1987 150hp BlackMax Questions

[mxzeatr]

UPDATED POSTS BELOW!

Hi all,
Been lurking for the past 10 days or so and there is a lot of good information on here for sure, but I still have a few more questions.

I bought the boat/motor two weeks ago and had it out a few times already.

1987 Four Winns Horizon 190 (18.5' open bow runabout)
1987 Merc. Black Max 150hp XR2 (14" x 19pitch Prop)

When I first started the boat during the water test I noticed that the tell tale stream wasn't as steady as it was on my 1994 50hp Evinrude. All seemed normal though. So we drove the boat around a while and decided to purchase it, but I asked the dealer to replace the impeller (for piece of mind) prior to me picking it up later that day.

They replaced the impeller, and it seemed to pump water a bit better, I didn't see the other impeller they took out, so no idea on the condition.

The first day out on the water we were cruising down the lake ~32-35mph with the trim all the way down, motor running fine, (merc temp c to h gauge) running about 1/3 temp, so I trimmed her up a bit. Running about 4000RPM and enough trim to make the boat 'feel right' (been driving boats for 20 years), I looked down after about 1/2 mile and the temp gauge was at 3/4 and seemed to be steady, I trimmed it down and it seemed to go down to 5/8 and stay there. While idling the temp drops to 1/4 and stayed steady for our 1hr plus trip down the river. Back out in the lake, on it with trim, seeing 'how fast it'd go' temp crept right back up to 3/4 and the tell tale was still not a steady hard stream, mind you I couldn't get back there to feel how hot it was so not sure if the gauge is accurate, just visual observations here.

The second 'issue' that I started having halfway through the day, was after running on plane above 4000rpms for a period of time, when shutting down, I'd get the oil alarm 'beep beep beep beep beep beep beep' for about 5-10 seconds and then it'd go off. It used oil that day (I marked the injection tank to check usage since the boat was new to me). I've read things to check as far as the pickup screen etc...A buddy did have the cap off the 'motor oil tank' mid-day, strangly the second time up on plane after that is when the 'issue' started. I looked the other night quick and the oil in that tank was a bit low then the 'overflowing full' that its supposed to be. Could it be as simple as I need to 'bleed' the system and re-pressurize it? The hoses etc all look and feel very good, no leaks etc...Main reservior was about 1/2 full with un-known oil type. I plan to run quicksilver premium (i think thats what it is) in it.


Sorry for the long post, just wanted to be detailed so you guys could get my point. I know a guy who's got a lot of experience with motors like this, and he's going to look at it for me, but not til the weekend since I'm away for work. Just looking for info/things to check.

Does anyone have a merc manual CD available for sale or know where I can get one? Can't seem to find one on ebay or anything for this motor...

Thanks!

-Eric

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Forgot to add.

I ordered a Teleflex water pressure gauge kit, should be here this week (I hope).

I'm not new to outboard motors, but I am new to High Perf (bigger then 50horse) motors...So please take it easy on me!

Thanks again!

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Hi all,
Been lurking for the past 10 days or so and there is a lot of good information on here for sure, but I still have a few more questions.

I bought the boat/motor two weeks ago and had it out a few times already.

1987 Four Winns Horizon 190 (18.5' open bow runabout)
1987 Merc. Black Max 150hp XR2 (14" x 19pitch Prop)

When I first started the boat during the water test I noticed that the tell tale stream wasn't as steady as it was on my 1994 50hp Evinrude. All seemed normal though. So we drove the boat around a while and decided to purchase it, but I asked the dealer to replace the impeller (for piece of mind) prior to me picking it up later that day.

They replaced the impeller, and it seemed to pump water a bit better, I didn't see the other impeller they took out, so no idea on the condition.

