Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

[JASinIL2006]

Hi all, I just reinstalled my engine after a transom rebuild. I'm making the last connections and I'll be putting the outdrive back on next. Thanks to lots of help from folks here, the motor re-installation and alignment went pretty smoothly.

My question: is there anything I should do as part of bringing the engine back to life. I'll be starting it on muffs in my driveway, at least initially. The engine was out of the boat since August or September, and it has fresh oil, new filters (gas and oil). The outdrive has a new impeller and new oil as well.

Pretty much everything went in just as it came out, so I'm hoping there is minimal adjusting needed, but I'm concerned right now with what I need to do (or not do) in restarting this engine that's been on a stand for several months.

Thanks!

Jim

 

[captainnate]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Take this with a grain of salt (I have very little experience), but my guess is it would be similar to what you would do after winter storage. Find the de-winterizing instructions, or summer-izing instructions and follow those. I think there is stuff in the "Adult only" section that will help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Take this with a grain of salt (I have very little experience), but my guess is it would be similar to what you would do after winter storage. Find the de-winterizing instructions, or summer-izing instructions and follow those. I think there is stuff in the "Adult only" section that will help.

Ayuh,.... Good idea, I hope it Was winterized,....

Always Great readin' in the Adults Only section,...

It sounds like yer on the right path Jim,...
Bolt 'er in, 'n hook it all up, 'n Try it...
Prime the carb, 'n hopefully ya won't need much crankin' on the starter,...

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Yup, fully winterized per the stickies above. (I went the 'air don't freeze' and drained it and pulled off the hoses.)

I'll recheck the de-winterizing stickies and make sure I don't miss anything. I'm not an engine-wrenching guy (or at least I wasn't before I tried this), so I just don't want to forget anything and screw up my engine.

Thanks, and I'll let you know how it turns out...

Jim

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Well, I got everything connected, the outdrive is on, and I tried firing it up in the driveway on muffs. It cranked and turned over fine, but wouldn't start. It's getting fuel into the carb, but it doesn't sound like it's firing. I cranked it a bunch, several times, and it never even sound close to starting. I guess I get to start troubleshooting the ignition system. A little disappointing, because it was running great last summer.

A question: last year, while the motor was out, I change the oil. I unwittingly spilled oil into the alternator (the oil filter is right above the alternator). Is there any chance I messed up the alternator? Would that even affect the engine's ability to start? I'm just wondering if the alternator is something I should check first...

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

I doubt the alternator had anthing to do with it.

Do you have spark? Kill switch lanyard clip in place?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Lanyard clip for the kill switch was in. Not sure if I am getting a spark. I had to read up on how to check for one (I'm learning as I go here...)

By checking for a spark, do you mean checking with a spark tester from the center tower of the coil? (as in the sticky "How To: Troubleshoot a Points Ignition System" above?)

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

You can get a spark tester, but you can also do it without.

Pull the coil wire out of the center of the distributor cap. Hold the end about 1/2" from clean metal (no rust or paint) and crank the engine over. You should get a bright blue white spark that snaps that gap easily.
A wimpy yellow spark and you have to get closer will not start the engine.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Thanks, Don, that sounds pretty easy. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

I'm seeing no spark at all from the wire I removed from the center of the distributor cap that comes from the coil. I tried it two different ways: first, but using a 14 ga. wire lead (stuck into the rubber boot to make contact with the metal piece inside) and then holding the end of the wire near several different spots on the engine; and second, just holding the boot near some bare parts of the engine. No spark at all either way while the engine was cranking.

Does this mean the coil or one of the connections to it is bad?

 

[998cc]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Does this mean the coil or one of the connections to it is bad?

I just bought my first I/O boat and am not a boat expert by any means, but I have dealt with this on two boats over the past month. I do know older car ignitions which are likely similar. If it is a Kettering (points) system, it's fairly straightforward to test with a VOM, but I assume you are talking electronic ignition..correct? In any case, if you have a separate coil you can a least check for voltage there.

If you have an old points system, turn on the ignition and check the voltage between each coil terminal and ground, the voltage on the positive side will vary and will depend on the coils internal resistance and the value of the external ignition resistor (if used), but some voltage should be present. There should be zero volts at the negative terminal (distributor side) unless the points are raised by the distributor cam; a tap of the starter should bring them into contact.

If voltage is still seen on the negative side of the coil with the points closed, the points and/or connections are likely corroded. I have seen this condition on two engines this month; replacing the points (and condenser) may well effect a cure. The points are usually the number one suspect.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Yes, it's a Thunderbolt V system, so it's electronic. Next step is to check the coil or voltage to the coil? I'm not entirely sure how to do that...

