Why won't it start???

[shoot_my_boat]

Hey all,<br /><br />This is my first time posting, so if I miss any crucial info, let me know. I purchased a cheap boat last spring to learn about them & to get ready for something nicer. My new problem is the engine won't turn over! This happened late last summer. I just brought it to a shop to diagnose it since I don't have the time. They basically told me the engine is gone. I tried to get more info from them but that's it. The guy I talked to was a real di@k! The only thing he tried was to rotate the crank with a breaker bar, but it wouldn't budge. He said the engine seized. It was running fine & suddenly the engine seized? Is this likely? He said the most likely reason is water in the cylinders. I don't see how this could have happened! The oil didn't have water in it & it was running perfect right before it happened! It's a 1972ish bayliner discovery. The engine is a ford 302CI 200HP carburated. I think the engine is about 1976 or so. The stern drive is a Volvo penta. I don't remember the model number. Maybe AQ190? What I am asking is what could it be? Could the flywheel be stuck? What else could be done to diagnose it. Is there a better way to know if the engine seized!<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for any help you can give!<br />BTW, if the engine is gone, is there any more powerful engines that would fit in it's place without replacing the stern drive?

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Why won't it start???

Ok If the guy wont give you more info then that tell him to take a hike...<br /><br />There are plenty of reasons why the engine may or may not be able to be turned.... Not all of them involve replacing the whole engine...<br /><br />Get another opinion and mechanic.<br /><br />Tallman

 

[shoot_my_boat]

Re: Why won't it start???

Thanks for the reply! Last year I worked on the boat. A lot of maintenance & other things. I feel good about working on the engine, but I need a suggestion of where to start. I'm gonna get it out of the current shop (hopefully without kicking this guy's ass. no promisees!) & take a day to look at everything. Could the stern drive gears be making it lock up? What about the flywheel? Would you suggest pulling the engine? Any simple answers? Before this, it started up every time. I wish I had the shop manual to look at, but it's in the boat.<br /><br />What sort of things should have been done to further diagnose the engine at the shop? I paid for a diagnosis & I got jack! I plan on talking to the shop manager about this ******* . I told him to put the manager on, but he wouldn't.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Why won't it start???

Check this out:<br /><br /> "hydro-lock" situation

 

[shoot_my_boat]

Re: Why won't it start???

Thanks for the link. The only symptoms of an exhaust leak is the boat sometimes ran hot at full throttle. Overheating could be a lot of diffrent things. I am however gonna check the exhaust manifolds.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Why won't it start???

That's the first sign. Soon after that you get a penetration and the water just flows right down into the engine. You can't even turn the engine with a breaker bar. Pull the plugs and see if you find water.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Why won't it start???

By the way, I was running at 50+ one minute and hydro-locked the next miniute. It can happen that fast. I also had the same symptoms, just ran a little hot at high RPM. I had two "professional" marine mechanics look at the boat before I bought it and not one of them mentioned anything about the manifolds, etc. 4th or 5th time out - bang! Lost the starboard engine!<br /><br />Unfortunately I learned most boating things the hard way That problem lead me to go totally crazy and strip my boat all the way down to the hull and rebuild her from scratch.

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Why won't it start???

Like Ralph was saying, pull the plugs and see what happens if you try to turn the engine by hand, you should be able to depending on the problem. If you cant you also can pull the drive, then see if you can turn it.. If you can then its the drive... I too learned the hard way and boo koo $$$ later..... Ooh well, welcome to the wonderful world of boating... They will drive you nuts but are also a hell of a lot of fun!<br /><br />Tallman

 

[shoot_my_boat]

Re: Why won't it start???

Thanks for the replies guys!<br /><br />I pulled a plug late winter to try to figure out what happened & there was no water in the cylinder & the plug had no rust on it. I haven't had time since then to work on it. I'm gonna use your guys suggestions about pulling the plugs to rotate the crank & so on. On Monday I need to pick up the boat from the shop & I want to try to get my money back. Can you guys give me a few other things that may have stopped the engine from cranking? What else should they have tried to determine the problem? Thanks for your help!