Replacing Starter

[Roger K Sterling]

I'm getting ready to replace my starter on my 2000 mercruiser 5.0. I have the repair manual and have been looking at videos. Does anyone have experience with this job and could provide any tips?

 

[scoflaw]

Simple enough if you can get to it. Might have to take the exhaust off that side.

 

[Pirate Lady]

That’s one of those “I’m paying the guy jobs”. Good luck.

 

[Roger K Sterling]

That’s one of those “I’m paying the guy jobs”. Good luck.

LOL... I was told it's not complicated and it's no fun at all

 

[Pirate Lady]

Not complicated; at the age i cant sit in bilge bent over long enough to do the job. Would not be able to climb out of bilge.

 

[JHornsby3]

I paid a been pole kid to replace my port starter. He physically got in and under that damn 4.3l. I can barely get on top. Best $100 labor I have ever spent.

 

[DWABoat]

Make sure you disconnect your batteries first. Double and triple check your wiring before you re-connect.

If you are using a gear reduction starter it may not be so bad. If you are using one of the older full sized boulders, then you better stretch first and get the ibuprofen ready afterwards!!

 

[Lazy Daze]

And just to cause you more worry if it's been a salt water boat, depending on how it's been cared for... removal of the bolts gets exponentially more difficult. Spray it down for a few days with something like PB Blaster to, hopefully, help.

The good thing, sort of, is that the bilge of that boat is actually a pretty spacious bilge - as far as small boat bilges go, anyways.

Oh... adding to what DWA said in his last sentence... I'd take some vitamin I before you start, too!

 

[Halfhitch]

OK Roger, now's your chance to show 'em what your made of. Get back to us with a picture or two and a list of the words you used.

 

[ttmott]

And for the Chev SB's that starter is shimmed and measuring for the shims and getting the shims installed is the really difficult thing to do. The life of the starter and ring gear is abridged if they are not set up right. With all of that said I would wager that most marine mechanics don't worry about the setup as long as it cranks the engine.