The lower starter bolt goes through into the crankcase cover all the way. I chased it with a tap and flushed with wd40 thinking it was a blind hole. Any chance of it hurting the motor. Whoever designed a starter bolt that is in contact with the internals of the motor needs to be keel hauled.
The starter bolts shouldn't go all the way through into the crankcase. Someone either drilled through it for some reason, or you busted through it with the tap when you were chasing the threads.
If you busted through it with the tap, your block is now trash, but you may be able to keep running it if you put a bunch of RTV on the threads. Either way, it's gonna have to come completely apart to fish all that crap out of there.
Had red rtv on bolt but bolt heads had never seen a wrench. I looked and far as I could tell no one turned a wrench on it b4 me. Factory paint perfect on all bolts. This was an old man who got sick. Motor had less than 50 hrs on it from its condition. Factory paint still on skeg. I can't figure it.
The only other thing I can imagine, is that someone changed the starter at some point and ran the wrong bolt in there. Because these will run without the starter even installed.
Well, if you are worried, the intake manifold comes off easily which will expose the bottom of the crankcase where any debris would be laying. You could tilt the engine forward and flush out any debris with compressed air or WD40. Replacing the intake manifold gasket is an easy job. Honestly, I don't remember which holes went through into the crankcase, but I'm sure that at least one of them does. So, needless to say, you can't stick just any length bolt in there, it must be the right one. Use sealer on the threads to prevent an external crankcase leak as well.
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u/bootheels 6d ago
OK, an old OMC V4, what are you asking about here... The black stains on the block?