Alpha I questions

[SFT2]

Just bought a Maxum 1700 with a Mercruiser 3 liter/Alpha I and have a few questions. First, the trim limit switch is out. Out bad enough that there is no insulation left on one of the wires. Way out. Down still works, and trailer up works, so it's just the switch, thankfully. I don't have a trim gauge, so I was thinking I could just switch leads instead of disassembling half of the boat to change a rediculously expensive/fragile switch. Any thoughts on that? Next question is very much related. Where on earth (well, on transom, anyway) might I find the limit switch connectors? I see no bullet connectors anywhere in the general vicinity of the engine. I see a pair of wires coming from directly above the driveshaft, then to port along the transom, up, and across to starboard near the top, but no connectors to be seen before they vanish into a harness. But then it is pitch black out there right now.

Last, who's the genius that decided against putting a fuel filter between the tank and pump? This problem will be solved very shortly with a filter/separator. I'm a pilot. Water in gas is the bane of my existance. Alcohol in gas is a close second, but nothing I can do about that.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Alpha I questions

Welcome to iboats.....
If you could post a year or better yet a serial #, your questions can be answered mo better......
For whatever reason alot of boats with the 3.0 are not equipped with a water separating fuel filter.....
Methinks it is because they are generally starter boats & it keeps the cost down.....
You know you need one......​

 

[SFT2]

Re: Alpha I questions

Oops, yeah, guess that would be useful info. It's an 89.

I'm trying to keep from going nuts and putting AN fittings and braided lines everywhere. It starts with a foot of fuel line, then next thing you know you're welding AN fittings on the water pump and using nothing but stainless hardware... oh, wait... Hmm, guess it's already started.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Alpha I questions

There are no connectors.....
It is a straight shot......
There was a thread about a way to do it without major disassembly not too long ago......
I'd rummage in the 'search' function & put 'replace trim sender' in there.....​

 

[SFT2]

Re: Alpha I questions

Hmm, so is it safe to assume that the only wires coming through the transom from the outdrive are the limit switch and trim sensor? I don't have the Mercathode thing and I can't think of anything else electric back there. I'm going to order the switch assy. shortly, possibly today if I can make it to the marine shop, but until it gets here and I can get it changed, I'd like to get it functional enough to take to the lake before the weather gets too horrible.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Alpha I questions

It is.....
As long as it will go down & you can 'trailer' up, you won't hurt anything....
Just be sure not to raise the drive up too much with the engine running....​

 

[Jerico]

Re: Alpha I questions

Check this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=197507

The wiring info is there.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Alpha I questions

SFT2 - On that '89, you may have a filter on top of the mechanical fuel pump and in the carb inlet fitting. A water seperator is a good idea. I screwed one to the bulkhead and added a foot of fuel line from the tank to the seperator. Replace the two filters when adding the seperator.

As for the trim limit switch. I agree it is the dumbest design I ever saw. I keep my boat in salt water. Know how long the switch lasted??

On the trim harness, near the motor you will see two bullet connectors(purple wire??). These go to the trim limit switch. Disconnect and jumper them, and you will have bypassed the switch.

 

[SFT2]

Re: Alpha I questions

Ok, bandaid applied. I took the KISS approach. The wires on the switch had no insulation on them anyway, so they got twisted together. Works now. I'll fix it when I have the outdrive off (if I feel like wasting $100). I think a real fix would be a cable from the outdrive, through the transom, to a switch inside the hull. I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as waterproof, only water resistant, and since electricity and water aren't exactly the best of friends, switches should be dry.

I'm a pilot, and there are switches that we can't mess with in certain conditions (no flaps above Vfe, for example), and we don't have any kind of nanny switch to keep us from screwing up, so hopefully I can keep the U joints intact with self control.

Thanks for the help, everyone. And just wait until I decide it's time to tear the deck out and replace it

Chris- I'm guessing that the lifespan of the switch was less than the time it took to install it.

Edit: Oh yeah, I followed the wires from the transom to the pump and the only connector is the 3 pin (well, blades, really) at the pump mount. I considered unplugging that connector and whipping up a jumper wire, but didn't have any terminals handy.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Alpha I questions

i'll give you a piece of advice that was given to me about 10 years ago when I first got into this biz
"Just because you found it that way, doesn't mean that's the way it is supposed to be"
I cannot tell you how many times that is true.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I questions

If you go Here and download Service manual #6, you will have all the information for that drive available. Including wiring diagrams for the trim system. Also, manual #10 is for your engine.

I'm trying to keep from going nuts and putting AN fittings and braided lines everywhere. It starts with a foot of fuel line, then next thing you know you're welding AN fittings on the water pump and using nothing but stainless hardware... oh, wait... Hmm, guess it's already started.

You don't need any braided hose or AN fittings. Just get a filter, use 3/8" hose barb fittings with CG approved Type A1 fuel hose with some mini (narrow) hose clamps and you will be set to go with your water seperating fuel filter