'88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

[LVNeptune]

Not really sure where to begin troubleshooting this. I bought this 88 Sea Ray 21' a year ago and the only thing I had done to it so far was steering fixed (hose clamp dug into the power steering line), new gear oil installed and carbs adjusted (so the guy said anyway).

Since the day I put it in the water it seems like there has been a leak inside the boat but the bilge pump has been taking care of it. After 10 minutes in the water the bilge pump starts pumping water out. I could be crazy or being overly observant. I did notice what I think to be a hole in the OD. I would figure if it is a hole probably easy to seal?

I circled it in case anyone doesn't see what I was referring to. That could be normal. I really don't know. Besides this how should I go about finding out where/if a leak is actually occurring. Besides this the boat seems to run great. No weird ticking, the hours meter works and I highly doubt it was replaced, I'm the third owner. The first two people I actually knew so I'm pretty confident of that. 264 hours when I checked when we got back from the lake yesterday

 

[Don S]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

That spot is a casting defect, and shouldn't be a problem.

You need to pull the drive and check the bellows for water, and check the shift cable bellows as well.

Basically, you have to get back there and look and find where the water is actually coming in at. Then we can tell you what needs to be done to fix it.

 

[LVNeptune]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

When I took it out of the water and pulled the drain plug some water was coming out of that hole...Any disassembly instructions/guide for removing this?

EDIT: Actually I found the following on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q9iXAWsrYA looks like a full set of videos removing the OD.

 

[Don S]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...cellaneous-mercruiser-information-329915.html

 

[LVNeptune]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

Thanks. How heavy is the OD actually in lbs? Wanting to see if it really is beneficial to get a stand or not.

 

[Bondo]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

Thanks. How heavy is the OD actually in lbs? Wanting to see if it really is beneficial to get a stand or not.

Ayuh,... 'bout 80/90 lbs...

 

[LVNeptune]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

Basically 2 people shouldn't have an issue moving it? Gotta keep my boat parked in a special parking area and it's dirt lots of fire ants. I would be moving the OD onto my truck and moving it if I needed to work on it or to at least leave it off the ground.

 

[wrench 3]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

I can handle an alpha by my self, but two sounds better. If your pulling it on dirt, put some plywood or something under it. It's easier to handle if the skeg doesn't disappear in the dirt.

 

[dubs283]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

When I took it out of the water and pulled the drain plug some water was coming out of that hole..

that hole is a drain for a water pocket designed to aid in cooling the drive upper - you have no worries concerning it

your main concern is the water coming into the bilge, as stated you need to pull the drive and do some inspection of the bellows and transom assy

 

[LVNeptune]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

So what am I looking for? When I disconnect the bellows see if any water drains out? If it is the bellows need replacement? Shouldn't some small amount of water be in the transom? Seems like it would be impossible to water seal all of it.

 

[Don S]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

When you pull the outdrive, there should be no water at all in the bellows. If there is, then the bellows is probably bad, or the large quad ring between the drive and the bellows.

 

[LVNeptune]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

I will yank the drive off on Saturday. Seems like a 20 minute job to get it off. Is it bad to lay the drive on its side?

 

[Don S]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

I will yank the drive off on Saturday. Seems like a 20 minute job to get it off. Is it bad to lay the drive on its side?

It is, if you take your time ..............

 

[LVNeptune]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

Finally had time to yank it. Everything seemed as dry as could be. Someone put a TON of marine grease in it I think to help prevent it from cracking. When I yanked it the gasket was broken in the center at the top so there's a possibility it cracked and was letting water in through there I am guessing. There was a little spinning thing on the right that looked like it clipped under something else. I wish I had taken a picture but I didn't. It was disconnected when I removed the OD so I am not sure if it has something to do with the shifter cable or not. You know what I'm talking about?

 

[wrench 3]

Re: '88 Mercruiser 5.7 / Alpha 1 OD

That sounds like the shift linkage. There's a square bar with two points sticking out of one side, that can spin on the cable. Rotate it so that the two points fit on either side of the roller on the shift shaft lever. That's the lever on top of the shaft that goes through the exhaust passage.(sorry I couldn't find a picture)
That broken gasket most likely tore when you pulled the drive. I'd keep looking for the problem. Did you check the bellows on the shift cable like Don suggested? Also do a close visual inspection on the drive shaft bellows.