Shear start bolt?

[brplut40]

I just took my boat into a local shop to have the timing set and the carb rebuilt. When I picked it up they told me to watch the starter because it was making a "weird" noise, but they tightened it the best they could. Took it out over the weekend and found out one of the 2 starter bolts had shear in half causing the starter to rotate and make a "weird" noise. My question is if people think that the starter bolts could have become loose, which caused one bolt to shear in half or if you think the shop over tightened the bolt and broke it. Worse part is the threads are still in the engine block.

 

[boat127]

Re: Shear start bolt?

what are you working on
is his a 3.0 lire
there should be a side mounted bracket mounted from the starter to the block

they usually shear when the starter comes loose and you go to crank it the torque from the starter sheared it. the threads in the block are more then likely loose so it should be to hard to come out may have to pull the engine

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Shear start bolt?

I have found most broken starter bolts to be caused by improper (low) torque; that said, actually getting a torque wrench on them when engine is in boat is difficult in the easiest ones, impossible in a lot of boats. And sometimes the bolts will bottom out in the threads and fool you into thinking they are tight, especially when you are installing starter with one hand by feel only. Count me as not a fan of Chevy starters.

 

[brplut40]

Re: Shear start bolt?

it is a Chevy 4.3L v6. Any good ideas on how to get the threads out without pulling the motor? I have had little luck in the past with drilling and using extractors.