7.3 IDI Marine re-powered Boat

Gachong

Registered User
Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
Washington State
So I purchased my first boat that re-powered it with the 7.3 idi diesel. Then the starter went out on it. Being new to the boating community, I went to Autozone(AZ) and told them it was a 7.3 idi, pre-Powerstroke motor. I gave them a year and model that the 7.3 would be in. I told them it was for my boat. So I gave them my core and I purchased the new one. Unaware of the HUGE oversight that I just made. I went to install the starter and it just didn't match up well to the flywheel. I brought it back and swapped it for another style. Installed that one. Perfect match. I was getting great cranking power but it just wouldn't start. So for almost 3 days I would go to the marina after work and try to figure out why it would start. When I finally decided to use ether, I removed my air filter and sprayed some in the intake. While cranking, I saw the ether being blown away rather than sucking. That's when I realized that the starter was craking the wrong direction. So now that I realized what had happened, I tried getting my core back from AZ but I missed it by one day. They had already shipped the core one day earlier. Many attempts were made to get it back including calling the regional office. So far I am waiting for them to give me an update.

So my question is this since I was cranking my motor the wrong direction, did I do any harmful damage to my internals? I mean even with the wrong starter spinning in the wrong direction I was still getting fuel coming from the lift pump. Just no fuel pressure from the injection pump since it was cranking in the wrong direction. Thanks in advance for any help.
 

79jasper

Chickenhawk
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Posts
17,367
Reaction score
1,930
Location
Collinsville, Oklahoma
I doubt it hurt anything. The mechanical lift pump will pump regardless. Probably not the ip, but not sure.
I would assume for it to be turning the wrong direction, that it mounts into your bellhousing/adapter with the nose facing the front of the engine.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 

Gachong

Registered User
Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
Washington State
I doubt it hurt anything. The mechanical lift pump will pump regardless. Probably not the ip, but not sure.
I would assume for it to be turning the wrong direction, that it mounts into your bellhousing/adapter with the nose facing the front of the engine.

Yes, since it was put into a boat, they had to use a marine bell housing which changed the location for the starter. So instead of cranking in a CW direction, the starter needed to crank in a CCW direction. I'm getting a lot of grinding from the starter and I have been shimming it to no avail. I thought I might have done some damage to my internals.
 

IDIoit

MachinistFabricator
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2014
Posts
13,318
Reaction score
3,879
Location
commiefornia
is this a dual engine boat?
I don't know what youre running for drives or gear boxes, but ive owned a 42 foot houseboat with twin small block chevy engines, where one actually had a cam and distributor for a reverse rotation engine.
 

compressionignitionrules

Full Access Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Posts
840
Reaction score
286
Location
Bluevale ON
wow cool, marine 7.3 idi woudl that ever sound awesome with dual open exhaust!:cheers:

I've seen the old delco starters Cw and CCW , but only seen the mitsu reduction in 1 direction cranking.

if your starter is cranking the wrong direction, the teeth on the starter drive will not mess with the flywheel easy. teeth are cut opposite direction too.
 
Last edited:

DaveBen

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
1,916
Reaction score
633
Location
Ukiah, Ca
I am going to disagree with compressionignitionrules on this. Every flywheel I have ever seen is a standard cut gear. They can go in either direction equally. There is no "direction" to gears.
 
Last edited:

Garbage_Mechan

Garbage Mechanic
Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Posts
989
Reaction score
492
Location
Central Cal Foothills
Dave, I believe what comp is saying is that the flywheel ring gear is straight cut spur gears BUT there is a “lead in” bevel on one edge to help the starter drive engage. I’m familiar with this because I have built up flywheel teeth with weld and filed to shape when I had no choice.
 

compressionignitionrules

Full Access Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Posts
840
Reaction score
286
Location
Bluevale ON
Dave, I believe what comp is saying is that the flywheel ring gear is straight cut spur gears BUT there is a “lead in” bevel on one edge to help the starter drive engage. I’m familiar with this because I have built up flywheel teeth with weld and filed to shape when I had no choice.
my fault, too many years working on heavy trucks and common sense ideas get blurred with experience. many whacks to the head on ill placed steps under trucks hasn't helped. D'OH :Q

I would never weld teeth on a flywheel to built them back up, disgraceful :moon:
 
Top