Doing alpha gen2 impeller and a triangular plate fell out

[poconojoe]

Alpha Gen2 stern drive.
While splitting the upper and lower cases apart, a small stainless steel triangular plate fell out. It has holes in it.
What is it and where does it go?
Thanks,
Joe

 

[Bt Doctur]

That's the exaust shutter, one in each side of the Y pipe

 

[poconojoe]

I'm a newbie with boats. I've looking around for "exhaust shutter". Found some info, but I'm still clueless to what it does and where it gets mounted. Is mine broken or did it just fall out. Is there two of them or just the one? I looked around inside and can't see any probable place it came from. Can't find anything in shop manual #14.
There's another problem in there. The water tube guide
is melted towards the top. The upper tube is OK. Could this be related to the shutter?

 

[poconojoe]

Oh wait...you mean the Y pipe on the engine don't you? You mean that shutter dislodged and made it's way down into the outdrive?

 

[Bt Doctur]

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/16/16D7R2.PDF

 

[thumpar]

Yep, it is a flapper/shutter for sure. If you have a 4 cylinder you only have one set if 6 or 8 there are 2 sets. Each set has 2 pieces that look like what you found. Time to pull the rubber boots off the exhaust and inspect.

 

[poconojoe]

It's a V6, 4.3L carb engine.

 

[poconojoe]

How does a defective or missing shutter affect things?
Could that have anything to do with a melted water tube guide?

 

[thumpar]

If it was run without water or an impeller that was bad and not pumping water they could have been related. Did you have either of those occur? Without water the rubber will burn off the shutters and the tube will burn up. The other exhaust rubber parts can also burn up.

 

[Fun Times]

It's a V6, 4.3L carb engine.

You'll need an engine year or serial number to find a new replacement shutter part number.

 

[poconojoe]

Never ran without water, but I only own it for one season. Who knows what the previous owner did.

 

[poconojoe]

Impeller was not bad at all.

 

[poconojoe]

I guess the best thing to do before ordering parts is inspect both exhaust shutters and any other rubber parts in the exhaust that may also have burned.

 

[poconojoe]

OK, pulled the 2 exhaust elbows off (V6). Found shutter assemblies on both sides well toasted. The good thing is that all the parts are accounted for. The other 3 metal plates were there. All the rubber coating was blistered so I need new shutters.
Thanks and pardon my ignorance. I'm new at this boat stuff. I'm more of a classic muscle car guy, so I am sort of out of my realm, but I'm learning.

 

[poconojoe]

Disregard