engine not starting

[narooma]

What would cause a good water cooled engine, which had not been run for four months, to lock up.

Assume the battery is good but all that happens when he turns the key is a clunk as the starter motor engages.

Removing the injectors has no effect.
Trying to turn by hand is impossible.
Suggestions please.

 

[CPD]

Assuming it ran well before stopping, then no particular reason why it shouldnt at least turn over, so first port of call i sthe battery. What you may be hearing is the starter solenoid pulling in (the easy bit) but there not being enough wallop left in the battery to turn the engine (the hard bit).

I'd check the battery first.
If the battery is ok but still the engine doent turn, the I'd hasve the starter off to check that spins ok. If it does, and the engine seems seized, then you may have deeper problems.

 

[david_bagshaw]

water / damp up exhaust corroding cylinders

frost damage (dip oil level for this one, along with inspection)


exhaust water flooding engine during slipping / launch


all expensive to repair.

 

[narooma]

Hi Alan,
What we were looking for was what could possibly be the cause if the battery/ starter checked out ok

David

 

[bazobeleza]

sounds more like a flat battery, however you can easily check that the engine is turning over simply by putting a large socket and bar on the nut at hte end of the crank, the one with a large pulley on it and turning it. if the engine turns over the problem lies elsewhere.

 

[richardabeattie]

When you say "trying to turn by hand is impossible" do you mean you cannot start it by hand or that it you cannot move the starting handle - ie the engine is siezed up in some way?

 

[CPD]

If the battery/starter looks ok and the engine will not spin, then it is seized. Others will be more experienced than I with the options open if that is the case.

If it turns but doesnt fire up, then its either air, fuel, compression,or a mixture of all 3. Renew fuel and air filters and have the compression checked out. Replace the fuel if it is suspect, in fact I'd be tempted to do that anyway.

Good luck with it.

 

[narooma]

My concern was water back through the exhaust but thought it unlikely as the boat has been in the water throughout the winter,although it has been rough at times.

NO it will not turn by hand ..he didn't have a big wrench but I applied quite a bit of torque with a bar and some rope round the shaft..didn't move an inch.

 

[MoodySabre]

The clunk is probably the solenoid not the starter. The connections at the battery terminals, the battery lead to the solenoid and the lead from the solenoid to starter should be cleaned and tightened before applying some vaseline. If those are all good and still no joy then take the starter off and check that it turns.

Even if you can't start the engine on a handle you can perhaps turn it over with compression lever pulled out or put a big spanner on the fan belt pulley. Any slight movements will show it is not seized. The starter is then top suspect - cheap to get it checked at an auto-electrics place.

Unlikely to have seized the engine unless you left it with water in the bores. The only way to do that in the water is to keep turning over but not starting and with the seacock open.

 

[narooma]

Unlikely to have seized the engine

Hope not for his sake.

Thanks to all for replies.

 

[pampas]

Check that the valves are not frozen in the open position, remove cover, if one is stuck down tap with soft hammer the shock will free, it then see if you can turn engine.

 

[Bilgediver]

What would cause a good water cooled engine, which had not been run for four months, to lock up.
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The normal reason for a hefty clunk I am afraid is bad news!!!! Sounds like at some point you have got water in a bore and the inevitable after 4 months....R U S T... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Afraid it is a head off job and identify how bad...might be one bore only and easily fixed... Start praying ...

Suggest you work out how the water got there and fix so that this is not repeated ... Swan neck near outlet....anti syphon loop at engine???

 

[bazobeleza]

you should be able turn it over with a spanner on the crank, I can with mine and its a 6 cyl 6litre. If it wont turn over then take out the injectors and try to turn it over, if you get water out of the bores then theres the problem, but as others suggest, the most likely suspect is the starter motor / battery, also check the earth strap.

 

[david_bagshaw]

afraid pumping action on exhaust pipe by wind waves and motion with a cylinder with overlaped valves will let a lot of sea air through the engine. This is a big potential problem on motor yachts with generators having exhausts midships at the water line, while rolling at sea when the set is off.

 

[Heckler]

i cant believe some of the replies, can they not see the words, i have tried to turn it over!!
sounds like the engine is seized. one more go at turning it witha socket or big spanner, normally you can turn it a bit by grasping the front pulley till it hits compression,if you cant then its head off time to have a look at the bores.
stu

 

[roly_voya]

Not that uncommon for engins to 'freeze up' if left standing, not sure what coses it but it can be as if the oil has turned to glue. assuming there are no decompressors try taking either the injectors or the heater plugs out and squirting a blast of WD40 into each pot they try turning it again on the crank, flywheel etc. If it still wont turn then it is going to need a complete strip down.

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
i cant believe some of the replies, can they not see the words, i have tried to turn it over!! <span style="color:blue"> I agree with your frustration - some people don't read what you wrote in your original question! </span>
sounds like the engine is seized. one more go at turning it witha socket or big spanner, normally you can turn it a bit by grasping the front pulley till it hits compression,if you cant then its head off time to have a look at the bores.
stu <span style="color:blue"> I also agree with you. Trying to turn the engine by turning the shaft is not a very effective way of checking things out. You have very little leverage and you are fighting the reduction gearing of the gearbox. Try a large socket and lever on the crank shaft? </span>

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[chrishelen]

Before you strip the thing down try getting some thin oil into the cylinders and leave for a few days,diesel will do,if the injectors are hard to remove,get the oil in through a open valve you can get at these by taking the airfilter off and using an oil can with a long spout,worth a try before spending ££££££s

 

[Bilgediver]

if you cant then its head off time to have a look at the bores.
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Yep Stu.....just what I said an hour before.....Seems most want to be good guys and assure him a wee bit of WD 40 or something on the starter might fix it......Leaves it to us to be the bad boys preaching gloom and doom.


/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[narooma]

For those following this thread the answer is, sadly, that water has got into the no. 6 cylinder due to the exhaust being left open throgh the winter. (There is a shut- off valve near the end of the exhaust for use when sailing with a folllowing sea)
A careless and expensive mistake. This was discovered when the injectors were removed and a was thin rod dipped into the cylinders through the injector hole. Ah the joys of sailing !!