98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

[jerryb1]

Hello- My friend sold his 98 Searay with a 4 cyl mercruiser I/O with low hours to his neighbor. They put it in the water and the next morning the entire rear end of the boat was under water(fresh water). He was considerate enough to give the guy his money back. Now he's trying to get it running again. I told him when it happened to of course get it out of the water as quick as possible, which he did. He drained the oil and the gas tank. Removed the plugs and distributor cap and dried things as best as he could. He squirted mystery oil into the cylinders and down the carberator. He was able to turn it over and almost got it started with starting fluid. Now he says the engine will not turn and the starter just whines(battery good). He cant get at the flywheel bolt to manually turn the engine. Any suggestions on what else needs to be done or advise as what to try next. He getting discusted and about to give up.
Thanks!
BTW, the leak was from a broken shift cable bellow.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

The starter is probably ruined from being under water.

There are adapters available that will hook up to the harmonic damper which you can use with a breaker bar or wrench to manually turn a motor.

Off hand, I cannot specifically give you a brand of one. I would check with Jegs or Summit Racing. The one I am thinking of bolts to the harmonic damper (ie you do not need to pull off the damper).

Another more common method is a socket that goes over the end of the crankshaft, but that requires the damper to be pulled (not really that hard, just extra special tools that you may not have on hand).

 

[scutly]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

maybe shes hydro-locked. there's water in the cylinders on top of the pistons and they cant move. pull all the plugs and then see if she cranks and watch the spray. of course im sure that's just the beginning of his problems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Ayuh,... Pull the Drive,+ Replace the starter... Then get 'er Runnin'...

 

[ken_23434]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

The starter is probably ruined from being under water.

There are adapters available that will hook up to the harmonic damper which you can use with a breaker bar or wrench to manually turn a motor.

Off hand, I cannot specifically give you a brand of one. I would check with Jegs or Summit Racing. The one I am thinking of bolts to the harmonic damper (ie you do not need to pull off the damper).

Another more common method is a socket that goes over the end of the crankshaft, but that requires the damper to be pulled (not really that hard, just extra special tools that you may not have on hand).

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-906007/

That is one example of the crank turning tool I was talking about.

And this one will let you keep turning it without repositioning the wrench. A better solution, IMO.
http://www.ahwooga.com/detail.asp?id=30983

 

[Bondo]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-906007/

That is one example of the crank turning tool I was talking about.

Ayuh,... Ken,.. He's got a 3.0l motor,... The crankshaft pulley is Buried by the front mount...
No Tool is gonna Help...

 

[ken_23434]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Ayuh,... Ken,.. He's got a 3.0l motor,... The crankshaft pulley is Buried by the front mount...
No Tool is gonna Help...

:redface: Ooops... I was thinking a small block chevy...

 

[Alumarine]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

If it's the 3.0 I turn my engine with a socket on the alternator nut and put tension on alternator belt as I turn it.

 

[jerryb1]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Thanks guys for all the suggestions- I'll try to answer each here.
He said the pulley is behind the Motor mount(like the chevy) so he can't get at it. I'm thinking it probably is the starter though, since he had it cranking after putting oil in the cylinders. It's not water lock, as he took the plugs out again and tried it. I like the idea of trying to turn it by the alternator pulley. Even the slightist movement will point to the starter. I'm surprised the starter worked for a while though.
i also like the suggestion to remove the outdrive, as it needs to be done anyhow to change the shift cable billows.
Jerry

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Has someone looked at the rest of the boat to see if it is even worth pursuing any further?

 

[Alumarine]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Forgot to ask. Does he have insurance?

A couple of my boats have sunk in fresh water and come out ok.

 

[jerryb1]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

The water was not that deep so only the rear of the boat was submerged. The rest of the boat is good.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

The water was not that deep so only the rear of the boat was submerged. The rest of the boat is good.

It is best to buy a cheap solvent like kerosene and flush the crap out of the engine. The kero will also protect from rusting. I will bet money the starter is toast or will be soon. The ALT as well.

 

[T-Bone Coug]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Has someone looked at the rest of the boat to see if it is even worth pursuing any further?

I guess the proper question is WHY did the boat sink to begin with. If its the drain plug left out, then saying "only the rear sank, so it's okay" might make sense. Otherwise the integrity of the hull is in question.

 

[Simoniz]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

He said in the originalpost that the leak was from the shift cable bellows.

 

[system-f]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

From first post

BTW, the leak was from a broken shift cable bellow.

Gah, beat me to it!

 

[tractoman]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

I'd check out the float switch for the bilge pump too or add one if it doesn't have one. It may not have kept up but could have gotten someones attention if it was constantly pumping water out.

 

[jerryb1]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Good point- they would have heard water being pumped out, but yes that didn't work and was a known problem. It only worked by the manual switch.

 

[tootsie502]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

Ayuh,... Ken,.. He's got a 3.0l motor,... The crankshaft pulley is Buried by the front mount...
No Tool is gonna Help...

....I know this is old, and no one probably checks it, but since we don't like PM's, I don't know how else to get to you I just want to know how to get to the pulley...do you have to take off mount? Thanks! Christina

 

[jerryb1]

Re: 98 searay underwater for 8 hrs

I know this is old, but I wanted to tell everyone what ended up happening here. A marina changed the starter, got it running and gave it back to him. It didn't run right and the mechanic said he only tested it with an auxilary tank and that the boats tank (bad gas) was most likely the problem. While trying to get it running he flooded it by pooring gas into the carb BIG MISTAKE! He took off the coil wire (secondary), took out the plugs and started cranking it over. The fumes caught on fire, and by the time he got it extinguished the boat was ruined. He gave it to the mechanic in lieu of payment. Moral of the story is to MAKE SURE THE PRIMARY COIL CIRCUIT IS DISABLED BEFORE CRANKING WITH FUMES AROUND!