Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

[Hoosmatroos]

Hello,

A friend asked me if I will help him with his Sea Ray Seville with inboard. No problem but the boat was 3 years in storage. They put the boat in without proper preparation. So now he wants to use his boat again but need some service off course.

Things I can think of before trying to start up engine (mercruiser 3.0L (181) :
Drain fuel (1-2 gallon left) also from carbs and fuel lines.
Change fuel filter
Change oil filter
Check/replace impeller
Change drive oil
Change spark plugs
Check distributor
Normally when you want to change oil you warm up the engine but now? Just drain and fill with new oil?
Remove drive and check bellows
Check gimball bearing

Other things to check after 3 years storage? Boat and motor where in good and running condition.

Thanks in advance for your help.

/edit
Forgot to tell that I will check for cracks in the block but where do they usually crack?

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

I wouldn't worry about changing the oil until you get it running.
Remove the outdrive, you will need to see if there was any water in the bellows when it was put away. Could have everything locked up if it did.
Then remove the spark plugs and crank the engine with the starter unloaded in order to pump oil thru the system and build up oil pressure.
You didn't mention what year it was, but if it has points, will will probably have to get new ones as they are probably corroded and you won't have spark.
you will probably have to rebuild the carb if it's all dried out and corroded if there was any dirt or water in it before.

With new points and plugs, hook up a garden hose to the water inlet on the thermostat housing and start it up and see what happens.
If the block is cracked, it's typically 1/2 to 1" below the head gasket behind the manifold.
It could also leak internally and you won't see that.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

I would spray some JB blaster or something like that down the spark plug holes and let it sit a few hours, then crank it over as Don says. This way if your rings are stuck they will release a bit before you score up the bores.

I would actually go ahead and change the oil though. I would buy the cheapest crap oil you can find and the cheapest filter you could find. Prime the filter before putting it on, crank it like Don says without plugs and after you get it running in the yard, and do all your checks, change that oil out again. The reason I say this is so you can see what the old oil looks like and determine if there is any water in it, and you can use the new oils sort of as break in oil.

I am also betting the carb will need work. You might get away without doing anything but draining the float bowl, but be careful of flooding.

Good luck.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Thanks for the advise so far. More thoughts are welcome.

One thing I will do also is slap my friend in his face for putting away a boat like that

This will cost him some euro's to get it up running again nicely.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Hi Don, engine is from 1988. s/n is 0B995468

Any tips regarding the replacements of the points?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Any tips regarding the replacements of the points?

buy a tune-up kit - it has points, condenser and rotor in it

use a dwell meter, not a feeler guage to set the point gap

see here:

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...ne-up-your-engine-points-ignition-335302.html

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Oke, thanks. I have a dwell meter so that's no problem.

What number service manuals do I need? Or better, where can I find the numbers corresponding to the engine/stern drive?

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Oke, here I'm back again.

Removed outdrive and everything checked out fine. Gimball bearing nice, no water at all. Placed all new gaskets.

Engine was free but used some WD40 (little) in every cylinder. Rebuild carb with all new gaskets. Checked points and condenser and they looked fine. Not replaced. Placed new spark plugs. Checked compression, around 130 all 4. Went for a start but no ignition. Checked for 12V on the coil but there isn't. Hooked up a wire from battery to the coil and tested again. Still no spark. Coil seems fine when checked with a Ohm meter.

I use a spark tester and changed the leads. Think that there are 2 problems, no 12V at coil and when supplied, still no spark. Spark can be point and condenser I think?

Any thoughts about this? Forgot something?

Thanks.

/edit
Forgot to mention, used the adult section How To for troubleshooting a point ignition system. Boat was set away in running condition. Can't think of wires gone bad them selves? And I didn't forgot the safety cord

Engine s/n:OB917460

 

[TurboM700]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

My guess is its points and condenser. Take your wifes finger nail file and light file the points to make sure there good a clean and see if you get spark this way.

If that works you will more then likely want to replace the them and set dwell.

Second thought is you might have a bad coil. Might want to measure the resistance across the + and - leads and make sure its not open. Someone on here will give you the Resistance that is needed. I cant remember right now.


Mike

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Oke, here I'm back again.

Removed outdrive and everything checked out fine. Gimball bearing nice, no water at all. Placed all new gaskets.

Engine was free but used some WD40 (little) in every cylinder. Rebuild carb with all new gaskets. Checked points and condenser and they looked fine. Not replaced. Placed new spark plugs. Checked compression, around 130 all 4. Went for a start but no ignition. Checked for 12V on the coil but there isn't. Hooked up a wire from battery to the coil and tested again. Still no spark. Coil seems fine when checked with a Ohm meter.

I use a spark tester and changed the leads. Think that there are 2 problems, no 12V at coil and when supplied, still no spark. Spark can be point and condenser I think?

Any thoughts about this? Forgot something?

Thanks.

Do you have a way to test the signal coming from the distributor to the coil? Sounds like its in there. There isnt much else it can be. If you jumped 12v to the coil, then it almost has to be the distributor. If you have a signal from the dizzy, then swap out the coil.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Thanks for hopping in.

Meassured the resistance and looked fine according to the manual. Point are not fused or so and seems fine, Used a feeler gauge to check. Condenser is not shorted out.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

After setting for 3 years, used points glaze over. They may look fine but they don't make electrical contact. Replace the points and condenser. They are a maintenance item, like the impeller in the raw water pump.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Solved one issue, 12V to coil is restored. Lanyard kill switch is shot. Was not a big problem because I hot wired it. But solved now.

Will replace points, condenser and spark plug cables but...

I sanded the points lightly and they make electrical contact (measured it) and break contact as well (removed cables from coil + and only left one from points to - on coil. Placed Ohm meter on - and ground. With points closed 0.5Ohm and when opened the circuit is broken so they seem to work) Is there anything else that I miss? Don't want to go and buy part over and over again

Coil between + and centre = 10K and also between - and centre. Between + and - is 2-3

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Coil between + and centre = 10K and also between - and centre. Between + and - is 2-3

Too much on the primary resistance, should be around .9 to 1.5 ohms depending on which coil you have.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Checked for spark with an alternate method. Put a piece of carton between the points and a jumper lead on the hot side and ground. Then powered up and center spark lead to a big bolt on the block. Removed the jumper for a short period and a spark jumped from center lead to the block. That way I could test it without trying to start. Seems like coil and wires are oke.

Tomorrow I will buy new points and a condenser and all new spark leads. Should solve everything I guess.

Keep you posted.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

Today I replaced the points and condenser. Also replaced the spark plug cables, rotor and rotor cap. Adjusted the points gap and started the engine. Dwell was spot on at 29 (between 28 and 34) and adjusted everything. Left engine running for 15 minutes and after that changed the oil, oil filter, water separation filter and stern drive oil.

2 days ago rebuild the carb with all new gaskets and cleaned everything.

Engine spins like a kitten. One thing left, replace the impeller and out he can go.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0L 3 years in storage

I made a video when I started the engine for the first time. For everyone who thinks that there is no rust in an engine after 3 years, watch closely.

After 3-4 minutes the water was clear again.

Today changed the impeller and stern drive oil.