Re: Mercrusier starter mounting bolt problem

Tim wrote:
On Jul 31, 9:36 am, Larry W <w...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Billgran wrote:
"Larry W" <w...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:g6r8gn$f8j$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Just a heads-up to anyone replacing a starter in an I/O Mercrusier.
I replaced one in a 3.0 about a month ago and it was the first starter
that came with new mounting bolts.
Customer called Sunday with a complaint that the starter was making a
funny noise. Turns out the long mounting bolt had failed/sheared off (see
link below). There was nothing unusual about the install and I know I
didn't over tighten it.
Quite a few years back, MercCruiser, Volvo, and OMC had starter bolt
breakage problems with the 3.0L motor due to vibration the first year GM
changed to the small-diameter permanent-magnet starter housing. Each company
sent out service bulletins about, and incorporated into the following years
line-up, an L-shaped bracket from the back of the new starter to the engine
block. The bracket kept the starter from wobbling when the motor was idling,
thus keeping the bolts intact without breaking.
See your dealer for the bracket and hardware as I'm guessing that it was
probably not installed and tightened like it should have been. One bolt on
the back of the correct starter has a threaded stud for the bracket,
lockwasher, and nut. There is a threaded hole in the engine block for a
bolt to fasten the other end of the bracket.
Bill Grannis
service manager
Thanks Bill,

I've replaced many starters with the bracket but didn't know about the service
bulletin. I'm going back and install one today.

I think Tim is right that this was just a bad bolt. According to the customer
they only used the boat twice since the replacement.

Larry- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, Larry. Notice where the bolt broke, right at the base of the
threads.
From what I understand, that when cutting the threads, sometimes the
die will stress the bolt at the base of the thread. it's not common,
but it does happen.

By the looks of the threaded end, evidently all was clean when it was
installed. I'm glad you were able to dig it out, especially in the
position you had to work with.

I know you've already done the work, but I probably would have put one
of the origional bolts back in.

Tim,

Yup, old bolt back in.

I do a lot of starters on the 8 lakes I service especially this year with the amount of rain we've had. People don't realize the need for a decent cover or automatic bilge - that's OK with me.

Larry
.

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