I was out sailing in light wind last Saturday and started the engine to help get to my destination. When the wind started to pick up, I shut the engine off, but with the ignition, not the fuel cut off handle. The engine stopped immediately with a fairly heavy ka-thunk noise. I tried to start it back up and it did not turn over, just a thunk noise each time, almost as if the starter was barely engaging. Eventually, it started again, after struggling- almost as if the batteries weren't charged, and it ran for a while at 1500 rpm when it started to make an intermittent sharp clicking noise. In a short period of time, the noise became very rapid and the engine shut down hard. It has oil, had a constant flow of water out the exhaust and ran the entire time at 160 degrees. I got a tow back to my slip. Today, I disconnected the shift cable on the transmission lever as it was stuck in forward. This has been an intermittent issue, where it has been difficult to get it into neutral . I got the engine started after a few tries and it seemed to run OK for 30 or 40 seconds before the sharp clicking started slowly and then very rapidly before shutting down hard again.
I know I should have shut the engine off with fuel shot off handle, but thought that turning the ignition off might just impact my alternator.
Any thoughts?
I know I should have shut the engine off with fuel shot off handle, but thought that turning the ignition off might just impact my alternator.
Any thoughts?