seized or not?

[bscappell]

1986 evinrude 90hp VRO

1.engine stalled right as i was coming off plane and backing off throttle (which was fine because i was going to troll around for a while).

2. go to restart engine hour later, click. nothing else.

3. get home and starter gear is engaging the flywheel but the flywheel only moves 1cm or so.
4. pulled plugs and tried to manually pull flywheel w/ rope. nothing. would not move.

5. changed lower unit oil (nasty rust milk color) and then pulled lower unit wondering if this was the issue. still no flywheel movement. (i believe lower unit may have issues but might be unrelated to engine)

6. inspected spark plugs and inside of cylinder (of what i could see through spark plug hole w/ pencil light). Results: does not look burnt or melted and spark plugs are not ashed but a nice brown color.

thoughts?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: seized or not?

You've done the right diagnostic things so far. Probably time to pull both heads and do a more complete visual inspection. Always possible you got a hydraulic lock. Sometimes when the starter bendix stays engaged with the flywheel, it's a defective starter solenoid-contacts stuck closed, activating the starter constantly.

 

[robert graham]

Re: seized or not?

Maybe put a wrench on flywheel nut and try to turn it by hand, with the spark plugs out...

 

[kodibass]

Re: seized or not?

I would pull the flywheel first to make sure nothing vibrated loose and jammed up under it, then spray can oil cylinders, then strapwrench flywheel & try to rotate clockwise, if still no results pull heads and inspect. good luck. keep us posted.

 

[aerobat]

Re: seized or not?

you can do it more easy and just put in forward gear and try to turn the prop . if unable the engine is seized or the lower unit has a katastrophic failure.

when unable to turn the engine directly on the flywheel you are screwed i would say... the engine seized for whatever reason.

 

[bscappell]

Re: seized or not?

you can do it more easy and just put in forward gear and try to turn the prop . if unable the engine is seized or the lower unit has a katastrophic failure.

when unable to turn the engine directly on the flywheel you are screwed i would say... the engine seized for whatever reason.

yeah i tried to turn the prop in gear. not happening. dropped the lower unit just to make sure.

 

[bscappell]

Re: seized or not?

so here is what the engine is telling me. the pistons have play in them so i bleieve they are not seized to the block. However, i believe that might mean that the bearings are seized on the crank caused by a possible VRO failure. next up is tearing the powerhead out. pictures: 1. left head, some ashed peices of metalic looking something. 2. piston related to first picture's head. carbon buildup? 3. other side of the block.

A friend that has more experience with motors said it looks like lack of oil.....more thoughts?

 

[boobie]

Re: seized or not?

Pic # 2 looks like the piston is eaten away. If it is, that's what probably seized it.

 

[bscappell]

Re: seized or not?

Pic # 2 looks like the piston is eaten away. If it is, that's what probably seized it.

What would be the cause of that? I don't want to rebuild this thing without addressing the cause of the issue.

 

[aerobat]

Re: seized or not?

What would be the cause of that? I don't want to rebuild this thing without addressing the cause of the issue.

there can be several reasons. when one piston/cylinder goes and the other look good its always an idea to check the carbs and look if this cylinder ran lean .

its also a possibility that this engine was just tired and the piston simply ready to go.

 

[boobie]

Re: seized or not?

You could have a lean fuel condition or ignition timing prob on that one cylinder.

 

[rickryder]

Re: seized or not?

A ring could of broken and gotten jambed in the intake or exaust ..... Only real way to know is tear it down and check....

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: seized or not?

The piston which has damage looks a different color from the others. It may have gotten overheated. Pull that carb apart that feeds that cyl. Esp, check the jets on the side of the carb that feeds that cyl.

 

[bscappell]

Re: seized or not?

Thanks for all the replies folks. I am going to start the disassembly today after work...can’t wait! NOT.....