1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

[tphillip]

Hello,

I just bought a 24 ft Sea Ray Mercruiser 5.7. I started it up and ran fine. I put into gear and accelerated the rpm and ran fine. When bringing the throttle back into neutral the boat began to sputter and continued to sputter with the key off for 10 seconds. Tried starting again and slowly would turn and now will not turn at all. Battery power looks ok. Lights, blower and accessories all have power. Now when I try to start I get 1 click like the solenoid is energizing but the starter doesn't engage. I'm new to the boat, so I'm hoping a fuse. I had water going to the engine with the garden hose. It ran less than 10 minutes. Only had it in gear for a minute or 2. I was reading in the manual not to go in or out of gear unless lever is at idle position. I'm not sure if this caused the issue. I did bring the throttle back to neutral with the propeller engaged. Any help would be much appreciated. I will be looking for blown fused in the morning. Checked the reset and wasn't tripped.

Thanks for any help.

Todd

 

[mkast]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Start cleaning the battery, solenoid and starter connections.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

If that sputtering was dieseling, which is sometimes called run-on, it's a problem. When the motor diesels it sucks water back up the exhaust path into the engine. Don't start the motor yet. You'll need to remove the spark plugs and crank it over to get out water that's trapped in the combustion chambers. Also check the oil, it could be over full from leakdown. If so it will need changing. Spray some oil in the combustion chambers after you get the water out. Now you can go forward to find out the cause of the dieseling.
Dieseling used to happen to our old cars we had as teenagers in the seventies, usually on a really hot day and typically if we had overadjusted the timing advance. Hopefully you just have too much advance. But check for water in the cylinders and oil.
Oh, if you have the manifolds like mine you will need to grind down a spark plug socket to get past the manifolds and get the plugs out. There's a nice graphic of how to improve your socket. Look at the attachment below, (this is from Don S. our moderator)



Good luck, I hope I am wrong and there's no water, but don't force the starter to try to turn the motor til you are sure. Water does not compress like air & fuel.

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Thanks for the reply. It was definitely dieseling. It started to happen when I brought the throttle back to neutral when it was in gear. Leakdown is the term when water gets sucked into the combustion chambers? So you are saying that the starter can't turn the motor due to this issue? What would happen if I tried to start it again without removing spark plugs. I haven't done anything yet but I'm getting ready to get on it. Thanks for the info, I wouldn't have known about this issue. I troubleshoot electrical equipment all day long but I'm not an engine guy. I will keep posting.


Thanks again!

Todd

If that sputtering was dieseling, which is sometimes called run-on, it's a problem. When the motor diesels it sucks water back up the exhaust path into the engine. Don't start the motor yet. You'll need to remove the spark plugs and crank it over to get out water that's trapped in the combustion chambers. Also check the oil, it could be over full from leakdown. If so it will need changing. Spray some oil in the combustion chambers after you get the water out. Now you can go forward to find out the cause of the dieseling.
Dieseling used to happen to our old cars we had as teenagers in the seventies, usually on a really hot day and typically if we had overadjusted the timing advance. Hopefully you just have too much advance. But check for water in the cylinders and oil.
Oh, if you have the manifolds like mine you will need to grind down a spark plug socket to get past the manifolds and get the plugs out. There's a nice graphic of how to improve your socket. Look at the attachment below, (this is from Don S. our moderator)

View attachment 91951

Good luck, I hope I am wrong and there's no water, but don't force the starter to try to turn the motor til you are sure. Water does not compress like air & fuel.

 

[dubs283]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

water ingestion is the term for water in the combustion chambers - dieseling definitely can cause it especially if the engine diesels backwards

if you try starting it with water in the cylinders - nothing will happen - the engine will not turn over because it cannot compress a fluid, in this case - water

remove spark plugs, crank engine over multiple times to remove as much water as possible, reinstall spark plugs and determine what is causing your engine to diesel

start by checking the timing, better yet give the engine a FULL tune-up and go from there

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

What would happen if I tried to start it again without removing spark plugs

Ayuh,... There's a Good chance you'll Destroy the starter, or the ring gear, or the motor itself...

