Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Lanigame

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Apr 18, 2014
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While driving my boat, I turned off the key too quickly after I put the throttle in neutral, so the engine was technically above idle when I shut it down. I read a note in the owners manual that may cause engine damage. Now, I cannot get the motor to turn over. The starter makes a 'click' sound but the motor will not crank. I fear I fouled up some gearing. Can I crank the motor manually to assist realigning whatever may be seized. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 

nitwhit

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May 22, 2010
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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Pull all of the sparkplugs ASAP and try turning it over with them out. You could have sucked water back in to the cylinders through the exhaust with the sudden shutdown and hydrolocked the engine. You'll know if water expels out the sparkplug holes. Hopefully it hasn't set this way for long and rusted the rings/cylinders or your attempts to start have caused further damage.
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Thanks, I'll try that. Could the starter be locked up? I just did this today. Is there a fly wheel or something that could have made the cogs miss and jam up out of alignment? I feel as though, if I could just turn the motor and loosen/free up whatever is jammed, I could turn it over with the electric starter. No?
 

Bondo

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Thanks, I'll try that. Could the starter be locked up? I just did this today. Is there a fly wheel or something that could have made the cogs miss and jam up out of alignment? I feel as though, if I could just turn the motor and loosen/free up whatever is jammed, I could turn it over with the electric starter. No?

Ayuh,.... Like was said, Pull the Spark plugs,.... The cylinders are full of Water, lockin' up yer motor,...
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Pulled the plugs, a little water came out. I tapped the starter motor, thinking that might help get the splines un-stuck but nothing. I have a new battery. I turn the key and just one 'click' noise is made. Nothing is turning, anywhere. Should I pull the starter motor, which looks difficult to get to. Man, the boat was running fine. Any suggestions?
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Also, when the key is turned. I can hear the starter motor softly whining like there is electrical current received. Just no result. Is it locked up?
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Well, although I couldn't free one of the rear bolts to the starter to remove it, I did open it up and check the gears which looked good. I put it back together and spark plugs back in. Now when I turned on the battery, the starter cranks the motor over automatically, without the key turned. Sometimes the starter just spins. In either case, the starter will NOT shut off. Now what did I do?
 

Bondo

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Well, although I couldn't free one of the rear bolts to the starter to remove it, I did open it up and check the gears which looked good. I put it back together and spark plugs back in. Now when I turned on the battery, the starter cranks the motor over automatically, without the key turned. Sometimes the starter just spins. In either case, the starter will NOT shut off. Now what did I do?

Ayuh,... Pull the Starter, 'n either fix what's screwed up, or replace it, 'n get the motor Runnin' to dry the water out of it,...
 

Jammer864

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

You got water in your cylinders when you shut the engine off too quickly. The still turning engine sucked water from the exhaust pipes into one or more (or all) engine cylinders. Water does not compress like air does so when you try to crank it, the pistons come up to the top but cant compress the water and the engine will not turn anymore after that. By taking the spark plugs out, you give the water someplace to go to when you try to crank it. There are no "cogs" to jam or gears to misalign. You shouldnt of put the spark plugs back in before you got the engine to turn over. You need to crank the engine over several times so that the water is expelled out of the cylinders thru the spark plug holes. Now your starter has a problem. Remove it completely and take it to Auto Zone or similar place that can check your starter for you. It could be the starter solenoid. Let us know after that and we can go from there.
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Well, the good news is, I didn't have my spark plugs back in before I put the starter back together. As you all said it would, water spewed out of the spark plug holes. Thought I might be home free, only I can't get the starter to stop cranking the motor unless I turn off the battery switch. I'm having trouble freeing one of the starter mounting bolts, but as soon as I figure that out, I'll have it tested and let you all know. Thanks so much for the input.
 

MikDee

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Well, the good news is, I didn't have my spark plugs back in before I put the starter back together. As you all said it would, water spewed out of the spark plug holes. Thought I might be home free, only I can't get the starter to stop cranking the motor unless I turn off the battery switch. I'm having trouble freeing one of the starter mounting bolts, but as soon as I figure that out, I'll have it tested and let you all know. Thanks so much for the input.

