Need Help With 540 Merlin
 

I have a baja outlaw with a 540 merlin big block in it. Its solid roller, dart heads, dart intake, holley 850 double pumper, etc,etc. My problem is the boat is eating starters and gets hard to crank. I can initially start the boat and it will run great and I can shut it off and it will start right back up fine. But if I let it sit for an hour or 2 it doesnt want to crank, but turns over. In the process of trying to start it, the flywheel will kickback sometimes and break the starter teeth. If I let it sit overnight it will start fine though. Im stumped. Any help greatly appreciated!

How much initial timing do you have? Is the timing locked?

I had a similiar problem . It was a bad battery switch causing a voltage drop, drove me crazy till I figured it out.

a low battery can cause the kickback,or to much ignition timing.if u are tearing up starters,its probibally a timing issue.

32 degrees total locked

That'll do it...

What ignition do you have?

Msd 7

The flywheel only kicks back sometimes and the boat is only hard to start when its warm. The batteries are fairly new too

You could go to a 6 Digital Plus... it has a start retard feature, or use an 8982 add on start retard with your existing system.

Was yours eating starters?