Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

[BamaBoater44]

Hello all,

I really hope someone can help me out. I was on the water yesterday with a gorgeous woman...first date kinda thing. Took her to a restaurant and treated her to a great dinner. Afterwards, we got back on the boat to make the 4 mile trek back to the boat launch. Thought things were going pretty good....until the trim would not go down.

It was stuck in the up position and I could only get the boat to go a couple of miles an hour. Luckily a friend of mine had a boat house not too far away so we made our way slowly there. I tried to goose the engine and I picked up a few more mpgs, but then the prop stopped spinning. I am afraid I spun the hub or, even worse, the engine coupler. We ended up getting towed to his boat house, where the boat is now left stranded.

Is there anyone on here that might have any suggestions as to the cause of and solution to my problem(s)?

Not a great way to end the date, but we had a good laugh about it. Hopefully there will be a second.


Thank you so much!

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Also, the trim pump clicks when the down button is pressed, but nothing happens.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Was the drive in trailer up when all this occured?

Or just up to the trim limit?

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Sounds like the down relay failed. You could jumper across the 2 large terminals on the down solenoid to lower the drive.
Here is a link to the OEM service manuals you can download.
Manual #6 should cover the Alpha I outdrive.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=251571

Section 1C details how to test and fix your problem.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Also, the trim pump clicks when the down button is pressed, but nothing happens.

Ayuh,... My guess is, you've got Corroded wiring ends, or Bad wires....

Is there anyone on here that might have any suggestions as to the cause of and solution to my problem(s)?

I'd guess it's the Coupler, Not the prop....
Pull the drive,+ LOOK...

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

It was just the trim that was in up position. I didn't touch the trailer until after it quit working. Thanks for the link to the manual..I will check it out. I hope its not the couple...engine really didnt overheat.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

I hope its not the couple...engine really didnt overheat.

that sentence makes me curious if there were other problems as well.....didnt overheat? didnt really overheat? or overheated? either way it really has nothing to do with the coupler..... but i could be wrong.

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Cedar,

I had a re-manned engine put in it last summer. Do you think this has anything to do with it, or is it a separate issue. It is still under warranty, so I am hoping that it will be covered.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Bondo mentioned the coupler as a possible problem why he couldn't go over 2 mph.
Personally, I would bet the drive was tilted up enough that the prop was too close to the surface.
I would suggest he fix the trim/tilt problem and run it with the drive down normally to find out if anything else is wrong

 

[bomar76]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

I can't see how a prop hub could spin like that.

I am thinking major cavitation issues in full trim up

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Don,

That's what I was planning on doing. Hopefully, with the prop in the full down position the prop will engage. Just have to figure out how to get it down.

You are correct in saying the only reason it was going 2 mph was that the prop was barely in the water. We were the only boat around, and weren't making much headway, so I decided to goose it a little bit. It wasn't until after a few minutes of that, that the prop stopped spinning.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

It was just the trim that was in up position. I didn't touch the trailer until after it quit working..

if thats true then it shouldnt have ran hot unless the coupler did let go. not allowing the water pump to pump.

Cedar,
I had a re-manned engine put in it last summer. Do you think this has anything to do with it, or is it a separate issue. It is still under warranty, so I am hoping that it will be covered.

hard to say but i doubt it.... and you still dindnt say if it actually overheated or not?

Bondo mentioned the coupler as a possible problem why he couldn't go over 2 mph.
Personally, I would bet the drive was tilted up enough that the prop was too close to the surface.
I would suggest he fix the trim/tilt problem and run it with the drive down normally to find out if anything else is wrong

i agree, i run my outdrive up alot farther than anyone would even think about! and no i do not recommend anyone to do it either! so i dont need a reaming on how bad it is..... yet never had it overheat. even in full up position the intakes are still under water....



my guess...... trim died and you tried running it to long/to far and way to hard being trimmed to high....spun coupler. very possible

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

No, I didn't notice it overheating at all.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

You have two issues and only two. First is the trim would not go down. This at idle would not really be a major problem if you truly were stranded and could not be on land. It should have been fixed and you should have gotton a ride.

Now you run the risk of damage being done to the coupler, shaft, yoke, and u-joints. Pull the drive and inspect any damage before operating it. As for the trim pump, you probably have a bad wire or solenoid.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

No, I didn't notice it overheating at all.

ok, i was just curious because you said earlier "it didnt really overheat"

get the trim worked out and try it.

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Ford,

Sounds like I probably screwed up by running it. I was afraid of that, but didn't really have any other options.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Ford,

Sounds like I probably screwed up by running it. I was afraid of that, but didn't really have any other options.

Once you get the drive to operate up and down, seriously pull it off. It will take 15 minutes to do so. I you do not know how, just start a new thread and ask. It is very easy.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Ford,

Sounds like I probably screwed up by running it. I was afraid of that, but didn't really have any other options.

your not the only one who has screwed up!!! been there, many times.


3 years ago i was the only boat on the lake, head gasket blew.... ya really think i was gonna paddle???? fired it back up hauled *** to the launch......block full of water but i didnt paddle!!!!



start with the trim, and even if it is a bad coupler its not all that bad.

besides.... you did say she was gorgeous right? it was all worth it then

just kidding around.... stop thinking about it and get fixing it!

 

[BamaBoater44]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Cedar,

I am working on it. Trying to line up a tow from my friend's boathouse to the nearest boat launch so I can bring it back and work on it.

And, yes, she is a stunner! Got to get the boat fixed soon so I can get her back in a bikini!

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One tilt problems leading to spun prop

Why not do as I suggested earlier and jumper the solenoid to get the drive down and do a test run. No reason to pull the boat out of the water to fix the trim problem, then put it back in the water to check the prop.