The first day out on the water we were cruising down the lake ~32-35mph with the trim all the way down, motor running fine, (merc temp c to h gauge) running about 1/3 temp, so I trimmed her up a bit. Running about 4000RPM and enough trim to make the boat 'feel right' (been driving boats for 20 years), I looked down after about 1/2 mile and the temp gauge was at 3/4 and seemed to be steady, I trimmed it down and it seemed to go down to 5/8 and stay there. While idling the temp drops to 1/4 and stayed steady for our 1hr plus trip down the river. Back out in the lake, on it with trim, seeing 'how fast it'd go' temp crept right back up to 3/4 and the tell tale was still not a steady hard stream, mind you I couldn't get back there to feel how hot it was so not sure if the gauge is accurate, just visual observations here.

The second 'issue' that I started having halfway through the day, was after running on plane above 4000rpms for a period of time, when shutting down, I'd get the oil alarm 'beep beep beep beep beep beep beep' for about 5-10 seconds and then it'd go off. It used oil that day (I marked the injection tank to check usage since the boat was new to me). I've read things to check as far as the pickup screen etc...A buddy did have the cap off the 'motor oil tank' mid-day, strangly the second time up on plane after that is when the 'issue' started. I looked the other night quick and the oil in that tank was a bit low then the 'overflowing full' that its supposed to be. Could it be as simple as I need to 'bleed' the system and re-pressurize it? The hoses etc all look and feel very good, no leaks etc...Main reservior was about 1/2 full with un-known oil type. I plan to run quicksilver premium (i think thats what it is) in it.


Sorry for the long post, just wanted to be detailed so you guys could get my point. I know a guy who's got a lot of experience with motors like this, and he's going to look at it for me, but not til the weekend since I'm away for work. Just looking for info/things to check.

Does anyone have a merc manual CD available for sale or know where I can get one? Can't seem to find one on ebay or anything for this motor...

Thanks!

-Eric

The tank on the engine should be plumb full with no air at all on top. It gets that way by cracking the cap with the engine running, and when it overflows, tighten it down. don't get carried away, they split too easy.

If it goes down even a little, the alarm should sound. It might be intermittent, depending on attitude of the boat at first. That's normal. The pump will pull all the oil out in about a half hour at WOT. That's your safety reservoir.

If the cap on the boat tank is loose, or the hose connections are loose, or one is pinched, oil won't flow to the engine. Most common fault is a kink in the line or a battery sitting on it.

hope it helps
John

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Thanks John.

Your the one I was targeting with the detailed informative post! I've read most everything you've written on here in the first 8-10 pages of the forum. Your FREE help to others is AWESOME!

I will check everything on the oil system.


Any thoughts on the cooling 'issues'?

 

[alwims]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Here you go for a manual, http://web.ebscohost.com/serrc/pdf?...a271-fe86-423b-8f35-33d28dd517e7@sessionmgr12 . I have the same engine except an '85 model. I don't think you've got overheat problems, just watch you temp gauge and definitely get a pressure gauge installed. I was shocked at how hot the port/left bank was allowed to get. That is the side my temp gauge is installed on and mine will run at 200 degrees and hold steady until I let off it, then it goes back to 160 or so. My temp will start to climb above the 200 mark if I run WOT with the trim too high. You'll just have to learn what your particular engine will do.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Thanks John.

Your the one I was targeting with the detailed informative post! I've read most everything you've written on here in the first 8-10 pages of the forum. Your FREE help to others is AWESOME!

I will check everything on the oil system.


Any thoughts on the cooling 'issues'?

Might be normal. I'd like to see what the pressure gauge tells you.

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Thanks for the link to the manual. I will be checking that out asap.

I was wondering if it was normal too, but thats why I ordered the pressure gauge. Just to be sure! A wise way to spend 35.00 on amazon for sure! I will report back when I get numbers, likely not this weekend by the weather report, hopefully next.

I've got a buddy who runs a very high prop shaft height on a Checkmate, he suggested some 'low pressure scoops' or something, they are thin metal plates mounted over the intake areas to force water into the motor, would that be another 30.00 well spent, or is it un-necessary on a boat like mine?

