Baretta

[Falcon65]

Just bought a 1979 Baretta Bowrider it has a Mercruiser 140 ho 3.0 and if I understand the lingo it is a sterndrive? My question when I bought it some one had but on a chevy starter from a 2.5 big starter compared to the original. New battery, new starter but still wont crank over. I can turn the motor over by socket and ratchet on alternator and pressing the belt, it does turn but seems real tight. Here's the big?????? doe's this thing need to be in neutral or something? Seems like I'm trying to turn over a car in gear. The wood rot is terrible but I can deal with that in fact the front motor mount had gone through the floor and the engine was tilted so bad forward. If I can salvge the motor I want to pull it redo transom and floors the boat shell is in good shape. Thanks for any help or comments

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Pull the drive, then the motor,......

Then tryin' startin' it on the floor,....... it's all gotta come out anyways, to fix the hull,....

 

[Falcon65]

Thats true just not sure yet on whole boat just wasn't sure if it was in gear or what

 

[dubs283]

Being a 1979 model boat it certainly has start in gear protection, colloquially known as a neutral safety switch. Most commonly located in the remote control (throttle/shift assembly at the helm)

There's a good explanation of a typical sterndrive engine starting system in the DIY sticky at the top of the forum page

 

[nola mike]

I can turn the motor over by socket and ratchet on alternator and pressing the belt, it does turn but seems real tight. Here's the big?????? doe's this thing need to be in neutral or something? Seems like I'm trying to turn over a car in gear.

Yes, it will feel like you're trying to start a car in gear. Nearly everything spins in the outdrive even in neutral. You'll be pulling that drive sooner or later; pull it now and see if the engine turns over easier

 

[flashback]

It's in a bind due to the rotten mounts would be my guess. like said above, pull the drive and then give it a try..