Motor Siezed Today

[Joe Manor]

This is a good one. I'm not so sure it is the motor. I think it is in the drive but here goes. I would like your guys opinion on this.

I was out on the lake today using my electric trolling motor and after a couple hours decided to pull up and relocate to the other side of the lake. I started up my motor (1989 5.0L Mercruiser w/Alpha 1 drive) which always runs perfectly and put it into gear. It did seem a little tight getting it into gear. Then as I was idling forward it sounded like it wanted to stall. I gave it more throttle and off it went but it still seemed like something was holding it back. A little more throttle just getting up on plane and then it happened. Grinding and the motor stopped running. I was a certified mechanic for 10 years and have had my share of cars with bad bottom ends and have thrown many rods in my time but this seems different. The starter will not crank over the motor but it does engage and tries but something is holding the motor from turning. Generally if a rod is thrown, once it gets jammed the motor will not crank over even a tiny bit but this one does a few degrees. Just doesn't seem like the motor to me. I'm convinced that if I pull the drive loose it will start up and run. I also noticed water began to leak into the boat from around the bellhousing at the firewall. Possibly the driveshaft broke and broke something else? I guess my question is, is it possible for something in the drive system to hold the motor from turning over? Is there an easy way to figure out what Im dealing with here without pulling off the drive? Thanks in advance. BTW, I did check the engine oil and it was clean and full. Any ideas?

Joe

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Hi there, the only real test would be to pull the drive off of the boat. Since you have a water leak now, the sooner the better.

If you don't see any obvious signs with the drive off the boat, be sure to pull the sparks plugs checking the cylinders for any signs of water before trying to crank engine over as that could do more damage internally to the engine if nothing else was to be wrong.

Hope it not too serious, good luck.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

This is a good one. I'm not so sure it is the motor. I think it is in the drive but here goes. I would like your guys opinion on this.

I was out on the lake today using my electric trolling motor and after a couple hours decided to pull up and relocate to the other side of the lake. I started up my motor (1989 5.0L Mercruiser w/Alpha 1 drive) which always runs perfectly and put it into gear. It did seem a little tight getting it into gear. Then as I was idling forward it sounded like it wanted to stall. I gave it more throttle and off it went but it still seemed like something was holding it back. A little more throttle just getting up on plane and then it happened. Grinding and the motor stopped running. I was a certified mechanic for 10 years and have had my share of cars with bad bottom ends and have thrown many rods in my time but this seems different. The starter will not crank over the motor but it does engage and tries but something is holding the motor from turning. Generally if a rod is thrown, once it gets jammed the motor will not crank over even a tiny bit but this one does a few degrees. Just doesn't seem like the motor to me. I'm convinced that if I pull the drive loose it will start up and run. I also noticed water began to leak into the boat from around the bellhousing at the firewall. Possibly the driveshaft broke and broke something else? I guess my question is, is it possible for something in the drive system to hold the motor from turning over? Is there an easy way to figure out what Im dealing with here without pulling off the drive? Thanks in advance. BTW, I did check the engine oil and it was clean and full. Any ideas?

Joe

Howdy Joe

Sorry to hear about you issue. If the outdrive locks up the engine will die and you will not be able to turn it over. Suggest pulling the drive and with the water coming in you may have other issues with the boots.

When was the last time you did drive maintenance and checked the boots?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Pull the drive. Bet you have a u-joint bellows full of water. Check your lube level in your drive as well.

 

[Joe Manor]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

I had a shop replace the gimbal bearing and bellows a couple years ago. I'm not sure they did a proper job though as it still made a clicking noise when I turned sharp. I will take it apart then. Thanks!

 

[Joe Manor]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Thanks! I will get to it this weekend.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

I had a shop replace the gimbal bearing and bellows a couple years ago.

This is why you should be pulling the drive every year...just in case water leaks in so it doesn't sit for a whole year.

Another thing you should do if you don't already do it is check your drive lube before you launch your boat. I do that every time before I go out assuming the boat isn't already in the water.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

I had a shop replace the gimbal bearing and bellows a couple years ago. I'm not sure they did a proper job though as it still made a clicking noise when I turned sharp. I will take it apart then. Thanks!

