PA John
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2010
- Messages
- 10
Boat: 1994 Sea Ray 230 Sundancer
Engine: 305L Mercruiser
When Problem Started: Last Summer I backed into a spot to anchor up in Fairlee Creek. Went to leave, engine started to turnover a couple times, wouldn't start though. It Turned over real slow. I was thinking starter. Had in-laws bring me a starter, installed the next morning, boat fired up but ran rough then when I got on plane it smoothed out. Made it back across the bay to Middle River, and decided to fuel up. Some moron in a high performance boat decided "Lines are not my thing" and tried to cut right in front of the line of 4 boats that I was next in line for. Choice words were exchanged and I cut him off at the dock but had to hit reverse kind of hard to stop my boat from hitting the dock. After fueling up my boat, I tried to start it and CLUNK! Wouldn't turn over at all. In-Laws towed me back to the dock.
Diagnosis so far and Work Performed:
*1 Immediately got it out of the water, pull the spark plugs, turned the key with the coil wire removed and a lot of water was in the Port Side of the engine. Dried everything up, changed the oil, started it up with no water connected for about 10 seconds to save the engine.
- Pulled and inspected the Risers and Manifolds. When I pulled the Risers and Manifolds noticed NO FLAPPER VALVES! Thought to myself "COOL, I can fix this!" and put a new set in. Concerning the Risers and Manifolds, Really didn't see any signs of leaking but replaced them anyway because I didn't know their age. Changed the oil again, started it up with water to the muffs. Ran great for a 2 minutes, started to miss, shut it down.
Let the boat and myself cool down by going across the street to the bar for a beer. Came back pulled the spark plugs and found cylinders with water again! F! Repeated *1(first step)
- I performed compression test, I can't remember what the psi was in all cylinders but thought they were all good. Tested both dry and wet with oil. (Eric the Car Guy video from You Tube)
- I decided to dig into the engine, thinking head gasket. Pulled intake off. Everything looked good, no cracks anywhere I could see. Dug further, pulled heads and it looked like the head was clean on the port side, front of the head and block. I am thinking, Cool, Found it!
- Removed both heads, took to machine shop at NAPA Machine Shop where I live in York, PA. Had them checked over and resurfaced.
- When I had the heads off, I DID NOT rotate the engine completely to check for Piston travel and search for cracks. Kicking myself right now but I thought "compression was good", right??
- Two weeks ago, I cleaned entire engine compartment, cleaned entire engine carefully, put on new head gaskets, intake gaskets . . . . Adjusted the valve lash, adjusted the timing close. Looks beautiful, even replace fuel line with Stainless tubing because the other looked like a 10 year old bent it into shape.
- Yesterday, fired up the engine, first no water to the muffs for just 10 seconds, turned on the water, fired it up, then began setting the timing correctly and she started to miss and then she conked out. Tried to restart and CLUNK. I started drinking heavily!
Here is what I am going to do now:
Go down and compression test the port side of the engine and report back my numbers in the next couple days.
I was thinking of bypassing the manifold on the port side of the engine (just looping it back) and running for 15 seconds or so, let it cool, run it again, then check for water in cylinders to eliminate leaking risers?
I am thinking that the valves either are not adjusted properly or sticking ( I am no marine/auto mechanic by the way ) or my block is cracked.
I have called Intercoastal Marine in Middle River to fix it but they say 2 - 3 weeks out right now so, between now and then when I have a little time I will be performing tests recommended to me by this fine Forum that I have been reading quite often!
By the way Thank you All for the wealth of information you all provide!
Engine: 305L Mercruiser
When Problem Started: Last Summer I backed into a spot to anchor up in Fairlee Creek. Went to leave, engine started to turnover a couple times, wouldn't start though. It Turned over real slow. I was thinking starter. Had in-laws bring me a starter, installed the next morning, boat fired up but ran rough then when I got on plane it smoothed out. Made it back across the bay to Middle River, and decided to fuel up. Some moron in a high performance boat decided "Lines are not my thing" and tried to cut right in front of the line of 4 boats that I was next in line for. Choice words were exchanged and I cut him off at the dock but had to hit reverse kind of hard to stop my boat from hitting the dock. After fueling up my boat, I tried to start it and CLUNK! Wouldn't turn over at all. In-Laws towed me back to the dock.
Diagnosis so far and Work Performed:
*1 Immediately got it out of the water, pull the spark plugs, turned the key with the coil wire removed and a lot of water was in the Port Side of the engine. Dried everything up, changed the oil, started it up with no water connected for about 10 seconds to save the engine.
- Pulled and inspected the Risers and Manifolds. When I pulled the Risers and Manifolds noticed NO FLAPPER VALVES! Thought to myself "COOL, I can fix this!" and put a new set in. Concerning the Risers and Manifolds, Really didn't see any signs of leaking but replaced them anyway because I didn't know their age. Changed the oil again, started it up with water to the muffs. Ran great for a 2 minutes, started to miss, shut it down.
Let the boat and myself cool down by going across the street to the bar for a beer. Came back pulled the spark plugs and found cylinders with water again! F! Repeated *1(first step)
- I performed compression test, I can't remember what the psi was in all cylinders but thought they were all good. Tested both dry and wet with oil. (Eric the Car Guy video from You Tube)
- I decided to dig into the engine, thinking head gasket. Pulled intake off. Everything looked good, no cracks anywhere I could see. Dug further, pulled heads and it looked like the head was clean on the port side, front of the head and block. I am thinking, Cool, Found it!
- Removed both heads, took to machine shop at NAPA Machine Shop where I live in York, PA. Had them checked over and resurfaced.
- When I had the heads off, I DID NOT rotate the engine completely to check for Piston travel and search for cracks. Kicking myself right now but I thought "compression was good", right??
- Two weeks ago, I cleaned entire engine compartment, cleaned entire engine carefully, put on new head gaskets, intake gaskets . . . . Adjusted the valve lash, adjusted the timing close. Looks beautiful, even replace fuel line with Stainless tubing because the other looked like a 10 year old bent it into shape.
- Yesterday, fired up the engine, first no water to the muffs for just 10 seconds, turned on the water, fired it up, then began setting the timing correctly and she started to miss and then she conked out. Tried to restart and CLUNK. I started drinking heavily!
Here is what I am going to do now:
Go down and compression test the port side of the engine and report back my numbers in the next couple days.
I was thinking of bypassing the manifold on the port side of the engine (just looping it back) and running for 15 seconds or so, let it cool, run it again, then check for water in cylinders to eliminate leaking risers?
I am thinking that the valves either are not adjusted properly or sticking ( I am no marine/auto mechanic by the way ) or my block is cracked.
I have called Intercoastal Marine in Middle River to fix it but they say 2 - 3 weeks out right now so, between now and then when I have a little time I will be performing tests recommended to me by this fine Forum that I have been reading quite often!
By the way Thank you All for the wealth of information you all provide!
