Help! I have had the unnerving experience of getting a 'phone call telling me that my boat engine had started itself and had run for an unknown number of hours with the starter motor engaged. The most probable cause was a short circuit on the solenoid, which is now defunct. I have been trying to remove the starter motor to have it checked out, but can't seem to budge it.
I have removed the only 2 bolts that I can find, but it wouldn't even move with a few gentle whacks with a winch handle and wooden block. Does anyone have experience with removing this starter motor? I'm perplexed.
Can you manually turn the moter over 
Sounds like you still have a bolt in. maybe a bolt to the block on the side of the starter half way along.
You dont say the engine cooked itself Was the seacock open as well?
If the motor was running and still getting current to the starter motor
perhaps the pinion is stuck to the ring gear on the flywheel preventing
the starter coming off There could be some serious damage in there
Hiko
Thanks for the input. It would seem that the starter had never been removed from the engine and it was just a matter of sufficient force being applied by a sufficently burley mechanic. Incidently, the starter is stuffed. The water inlet cock was open, I had only left the boat for 24 hours or so, and the engine will hopefully be OK.