 

[alwims]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Thanks for the link to the manual. I will be checking that out asap.

I was wondering if it was normal too, but thats why I ordered the pressure gauge. Just to be sure! A wise way to spend 35.00 on amazon for sure! I will report back when I get numbers, likely not this weekend by the weather report, hopefully next.

I've got a buddy who runs a very high prop shaft height on a Checkmate, he suggested some 'low pressure scoops' or something, they are thin metal plates mounted over the intake areas to force water into the motor, would that be another 30.00 well spent, or is it un-necessary on a boat like mine?

If you find such an item, " 'low pressure scoops' ", let me know as it would be worth $30 to try them on my motor.

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

I'll get the part numbers from my buddy.

He runs them with great success on his 88 200 merc.

Here's a pic of what I'm trying to describe.

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Is there any 'number association' to the dash marks on a temp gauge like this one with my motor?

Not actual gauge but something like it. Is hot where the temp alarm comes on which is 240??

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Here are the part numbers that I found on another forum.

"High Speed Water Pickup" part #17280A2

These are like the above, for motors with 8 cooling holes case in the lower.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

If I ran scoops like that in the weedy water I fish in, they'd be plugged tight in a minute.

If you find that your engine setup requires that the prop shaft height for best performance loses water pressure, then the best solution is a nosecone/low water pickup. You want your engine to pull water in from a passing stream, not get it forced in.

A stock XR2 or XR4 can pierce the surface about 30% without losing water pressure. Mine is right there when I'm going all out with a light load.

Don't sweat it until you get the pressure gauge on it and see what ya got.

hope it helps
John

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

I wasn't really going to worry about much of anything until the pressure gauge tells me whats going on.

I'm also going to have a look at the impeller housing since I know that was not replaced.

I'm just throwing all these thoughts out against guys who actually know what the heck they are talking about. I just read and try and educate myself to the best I can, sometimes that works, but I've gotta get my hands dirty on the thing to learn even more.

The rear of the trailer sits too darned low to see where the prop shaft runs when the motor is trimmed down...I'm thinking I might find some ramps and back the trailer up on them just to see where it is...The boat is 23 years old, so I highly doubt its been an issue!

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Well I have an update.

I met a guy who is very good with these older merc's so he came to take a look at it last week Friday. So we ran it, and within a few minutes of idling in a large trash can of water it was starting to feel quite warm via the heads. I didn't have the water pressure gauge installed at this point so no numbers from that yet.

We dropped the lower and found that the top of the impeller housing had been way over tightened, and the stainless sleeve was cocked in there so we were assuming that the impeller seal was shot due to that. The motor was pumping water but intermitantly at best. We replaced the entire housing and impeller, installed it correctly, and ran the motor again. The tell tale stream was much better, but he still felt the motor was getting a bit 'too' warm to the touch. He asked if I was ok with tearing the heads off to have a look at the motors condition since one cylinder was about 8lbs less then the others. We did that and found where one looked like it could be leaking. We then tore apart the exhaust collection plates, and found the inner gasket there was ripped around some bolt holes, the motor was perfectly painted like from the factory, so we aren't sure if this was an issue or not.

Fast forward to last night, we put it all back together, blew some air thru the coolant lines, checked thermostats etc...Ran the motor and the stream was much better and with the motor rev'd about 1700-2000rpm's for a good 15 minutes in the driveway the heads were luke warm to the touch at best. Much better then before. I finished installing the pressure gauge after he left last night, and cleaned the oil screen, replaced 2 oil lines, and blead the system of air.

I will hope to get it out in the water on Friday and run it. My fingers are crossed hoping that it will be just fine. I will update this thread after my water test.

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

Re: 1987 150hp BlackMax XR2 questions

I also found out from parts searching with the serial numbers on the motor that it is NOT the XR2 that the motor hood says it is.

Its a Std 1987 V6 150HP motor.