This sounds like a starter solenoid issue,,, something maybe shorting it out.
 

nitwhit

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Glad you got the water out of the cylinders. Are you sure you replaced the starter wires correctly?
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Pretty sure I replaced the wires correctly. I'm working a bunch this week, but I'll tackle it again on Saturday. I'll be sure to post the result of my/our efforts. Thanks.
 

Lou C

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

take a look at the terminals on the solenoid, there should be one large positive terminal with the positive battery cable attached to it. There is also a small wire that is usually yellow/red that comes from the ignition switch. If this wire gets current when it is not supposed to the starter will try to engage. Make sure this wire is not touching any other terminals....
 

Lanigame

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Okay, I installed a good quality OMC starter and it works great! The old one had some cracks in the housing where water and dirt etc. worked their way inside. I hooked the old starter up to my battery and energized the leads and it seemed to be working, so I don't understand why it would just spin cranking over the motor intermittently. It's done either way. So that's the good news. The Bad news is one of the two bolts that I couldn't get out, snapped in two where the threads start. It was rusted and I could not get penetrating oil in there. After many pulls, it finally just broke. As far as I can tell, accessing the bolt end for removal will be impossible without removing the motor first. Job for another day. In the mean time, I'm looking for an alternative to get the starter motor secured. One screw I know will not hold the starter and I'll just end up damaging the gears. Well, there it is. Simple Simon fixes for most of you fellas I'm sure. Nothin's easy when I mess with this stuff it seems. :) Oh well...Keepin' at it anyway. Thanks for all the input/help. Very much appreciated. Any suggestions for removal of the broken bolt are welcome. Okay, back to work to pay for boat parts!
 

Bondo

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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Okay, I installed a good quality OMC starter and it works great! The old one had some cracks in the housing where water and dirt etc. worked their way inside. I hooked the old starter up to my battery and energized the leads and it seemed to be working, so I don't understand why it would just spin cranking over the motor intermittently. It's done either way. So that's the good news. The Bad news is one of the two bolts that I couldn't get out, snapped in two where the threads start. It was rusted and I could not get penetrating oil in there. After many pulls, it finally just broke. As far as I can tell, accessing the bolt end for removal will be impossible without removing the motor first. Job for another day. In the mean time, I'm looking for an alternative to get the starter motor secured. One screw I know will not hold the starter and I'll just end up damaging the gears. Well, there it is. Simple Simon fixes for most of you fellas I'm sure. Nothin's easy when I mess with this stuff it seems. :) Oh well...Keepin' at it anyway. Thanks for all the input/help. Very much appreciated. Any suggestions for removal of the broken bolt are welcome. Okay, back to work to pay for boat parts!

Ayuh,..... Pull the motor,...

Center punch the broken bolt,...
Drill, ALL the way through it with, say a 1/8" bit,..
If ya managed to stay Centered, 'n have the clearance, redrill it out to 3/16",...
Blow all the bits out with compressed air,...
Douse it with light oil, pound in an easy-out, 'n Pray as ya turn left,...

If it Ain't movin' because of rust, 'n Before ya bust the easy-out,....

Ya oughta try puutin' some Heat into it,.... O/Ac torches are Best, but Mapp will sometimes be enough,...
Try to heat the broken Bolt, even though the block is gonna get alota the heat, remember the Bolt is yer target,...
When ya get 'er Good, 'n Hot,...
Quench the Bolt, with water,....
Quench the area, til it quits Sisslin',...
Blow dry it, More oil, 'n the easy-out,...
It Oughta turn right out after that,...

'n Hopefully, that broken bolt is in an Open/ through hole, not a blind hole,...

Btw,... Is this the 305 Chevy, or 302 Ford motor,..??
 

Lanigame

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Apr 18, 2014
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Re: Volvo Penta 5.0/Four Winns 180

Great advice...thanks. And, it's the 305 Chevy, 190 horse.
 
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