mercruiser 3.0 broken starter bolt

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flipper914

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I have a 1995 mercruiser 3.0 in a Rinker 180, the shorter starter bolt broke off ( inside the housing on the motor) and I can no longer start the motor. I have been reading different ideas to get the bolt out and wonder if any really work. I have used JB weld on the end of a bolt that I stuck to the bolt but this did not work. I have read about drilling the the bolt oat from on top through the housing. and also using a right angle drill to contort under the engine and drill the bolt out.
of course the idea of pulling the engine and having it drilled out for 500 to 800 dollars is the last resort. any advice
 

81 Checkmate

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Just a few weeks ago a fella on iboats had the same issue..........Took starter off, got under the motor with a drill and drilled out the the broken pc... using a left handed drill bit. Replaced the starter with new bolts and end bracket...now he is up and running.
 

Bondo

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I have a 1995 mercruiser 3.0 in a Rinker 180, the shorter starter bolt broke off ( inside the housing on the motor) and I can no longer start the motor. I have been reading different ideas to get the bolt out and wonder if any really work. I have used JB weld on the end of a bolt that I stuck to the bolt but this did not work. I have read about drilling the the bolt oat from on top through the housing. and also using a right angle drill to contort under the engine and drill the bolt out.
of course the idea of pulling the engine and having it drilled out for 500 to 800 dollars is the last resort. any advice

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... I did that repair 'bout a week or so ago,....
In a boat tied to a dock on a island in the St Lawrence river,.... Eel Bay, Murry Island,... with an out of state tourist family All standin' over me on the dock, Dad, Mom, son, 'n daughter,...

I did good, borrowed a 18v angle drill, 'n batteries, had my bucket of tools, includin' my little inch, 'n 1/2 sharpened concrete nail center-punch, but forgot a mirror,...
of course, the Lady of the house had a dandy mirror, that worked Perfectly, a good clear view,... through my glasses of course,....

As has happened before, the left-handed drill bits are the Key to the operation, 'n a near center start,....
I used a 1/8" bit, figured start small, 'n go bigger as ya screw up,...
Anyways, the bit,... Bit into the broken piece, 'n I walked it right out,....

Never had to drill clean through 1 yet, to use an easy-out,...

I've also got 'em out with a stick welder, 'n a piece of vinyl tubin',... I use that, After the motor's out, 'n on a stand,.... ;)
 

camalot

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Jul 24, 2012
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I drilled one out the other day, I got a 8" drill bit and used a right angled attachment. You will need a longer than stock drill bit or your hit the bottom of the bell housing.
Make sure your kids are out of ear shot and start drilling lol. Took me around 45mins to do.

Still had to pull the engine as the fly wheel bolts had lost there clamping force and was coursing the engine to vibe above 3k which was the root course of the bolt failure, so I would check that first.
 

BruKen

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Feb 26, 2014
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Is this a common issue. ? ?

Mine sheared off earlier this season, cost me £1600 to have it fixed. :mad-new: Reading this and your repair Bondo has now got my gall up that I've been fleeced:blue:
 

Anton_Kor

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Jul 9, 2018
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I did this repair with the engine in the boat. The process seems more stressful when reading, than the real work involved. Might be luck.

Tools: a mirror, flashlight, insulating tape, 90 degrees right angle battery powered drill with a left-hand spiral extractor (http://www.irwin.com/tools/screw-bolt-extractors/10-pc-spiral-extractor-drill-bit-combo-pack), friend and beer as a gift.

First thing is to center punch a hole in the base (broken end) of the bolt body. I used a `’max`’ size bit, from the above linked set, wrapped with electrical/insulating tape to the size of the hole. 3-5 minutes needed to tap the center.

Then, drill with “middle” size bit. One person holds the drill aligning to the bold axis and the second person, reaching from above the engine pulls the drill to apply the needed pressure against the bolt. 2-3 minutes and you get an inch, it’s enough for using a spiral extractor.

Pretty much, that’s it. Be careful and good luck.
 
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