If you ever hear clicking when turning, head back to the dock and check it out (U-joints)

 

[Joe Manor]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Okay. Well, hopefully I can get to the bottom of this, fix everything, and not have to spend too much cash. An old boat.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Generally if a rod is thrown, once it gets jammed the motor will not crank over even a tiny bit but this one does a few degrees.Joe

when you throw a rod you will hole the block , especially when it happens at higher revs ( you said you went on plane ) . so you can exclude this . a piston seizure will lock the engine solidly and it will not turn any degree. and this happens mostly after a no oil run or severe overheat.

i agree with the others you most probably have a major issue with your drive, not the engine. remove the drive and try to crank - i bet it will

cheers

 

[Walt T]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Do what Fun Times said first, pull spark plugs and see if it will crank. Free and easy. Go from there.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

This is a good one. I'm not so sure it is the motor. I think it is in the drive but here goes. I would like your guys opinion on this.

I was out on the lake today using my electric trolling motor and after a couple hours decided to pull up and relocate to the other side of the lake. I started up my motor (1989 5.0L Mercruiser w/Alpha 1 drive) which always runs perfectly and put it into gear. It did seem a little tight getting it into gear. Then as I was idling forward it sounded like it wanted to stall. I gave it more throttle and off it went but it still seemed like something was holding it back. A little more throttle just getting up on plane and then it happened. Grinding and the motor stopped running. I was a certified mechanic for 10 years and have had my share of cars with bad bottom ends and have thrown many rods in my time but this seems different. The starter will not crank over the motor but it does engage and tries but something is holding the motor from turning. Generally if a rod is thrown, once it gets jammed the motor will not crank over even a tiny bit but this one does a few degrees. Just doesn't seem like the motor to me. I'm convinced that if I pull the drive loose it will start up and run. I also noticed water began to leak into the boat from around the bellhousing at the firewall. Possibly the driveshaft broke and broke something else? I guess my question is, is it possible for something in the drive system to hold the motor from turning over? Is there an easy way to figure out what Im dealing with here without pulling off the drive? Thanks in advance. BTW, I did check the engine oil and it was clean and full. Any ideas?

Joe

Ayuh,.... Yer only 8 nuts short of findin' out whether ya have a motor, or drive problem,...

Pull those 8 nuts, 'n See,...

Pullin' the drive ain't that bad, it's just 8 nuts, 'n a $6.dollar gasket set,...

 

[Joe Manor]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Yeah, so just went out there and pulled it off. Took all of about 10 minutes. Motor fired right up. Now, the driveshaft is seriously rusty. Should it be sealed from water? If water is getting into the driveshaft housing is that the likely source of water getting through the transom? Im assuming I need to separate the lower unit now in order to find out what is bound up? If it is the lower unit I should still replace the U-joint correct? Thanks guys.

Joe

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

A rusted shaft indicates water and most likely the upper unit seized from lack of oil. split the units to see if its upper or lower or both.
Check the amount of oil in the drive by draining what evers left in a bottle to see how much there was.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

A rusted shaft indicates water and most likely the upper unit seized from lack of oil. split the units to see if its upper or lower or both.
Check the amount of oil in the drive by draining what evers left in a bottle to see how much there was.

Ayuh,..... 'n if BD is Right, as I believe he most probably is,....

Look into a brand new SEI drive,.... They sell 'em right here at iboats,...

yer lower unit, if it ain't already trashed, is gonna be Full of all the destroyed parts from above it,...

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Also check the rubber ujoint bellows for any type of damage or hole. Also check the sitting position of the bigger rubber gasket that sits just inside the bellhousing for proper sealing.

There should be no water at all by the ujoint assembly.

 

[Joe Manor]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Removed the upper oil vent screw and removed the drain plug. No oil but about two cups of water came out. Is it even worth taking it apart now? Been running dry for a long while. Should I be looking into this unit?
1972-1990 Mercruiser Stern Drive Complete Drive Assembly - 1.62 gear ratio - New Aftermarket - iboats.com

 

[Bondo]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Removed the upper oil vent screw and removed the drain plug. No oil but about two cups of water came out. Is it even worth taking it apart now? Been running dry for a long while. Should I be looking into this unit?
1972-1990 Mercruiser Stern Drive Complete Drive Assembly - 1.62 gear ratio - New Aftermarket - iboats.com

Ayuh,.... That's the Right drive, but I'd think you'd want the 1.50:1 ratio,...

Yer motor is a V8 ain't it,..??

 

[Joe Manor]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Yes. That was another question. Which gear ratio do I need and what about the yoke length. Is that something I should be concerned with? Im not sure about how to select the proper unit.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Motor Siezed Today

Yes that drive you posted is an affordable, faster way of getting this taken care of sooner. A rebuiled tippicaly cost much more then that compleat setup.

But remember you will need to find the source of the water leak.

Good luck.