3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

[KD4UPL]

My '97 Mercruiser 5.7 has always been hard to start. I think it does a lot of backfiring thru the carb when trying to start it cold. I was trying to start it today and it was doing that, then the engine quite turning. The starter would no longer turn the engine. I removed the starter and found that 3 flywheel teeth are broken off, one of them lodged in the starter gear and that's what stopped the starter cold.
My questions are:
Is it a bad idea to go boating knowing that 3 flywheel teeth in a row are missing?
What will happen if I when trying to start the boat and that place comes around?
What causes an engine to backfire when being started? I'm thinking maybe the timing is advanced to far??
I have a new starter to put on and I'd like to go boating for the weekend. The boat always has started, eventually, it just doesn't like to when it has been sitting for several weeks.
Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

My '97 Mercruiser 5.7 has always been hard to start. I think it does a lot of backfiring thru the carb when trying to start it cold. I was trying to start it today and it was doing that, then the engine quite turning. The starter would no longer turn the engine. I removed the starter and found that 3 flywheel teeth are broken off, one of them lodged in the starter gear and that's what stopped the starter cold.
My questions are:
Is it a bad idea to go boating knowing that 3 flywheel teeth in a row are missing?

I guess it'll be Ok, if ya like Paddling...
What will happen if I when trying to start the boat and that place comes around?

It will,... Every Time... Nothing will happen, but the starter spinnin'...
What causes an engine to backfire when being started? I'm thinking maybe the timing is advanced to far??

It could be timing, or a lean condition,...
Has it ever been given a Tune-Up,..??
I have a new starter to put on and I'd like to go boating for the weekend. The boat always has started, eventually, it just doesn't like to when it has been sitting for several weeks.
Thanks for all your advice.

Ayuh,... I'd sooner think yer gonna be pulling the motor, 'n replacing the ring gear, before you get to go Boatin'...

 

[Pete104]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

It's not a good idea! Why ruin a new starter? And put yourself in a bad spot if wind up getting stranded because this time it DIDN'T start!

 

[picklenjim]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

If you do go out take a breaker bar and socket that fits the bolt on the crankshaft balancer. If your at the bad spot on the flywheel just turn the motor over a little to pass it and then start it. Won't have to turn it much at all. When I was a kid I had a car like that. I would actually just grab hold of the fan belt and turn it a little like that.

Timing is probably advanced too far.

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

Jim, that's a good tip. Which way does the engine rotate looking at the front. I should probably know that but have never paid any attention .

 

[mkast]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

Which way does the engine rotate looking at the front.

If you turn the bolt counter clockwise, the bolt may loosen. I suggest turning clockwise.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

If you turn the bolt counter clockwise, the bolt may loosen. I suggest turning clockwise.

Yep. Clockwise looking at the front. You want to turn it the normal rotation of the engine.

 

[swihartart]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

great tip picklinjim! love the ingenuity, where there's a will there's a way...

 

[dubs283]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

where there's a will there's a way...

yes, but...

do you want your friends to see you with the breaker bar truning your engine by hand just to get it started?? (embarrassing, and a bit lazy in my opinion)

you realize by not adressing the issue and fixing it PROPERLY now, you risk causing more damage to the engine??

why not take the time now and fix it, instead of risking getting stranded on the lake just becuase you HAVE to go boating now??

 

[Bondo]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

yes, but...

do you want your friends to see you with the breaker bar truning your engine by hand just to get it started?? (embarrassing, and a bit lazy in my opinion)

you realize by not adressing the issue and fixing it PROPERLY now, you risk causing more damage to the engine??

why not take the time now and fix it, instead of risking getting stranded on the lake just becuase you HAVE to go boating now??

Ayuh,... And the odds are a million to 1 that the motor will Always stop exactly in that same place....

 

[Don S]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

you realize by not adressing the issue and fixing it PROPERLY now, you risk causing more damage to the engine??

You mean something like turning the crank, engaging the start, goes past the bad spot 1/2 tooth and BANG, the corner mount on the block where the starter mounts breaks off.. Time for a new block, because it's not repairable.

 

[mkast]

Re: 3 flywheel teeth broken, due to backfiring when starting?????

And the odds are a million to 1 that the motor will Always stop exactly in that same place....

Normally, I don't disagree with you.
Both of the engines with bad ring gears (same girlfriend) always stopped in the same spot.