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Ok just getting started, I checked the oil and the oil level looked fine with no signs of water in the oil or the oil being high on the indicator. Checked connections and the battery cables were loose. Still just one click and then nothing when trying to start the engine. Main circuit breaker on the engine wasn't tripped. Are there any other fuses in line with the starter, ignition etc...? I do have a manual and just checking it out now. Do you still think there could be water in the combustion chambers if the dip stick doesn't show any signs of water? This issue happened when the engine began to diesel. Once stalled, it would try to crank the engine and now just a click when trying to start. Any help would be awesome!

Todd

 

[dubs283]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Any help would be awesome!

read posts #3, #5, and #6

you ARE getting help

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

I appreciate all the info. I didn't mean to sound like I wasn't getting help. I guess I'm asking for more help I'm going to pull the spark plugs and see if there is water. Hopefully not. Thanks again Dubs!

 

[dubs283]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

no prob

just want to make sure you are checking everything suggested thus far, its what seems to be the problem for your engine based on what you told us

if nothing is found after following the previous advice, let us know

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Dubs,

I pulled the spark plugs which actually was pretty easy considering the location of the engine. All are pulled. No signs of water but engine will not turn. Still get the 1 click and that's at the 50 amp circuit breaker located on the engine. I'm going to double check connections at the starter. It's a very clean engine. If you have any electrical troubleshooting advice or anyone else that would be great. Would I see water coming out of the plugs a little bit, if this was the issue you were referring to earlier.

Thanks again!

Todd

no prob

just want to make sure you are checking everything suggested thus far, its what seems to be the problem for your engine based on what you told us

if nothing is found after following the previous advice, let us know

 

[Pete104]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Put a wrench on the harmonic balancer & see if turns by hand. Does the click noise come from the starter or higher up on the engine? Water will shoot out of the cylinders like crazy with the engine cranking.

 

[dubs283]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

check this out:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167035

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

The click is coming from the 50 amp reset breaker located on the engine. That's where I hear the click.

Todd

Put a wrench on the harmonic balancer & see if turns by hand. Does the click noise come from the starter or higher up on the engine? Water will shoot out of the cylinders like crazy with the engine cranking.

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

I was looking at that link and getting ready to start troubleshooting the electrical circuit. Thanks again!

 

[dubs283]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

the click is coming from the slave soleniod next to the breaker, not the breaker itself

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

Thanks for all the advice again! You are correct that was the slave solenoid click. It's right next to the 50 amp reset switch under a plastic cover. I did some electrical checks at the slave and starter solenoid. I get my 12 vdc when turning the key on at both solenoids. Solenoids appear to be fine. Starter isn't engaging. Is there a fuse on the starter itself? Maybe the starter went bad? Thanks for all the info! I'm having a cold bud light now sitting on top of the engine.

Todd

 

[dubs283]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

you can try rapping sharply on the starter with a hammer when turning the key - you will need a helper for this

if that "unsticks" the starter then yep time for a new one or have yours rebuilt

BTW - did you try turning the engine over when you had all the plugs out??

 

[tphillip]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

The plugs are still out, but it still doesn't turn over. I'll try to use the hammer trick.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1992 24 ft Sea Ray with Mercruiser 5.7

The plugs are still out, but it still doesn't turn over. I'll try to use the hammer trick.

Ayuh,... Pull the Outdrive to be sure it's not what's Siezed...

Then turn the motor over with a wrench....
'n pull the starter for replacement...

Is there a fuse on the starter itself? Maybe the starter went bad?

I don't think it's nearly New enough,...
But, there might be 1 of those Lawyer Fuses mounted to it..
They're a little box affair that mounts between the main battery wire, 'n it's mounting stud on the starter's solenoid...