Need I/O help please

artificialreef

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
504
Hello folks. First time boat owner here. I am fairly mechanically and electronically inclined and worked with fiberglass before so decided to purchase a basket case boat. I have good compression on both 4 bangers. The problem I have is one of the outdrives will not go down. I got the mercruiser manual (alpha 1 gen 1) and did the electrical tests and bypassed all the celenoids and applied 12 volts directly to the pump and it didnt work. I understand I have to replace the pump but I want to drop the outdrive so I can turn the motor over. It hasnt been started in 2 years. The manual also showed a manual release nut that you turn 3 turns counter clockwise but it was what looked like a plastic wing nut that disintergrated in my fingers. After that broke, I thought if i remove the hydraulic lines it would allow the drive to go down. All the hydraulic lines are removed and it is still in the up position.
Please help. What do I have to do to get this thing to go down.
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: Need I/O help please

Howdy,

Well, if you have removed the hydraulic lines to each trim cyl and it still doesn't go down, you'll need to remove the cyls themselves. One of them is probably seized internally.


Regards,


Rick
 

artificialreef

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
504
Re: Need I/O help please

are you sure there is no up locking mechanism? Sure would hate to tear the cylinders apart and see it still in the up position.
 

Gazza1

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 28, 2008
Messages
44
Re: Need I/O help please

I found with my first stern drive (mr) when it was left in the up position it wouldn't go down.. I removed the trim cylinders, removed the endcaps and seals. checked them found that there was nothing wrong with them, put them back and presto all worked fine.. I thing sitting for a period with pressure on them they bind up in a way.
Well thats what I found but I might get howled down the the bosses.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Need I/O help please

Artificial, just take the big pin that goes through the cylinders and the trailing edge of the outdrive out. The drive will drop down very quickly! (you obviously need to support it when doing that)
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,116
Re: Need I/O help please

Ayuh,...

Or,...
Just go out,+ Jump on the drive,... Repeatedly if necessary....
 

a70eliminator

Captain
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Messages
3,762
Re: Need I/O help please

Ayuh,...

Or,...
Just go out,+ Jump on the drive,... Repeatedly if necessary....

My transom came loose can I glue it back with some peanut butter.

Seriously, check that the PO didn't wedge something up into the pivit point to keep the drive from seeping down, it may have had a leak down problem, and you've done all this for nothing, all it would take is a 3/4" nut in the right spot.
 

Alumarine

Captain
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
3,739
Re: Need I/O help please

BTW welcome.

Your pump might be ok. It might just be the pump motor that's shot or perhaps in need of brushes.
 

Alumarine

Captain
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
3,739
Re: Need I/O help please

He's already past the pump and motor (hydraulics are disconnected)

Yes, thanks for pointing that out to me.
It sounded like he put 12 volts on the pump motor and it didn't work.

I took that to mean the pump wasn't turning - perhaps I was wrong.

I realize the drive is stuck somehow as well.
 

artificialreef

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
504
Re: Need I/O help please

Thanks all you folks who replied. I pulled the trailing cylinder pins and down she came. Looks like both cylinders are stuck as well as the pumpmotor toast. You folks are great. At least now i can keep the engines from locking up at great expense. They still turn over and have good compression.
 

fat fanny

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
1,935
Re: Need I/O help please

a70eliminator peanutbutter!!!!!!!!!! that's a classic. no intension of egging anything on but that's funny.
 
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