www.iFourWinns.com

Well after 25 years of service my starter just made a horrible grinding noise on the lake Sunday 8/18 and simply would not turn the engine over. I got in there tonight and tried to remove the starter motor so I can shop for a replacement. I have the tech manual but I can not figure out how to unbolt the starter from the engine. I assume it is the 2 bolts at the bottom of the starter, next to the flywheel cover. But I could not get an open end wrench or a socket on them. If you're gonna tell me I've got to pull the engine I don't know what I'll do. Any tips?

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wakeskate and wakeboard with no boat?!-
http://www.phoenixwinch.com

1994 Freedom 170
OMC Cobra (by Volvo Penta) 3.0L

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz0-5e6lfcY

this video seems helpful, I guess I'll remove the rear seats and engine compartment so I have better access to the bolts

and this forum still sucks compared to ANY other forum on the web, I'd love to upload pictures but I refuse to use a third party site like photobucket at this stage of my life

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wakeskate and wakeboard with no boat?!-
http://www.phoenixwinch.com

1994 Freedom 170
OMC Cobra (by Volvo Penta) 3.0L

I never did a starter on a 3.0 but have done one on the 4.3 V6 at least 3 different times over the years. You may need to get a thin wall socket to be able to turn those bolts. Be careful and make sure you are turning them the right way since you are using the ratchet wrench upside down lol
Also before cranking the new starter over, you might try taking out the plugs and ground the coil wire try cranking it with the plugs out to make sure that don't have a water in the cyls problem.
Not common but it does happen....that would cause what LOOKS like a starter problem but really is something else.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I can give that a try, don't think it would hurt. engine has never been submerged so I'd be shocked if there was a hydro lock, who knows though, maybe the cooling circuit rusted through

_________________
wakeskate and wakeboard with no boat?!-
http://www.phoenixwinch.com

1994 Freedom 170
OMC Cobra (by Volvo Penta) 3.0L

oh my! So I pulled the starter, I was able to get a socket on the bolts once I removed the engine cover, the starter is fine. So I pulled the spark plugs, still wouldn't turn over. After wrestling with it I believe I'm simply dealing with a dead battery F***! That being said, I had just pulled it off the charger last night under the assumption it had a full charge. It's on the charger today, I'll load test tonight, if it's charged.

_________________
wakeskate and wakeboard with no boat?!-
http://www.phoenixwinch.com

1994 Freedom 170
OMC Cobra (by Volvo Penta) 3.0L

load test confirmed battery is no bueno, so I gots a new battery, new spark plugs, the little billy bad a** with his tatted arms at Autozone doesn't know how to gap spark plugs despite the stack of gauges next to his register, oh well, I gapped em, anti seized em, and torqued em

put the new battery in soon (this weekend?) and test fire

_________________
wakeskate and wakeboard with no boat?!-
http://www.phoenixwinch.com

1994 Freedom 170
OMC Cobra (by Volvo Penta) 3.0L