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Do you know how to use a DVM (digital volt meter)? Like how to hook up the leads to check voltage?
Doing it wrong may give you what you think is a good reading, and may mean it doesn't work. So just having a meter is not usually the best thing to use.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

I haven't used one until now, but if I need to, I'll learn how to use one correctly. I am not sure where to start though... assuming I'm not getting a spark from the center plug off the distributor, that means I'm either getting no voltage (or low voltage) out of the coil, yes? Does that mean I need to figure out if the coil is bad, or if it's not getting current, or is there something else I should be checking?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

I haven't used one until now, but if I need to, I'll learn how to use one correctly. I am not sure where to start though... assuming I'm not getting a spark from the center plug off the distributor, that means I'm either getting no voltage (or low voltage) out of the coil, yes? Does that mean I need to figure out if the coil is bad, or if it's not getting current, or is there something else I should be checking?

Ayuh,.... Yer gotta need a meter, 'n learnin' to use it ain't all that bad,...

Don's got a Test tree he'll post up for ya,...

Yer "Thinkin" is abit off,...
The Ignition consists of a Primary 12v system, 'n that, fires the High voltage side, coil, rotor, cap, 'n plugs...

With Don's testin', you'll be tracin' the low voltage side to see where it's triggerin', 'n where it ain't....

Btw,.... Once ya own a Multimeter, you'll find millions of uses for it,....
It's Handy 'round the boat, car, 'n house,....

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Keep one thing in mind when doing your voltage checks in the tests below, the black test lead on your meter is always on a good clean ground. If your not sure, get a jumper wire and clip your black test lead directly to the negative battery terminal. Then touch the red test lead to the positive terminal and see what your battery voltage is.
Then leave the black lead hooked up and test the other places in the chart..

Here is the troubleshooting chart for your Thunderbolt V system.
Not sure why your serial number doesn't give a parts diagram, but it doesn't but the Merc site does say it's a TB5.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Thanks, Don and Bond-o, I am determined to learn how to do this. I do have the TB5, at least mine looks identical to the TB5 images in the service manual. I'm going to work through my multimeter manual and make sure I'm using it correctly, then work thru the test tree.

This project has been an education and I'm glad for all that I've learned about my boat. Figuring this out will just be my next lesson.

I have to say, though, I'm about ready to stop learning for a while and just go boating....

Jim

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

Just to help you understand your meter a bit better. Look at the picture below and how the meter leads are hooked up to test the same circuit. Both indicate the circuit breaker is OK.
This is why I always ask people how they tested something.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

OK, so I've been working through the test tree. At step 3, checking 12v at the positive terminal of the coil with the key in the run position, I get zero volts. (I have my multimeter set to test DC volts, and it's grounded with the black lead connected directly to the negative pole of a freshly charged battery. Battery tests at 12.75v steady on the positive terminal.)

The tree says to check the engine and instrument wiring harness, battery cables, and key switch. While I'm checking these and following wires around to check for connections, I looked at the wiring coming off the ignition control module and the knock control module.

There are several wires coming off the ignition control module: the white/red and white/green wires that go into the distributor, and then there are several other wires that connect to the harness with bullet connectors. They are (coming out of the module) gray, black, purple/white stripe, white and solid purple. All are connected to a bullet connect going into a bundle of wires on the harness except the black wire. It is not connected; a corresponding bullet connector coming out of the harness is not connected either. It looks like these wires should be plugged into each other.

I don't recall unplugging these wires when I pulled the engine (and I don't know why I would have, because the both are connected to the engine components). I was fairly anal about labelling wires I unplugged and these wires were not labelled. It is possible, I suppose, that they came apart inadvertently or that I accidentally unplugged them when doing something else.

Here are my question(s):

1. Would these wires being unplugged be likely to contribute to the no volt situation on the positive pole of the coil? (Does not make sense to me that they would have any affect.)

2. Should I plug them in or leave them alone for now? I don't see any other black wire coming off the ignition module, and my diagram for the wiring system for that module shows two black wires, one (#10) a ground for the module, the other (#5) a ground "for future options."

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting engine first time after transom rebuild

If you don't have power on the purple wire on the coil, then you don't have power to anything else powered by the ignition switch.
Do a voltage check (not drop down) on the ignition switch I terminal (purple wire) to the coil.
Could be the switch, the kill switch, or any connection in the purple wire between the ignition switch and the coil.