Need help from OMC wizards. Modified Looper.

[Captaincj]

On startup today at the launch:

1st symptom was the engine didn't initially want to turn over. I had been playing with my trim at home, so thought maybe battery was low.

Hit the key a few more times and it started to turn over, but with an almost grinding/rattling sound.

Engine started and idles normal, but almost immediately after engine start, started to get a very pronounced grinding/rattling/metallic part rattling sound coming from the top of the motor.

Shut it down, pulled cover, started up again. Almost immediately the terrible metallic grinding/rattling sounded. Could not find any obvious signs of loose parts or missing tools...

Home on the hose, terrible metallic rattling/grinding from top of motor. Only ran briefly obviously. Starter does disconnect from the flywheel.

Very hard to turn flywheel by hand.

I very much doubt top bearing failure, as it's been to the lake twice this year, ran perfectly. Was on the hose adjusting idle last week, ran perfectly. Very pronounced sound began immediately on startup today, and sounds external to the engine, and something doesn't feel right with respect to the timing/stator/flywheel, in my limited experience opinion.

I think something came apart under the flywheel, but asking for your help.

87 Looper, big bore, lots of porting, Baker heads and intake, and Gold racing flywheel are some of the mods.

Christopher Johnson

[Captaincj]

When I rotate the flywheel by hand, it moves smoothly and easily at times, and then hits sudden very hard stops where I cannot continue to turn it without backing it up a bit and slamming through the stop point. The stop points are not from cylinder compression, they are hard mechanical stop points.

Sorry about the vocabulary, I know nothing about what's under the flywheel of a Looper.

[99fxst99]

Sounds like flywheel magnets came loose.

[Captaincj]

Not knowing what all the possibilities are, but that is EXACTLY what it sounds like to me.

Any pointers on how to accomplish that repair properly?

I have local friend who will borrow me the flywheel puller.

In other words, what items should I just automatically count on replacing since I have to open it up?

What damage has that loose magnet likely caused by rattling around in there?

Thanks guys

[mrichartz]

It's still running? Just has the metal grinding sound when it turns over in the same spot?
If magnets came loose it won't start..
I would take it apart before you buy anything.
If you have a camera look in cylinders or take the heads off.

[Captaincj]

It definitely runs. I won't start it again until I have the flywheel off and see what might be in there. But it does run and start.

But the sound it makes when running sounds exactly like a small metal part bouncing around/grinding around or rattling around inside the flywheel.

[keefallan]

did something fall into the flywheel vents?

[Captaincj]

This is a Gold racing flywheel, doesn't seem to have any vents.

[keefallan]

My apologies. You did state that. My mind was fixed on the stock flywheel with its vents......skipped right over that.

[rjdubiel]

It will start with a flywheel out of place, the outside magnets are charging, if one is missing or out of place it will still work. I had that happen on my V4 KR 13 wheel, I think it was. The epoxy failed that held the magnet and it slid over and was sitting right next to another magnet and the motor still ran just like normal.

[mrichartz]

If it is just a magnet..clean well check stator etc damage
And

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F113187958369

But any time I've seen even a single magnet come loose they don't want to start or run..
But who knows..

[Captaincj]

That's just adhesive correct? What if the magnet is damaged?

[mrichartz]

That should have one magnet but but check should be same part # just search it's usually 1 magnet and adhesive
Can get them at most Evinrude dealers..

[rjdubiel]

I can't remember if the gold wheels are clamped or epoxy to hold them in place. Once ya pop the wheel off you will know.

[BOATMANBLUES]

gold flywheels don't have glue in magnets like stock loopers...it's like a ring embedded in the aluminum...I have had the bolts that hold the hub to the flex plate come loose though...

[mrichartz]

Missed that even says gold flywheel twice...

[Captaincj]

Need a Gold racing flywheel puller. Anyone have a good source?

[racer]

I may have one but in the middle of a move so will be a couple weeks before I can check. Have you pulled the plugs and done a compression check? Only issue I have ever seen with the race wheels is ctr hub.

[rjdubiel]

If ya can't find on here you know where they are new!

[Captaincj]

I may have one but in the middle of a move so will be a couple weeks before I can check. Have you pulled the plugs and done a compression check? Only issue I have ever seen with the race wheels is ctr hub.

I haven't yet, something mechanical is binding under the flywheel. Turns smoothly and then suddenly hits a hard metallic mechanical lockup.

[Captaincj]

If ya can't find on here you know where they are new!

I will check it out...

[Captaincj]

Got the flywheel off. Two magnets on my Gold Racing flywheel came loose, had moved out of position, and have grinding/rubbing marks on them.

So, can I clean it up behind the magnets on my Gold racing flywheel and epoxy them back into position?

[99fxst99]

I have put them back in using an epoxy sold by my Evinrude dealer, a then OMC part.