Hi all,
I bought a 1999 trophy 2052 wa last year.
It's powered by a 3.0 135hp Mercruiser.
The starter has broken 3 bolts since. :facepalm:
This winter I had to have the engine pulled. The new bolts only lasted about a dozen trips.
My starter uses 2 bolts of the same length and they are not inline.
The cost of sea rescues and pulling the engine has really spoiled the ownership of this boat.
What's most frustrating is that every else is brilliant but this seemingly small issue screws things up (pardon the pun)
One of the bolts can be replaces easily as its end show through a hole topside.
The one closer to the starboard side screws into the block and it's almost impossible to remove it without pulling the whole engine as it's end doesn't show.
I am desperate for a solution to this issue.
Two ideas I had were to : either install a brace that would support the rear of the starter against the engine providing a third point of support.
I don't know how this would work as my starter doesn't have one and I'm told they were only ever present on older starters that had the 2 bolts inline.
A mechanic that says the 3.0 has a very regular tendency to snap these bolts suggested I cut off a small part of the block that would allow me to drill out the closer bolt end that is at present concealed.
I am open to any suggestion and would much appreciate to learn how this can be solved.
I bought a 1999 trophy 2052 wa last year.
It's powered by a 3.0 135hp Mercruiser.
The starter has broken 3 bolts since. :facepalm:
This winter I had to have the engine pulled. The new bolts only lasted about a dozen trips.
My starter uses 2 bolts of the same length and they are not inline.
The cost of sea rescues and pulling the engine has really spoiled the ownership of this boat.
What's most frustrating is that every else is brilliant but this seemingly small issue screws things up (pardon the pun)
One of the bolts can be replaces easily as its end show through a hole topside.
The one closer to the starboard side screws into the block and it's almost impossible to remove it without pulling the whole engine as it's end doesn't show.
I am desperate for a solution to this issue.
Two ideas I had were to : either install a brace that would support the rear of the starter against the engine providing a third point of support.
I don't know how this would work as my starter doesn't have one and I'm told they were only ever present on older starters that had the 2 bolts inline.
A mechanic that says the 3.0 has a very regular tendency to snap these bolts suggested I cut off a small part of the block that would allow me to drill out the closer bolt end that is at present concealed.
I am open to any suggestion and would much appreciate to learn how this can be solved.
