Snapped starter bolt

• Jul 8, 2020

• #1

D

Don O'Gorman

Member

May 28, 2020

46

Boat Info

1985 Sea Ray Seville w/ a 1992 Mercruiser 140 3.0 engine. Alpha 1

Engines

Mercruiser 140 3.0 Alpha One out drive

Ok so I have a 1992 MerCruiser 3.0 Alpha One and somehow one of the bolts on the starter snapped and the snapped part is still in the hole. it is very difficult to get to it but I have tried unsuccessfully to drill a titanium fit into the bolt in hopes of extracting it. My question is can I live with just the one bolt and I just make sure it's tightened up really well or are there any suggestions for getting this bolt out or might there be another way of securing the starter other than the one bolt that I have left. Thanks for any feedback I can get.

 

• Jul 8, 2020

• #2

S

scoflaw

Well-Known Member

Aug 10, 2011

6,395

cape cod mass, cape coral fl

Boat Info

1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496

Engines

502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1

Won't last with 1 bolt.

 

• Jul 8, 2020

• #3

Creekwood

Well-Known Member

GOLD Sponsor

Apr 26, 2009

5,823

Oakville and Georgian Bay, Ontario

Boat Info

'97 330 Sundancer, Raymarine C80 suite with radar, Mercury 310 Hypalon w/8hp Yammie 2stk

Engines

2X 454 carbs w/ vDrives

You should be able to drill into the broken bolt with the right bit and then use an extractor to try to get it out. You will need a long period of soaking with PB Blaster or some other penetrating oil before trying to use the extractor. If youbreak off the extractor you will have a much bigger issue.

Another idea would be to remove the other bolt, take the starter off, and the see if vice grips can give you enough grip to get it out (after long soaking with penetrating oil). Lots of Youtube videos on how to remove a rounded off bolt will give you some ideas to get a broken bolt out if you have access to get around it.

Good luck. Working on starters on boats is horrible stuff because of access.

 

• Jul 8, 2020

• #4

El Capitan

Well-Known Member

Jul 9, 2014

3,829

Chicago IL./Vero Beach, Fl

Boat Info

1970 SRV 180 w 2.5L Mercruiser.
2000 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer

Engines

120HP Mercruiser

One day, a beautiful day w the family outing everyone having a blast you’re going to turn the key to get home... when all of a sudden you hear a screeching noise. It’s the starter not engaging the flywheel.

Get it fixed professionally.

 

• Jul 8, 2020

• #5

S

scoflaw

Well-Known Member

Aug 10, 2011

6,395

cape cod mass, cape coral fl

Boat Info

1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496

Engines

502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1

Might be easier just to pull the motor before you make a mess of it.

 

• Jul 8, 2020

• #6

D

Don O'Gorman

Member

May 28, 2020

46

Boat Info

1985 Sea Ray Seville w/ a 1992 Mercruiser 140 3.0 engine. Alpha 1

Engines

Mercruiser 140 3.0 Alpha One out drive

Ok guys....thanks much....was trying not to pull the motor but that may be the only option if I can't get a bit to bite. Probably asking for pie in the sky but if I snug up throne bolt that I have left do you think I could get at least through the rest of this season and then had the engine pulled in the offseason or am I just playing with fire by doing that?

 

• Jul 8, 2020

• #7

S

scoflaw

Well-Known Member

Aug 10, 2011

6,395

cape cod mass, cape coral fl

Boat Info

1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496

Engines

502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1

Make sure your Sea Tow membership is current. Not sure which bolt broke but it's not uncommon to bust the ear off the block. If you think life sucks now.