasket surface and installed new gaskets (install gasket dry, torque risers to 33 LB-Pounds), and all is well, at least for now.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

You mention that you recently had a rebuild drive installed... just curious to know if the mechanic has removed the drive and then tried turning the motor...there may be a chance that the drive is locked up and not motor.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

Originally posted by Northern Eclipse:<br /> You mention that you recently had a rebuild drive installed... just curious to know if the mechanic has removed the drive and then tried turning the motor...there may be a chance that the drive is locked up and not motor.

Was just gonna post that. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[theginns]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

chris, call me stupid, but how did you free up the engine to allow it to run once you replaced the gaskets?

 

[theginns]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

Chris....forgot something....There is some rust forming around the risers.

 

[Bondo]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

There is some rust forming around the risers.

Bingo.................

 

[Chris1956]

Re: MOTOR SEIZED - NEED HELP!!!

Thginns, When I tried to start the motor, the starter could not turn it over. When I removed the front two spark plugs on the starboard side, much water came out! I removed the rest of the plugs, sprayed the two cylinders well with wd-40 and cranked it with the starter, until no more water came out. I then squirted oil into the cylinders, checked the dipstick for water and proceeded to pull the mainfold and risers.