Why do they put the Starter there?

[kimchee]

I have a 96' 5.7L 8cyl 4bbl mercruiser I/O thunderbolt V
I just put in a new starter at the end of last season, and I just put the boat in the water about a month ago, and when I peaked down to do some wiring repairs (minor), I noticed that the shiny new starter I put in last year, is now a rusty old piece of S**t....

Was I suppose to paint it? I am not sure about all of you, but mine sits under the engine against the transom (flywheel)... and I was told that it is normal, to have a little water in the bilge...

So, it begs the issue of splash and rust... It is no wonder starters are always going bad... Hell, from the way mine looked, I would be impressed if it lasted the rest of the season...

Just venting...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

They are put down there so they are easy to change...


...on a car, which is what the engine was originally designed for.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

I would have painted it.....
Not the screen though.....
I always try to keep my bilge as dry as possible.....
I have a special sponge just for that.....
I do spray corrosion guard on the engine too......
If any of that water bouncing around the bilge is salt water, your oil pan will not be happy either......​

 

[kimchee]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

Oh man.... It is SALT WATER !!!

Now you are just making this newbie all paranoid...
Sponge... just any old plain sponge?
I tried using my oil change pump once, to pump the water out of the bilge, but that barely got even a inch out....

I am gonna try the sponge thing... any other ideas out there?

Corrosion guard? hmm... any specifics?
Like WD40, or an actual spray called corrosion guard...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

Merc makes a product called 'corrosion guard'......
There is probably aftermarket stuff, too......
Salt water is probably the worst thing to be in your bilge.....
Well, except for gas or oil......
Just keep an eye on your pan.....
A mirror would help.....
A regular old sponge will do.....
Doesn't your bilge pump get most of it out anyway?......​

 

[kimchee]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

Doesn't your bilge pump get most of it out anyway?......​

Thanks for your responses... and yes, the pump does get most of it.. leaving about 1-2" of water in the bilge, and I just had my gimble bearing replaced... But I recall last year, I tasted the water in the bilge **YUK !!** I know, and it was salty... which causes me to be more cautious about water level...

I guess there is a reason why the bilge it set up the way it is...

Anyways... Good boating to all this season...

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

"But I recall last year, I tasted the water in the bilge"
Nothing like a tall glass of bilge water in the morning, It tastes like victory.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

Nothing like a tall glass of bilge water in the morning, It tastes like victory.

Ayuh,............Almost as Sweet as a jigger of Diesel...............

God, I Love living on a Freshwater Sea..............

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

The first question would be is where are you getting all this saltwater in the boat from?
My boat is open and I have tunneled a wave or two (at slow speed, it really sucks watching 2 feet of water roll up the bow deck and then the windshield just to dump in your lap) but never enough to soak my starter. Are you sure there is nothing leaking on it like a manifold? It only takes a couple drops per trip to tare up some stuff. If not start looking for leaks and save the wood in the boat before it rots around where its coming in at.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

That was my question too. where is all the water coming in??? When I first got my boat I had to pump her out twice all day, had some 3 drill holes that I used marine adhesive to fill in with, Now I pull the plug and maybe only two drops might come out, bilge is bone dry after all day of running around.

 

[kimchee]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

Interesting,... I believe the bulk of my bilge water is made up of rainwater making its way in from the crevices... I rationalize it this way because the taste of the salt (thus, the concentration) is deteriorating...

I gather the recurring taste of salt from the bilge juice is from the salt that doesn't get evaporated out...

As far as manifolds, I just had all my risers and mani, and spacers changed..
I also just had my gimbel bearing replaced as well...

hmm... dripping onto the starter?
yeah.. come to think of it.. my engine compartment cover does leak directly onto the engine sometimes...

But I am in the process of correcting that headache...

I have owned my boat for 3 summer seasons now, and I feel as though I am trying to put each of my fingers into each springing leak, to keep the dam from collapsing...

Its either that, or keep feeding "the money pit..."

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Why do they put the Starter there?

Sounds like you need a new boat cover