a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

[NoGin]

1987 Merc 190 MR 470 twins
Alpha Gen 1 stern drives

1. Yesterday when pulling my boys on the tube my port engine came out of gear and would not engage F and R. Very soon she overheated. Earlier in the day I heard a clunk, did a quick inspection, found nothing and continued out. Inspected today and found that the prop does not spin freely when engage in F with the engine off. - U-Joint?

2. After limping in on the starboard engine and dropping the wife and kids off at the dock the engine stalled and would not start. I have a half a tank of gas and good spark. I noticed I was not getting fuel into the carb. Today I added 8 gallons and whalla - good fuel flow into the carb. - Bad Pick up tube?

3. When trying to start the starboard engine she made a retched squeeking type of noise that got worse the more I cranked her. Cant pinpoint where it's coming from but I know it's not from my power steering belt. - starter going bad?

Thanks guys.

 

[Thumbtack]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

I had problem one in the past and it ended up being the engine coupler.

 

[searay3]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

1. - Have to look. Could be a bad coupler, but inspect the gear oil. Pull the top off the outdrive and inspect the gears. Pull the drive and look at the joints. My bet is the drive itself locked up.
2. Quite possible form what you describe. Have to remove it and inspect.
3. Too many variables to say. Maybe pull the drive and try again.
With all your issues, you need to pull the boat, pull the drives, do some inspecting and eliminating of problems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

Ayuh,....

#1,.. It could be the Coupler, or the vertical shaft Broke at the oring groove at the top...
#2,.. You're on the Right track,... It's a Fuel Delivery Issue...
It could be Anything between the Tank,+ the motor... Ya gotta Look...
#3,.. I'd say a Closer look is inline... It Could be Anything that's rotating....

 

[NoGin]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

... ahhhhhh

1. Agreed - Going to have her hauled soon and inspect the port drive.

2. Pulled the starboard pick up tube tonight and it looks fine. It is a little short about 1 inch off the bottom but that's not going to stop fuel from being delivered with 50 gallons or so in the tank. I did notice some hair like particles in the screens in both the bottom and top of the pick up tube. ???? ??????
perhaps fuel pump going and working intermittently?

3. Started the starboard engine today after adding the fuel and she didn't make this noise again. I shifted into F and R and no noise at all. Only when I had the issue when she didn't turn over last night ???

 

[NoGin]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

I am either going to limp around on the starboard engine the rest of the season once I figure out the fuel delivery issue or buy a good used outdrive. Then over the winter I will rebuild my current outdrive and keep as a spare for next season.

Anyone in LI - NY that may have a Merc Alpha Gen I Outdrive they want to sell please PM me ASAP. Thanks!!!

 

[NoGin]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

I am going to concentrate my efforts on the starboard engine as I know once I figure this issue out i can limp around on just the one engine just fine.

When I did not have fuel delivery to the carb I heard this screatching noise that I think may have been coming from the starter ( # 3 above ). Given no fuel to the carb and cranking the engine and not turning over, why would the starter screatch? I am trying to trouble shoot this to see if the starter may be weak and if I should just go ahead and replace it. Don't want to do this now if I don't have to though seeing as I am going to be shelling out a ton of money for the port engine drive.

Thanks.

~ Maybe it's not the starter ..... any other ideas????

 

[NoGin]

Re: a MULTITUDE of Problems - Please help

Pulled the starboard fuel pick up tube and found a screen at each end of the tube that were both majorly clogged. I removed the lower one and tried to remove the top one but he somehow glued it in and causing me some major grief. Since my port side needs a new drive and I will not be running on this motor I switched pick up tubes. The port side had just one screen at the bottom which was clean. Starboard engine runs great now!

.... but why the screatching when cranking with no fuel delivery to the carb???