Engine Identity and Foot Question

[actaeon9]

Hi All,

I have a 1988 Mercruiser 165 4 Cyl 3.7L engine in my Wellcraft 190 Classic. Is this considered the same as the "Oh so dreaded" "470"? I see numerous posts on here that I should run away with it once it starts to have problems.

Also as a side note - I have a pretty pronounced left to right shake in the alpha one outdrive. At low speed (idle but in gear) I can feel it in the wheel but it's not a constant. On Plane its less noticeable in the wheel (and constant), but if you look at the outdrive you can physically see it moving left to right in a "shaking" motion. It's about an inch right to left or so. The skeg is bent, could this cause a this much of a "Shake" though? I had the Prop redone last year.


Thanks

 

[ziggy]

Re: Engine Identity and Foot Question

Is this considered the same as the "Oh so dreaded" "470"?

yep

i have a bent skeg on my boat too. mine causes no ill effects so i don't think that's your problem.

have you done any pm (preventive maintenance) to your rig? tune up on the engine? pulled the drive for it's annual pm?

my first guess would be ujoints for your vibration. also, from reading this. http://www.sterndrives.com/470information/470coolantleakrepair.html down at the very bottom, it talks about this engine being noted for engine vibration at idle. that might be something to look into too..

have you got a service manual. if not you should get one. it'll have a pm schedule in it. also trouble shooting guides + all the facts on your setup.. a generic version of some things to check is in the adults only sticky at the top of the i/o page here. the summerization/winterization threads. some service manuals are also available there..

 

[actaeon9]

Re: Engine Identity and Foot Question

Thanks for the info -

I have the service manual, but I just they had never referred to it as the 470, so I wasn't sure - lucky me . I actually think mine has been very good to me.

Would the U-Joints actually cause a visible right to left movement in the foot on plane? I mean we can actually hang over the back of the boat while doing 25-30 mph and see the foot shaking back and forth. I've never heard of anything like it less a bad prop or prop shaft, both of which have been checked. Of course, checking is only as good as the person checking I suppose!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Engine Identity and Foot Question

i think that 470 is just a generic term used for describing mercury marines 4 cyl. engine. somewhere i heard that it refers to 4(cyl)70(170hp). if it was a 488 it's be 4(cyl)88(188hp).. don't know if it's true or not... anyways, this generic term (the way i understand it) describes some of these engines..
170MR
170 alpha 1
165 alpha 1
3.7 litre alpha 1
190 mr
190 alpha 1
180 alpha 1
3.7 litre lx alpha 1

as for your ujoints. i don't know bad ones as i've replaced them prior to them being bad. but just think about how the cap and yoke on a ujoint would move around with worn or gone needle brgs. in place. as for the drive itself moving. i think that may require further investigation. steering slop? upper or lower swivel pins? gimble ring hinge pins?
the way i'd look at it is. be sure the engine is in tune since it has known issues of vibration at idle per the link. then go to the drive. unless you really think it's in the drive. then i'd be removing me a drive to see if i could go find what's up. drives are pretty easy to remove (and the ujoints are right there).. specially with yer trusty s/m in hand...
as for my other suspicions, i'd have to look in the book too to see what the procedure is to inspect them unless obvious...
it'd be nice if it were just ujoints...

glad yer 470s treating ya well. folks that have them and have taken care of their issues seem to love them for being real torque monsters...

 

[actaeon9]

Re: Engine Identity and Foot Question

Agreed. It really gets great gas mileage for being pretty torquey. And for maintenance I think we all go through it with older boats..

Thanks again for the help. My gut is there is something up with the lower end of the drive. I just can't see anything from the outdrive forward causing that forceful back and forth sway. Ready for the kicker? It doesn't do it on the muffs in gear. ONLY in the water, Only in Gear. I took a video of it, but I don't think it would help anyone troubleshoot it, just shows a normal wake with an outdrive looking like it had one too many mountain dews and coffee

Thanks again for the advice, I'll keep poking.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine Identity and Foot Question

I just can't see anything from the outdrive forward causing that forceful back and forth sway.

Ayuh,... Has it got P/Steering,... If so, Check the Actuator....

 

[muc]

Re: Engine Identity and Foot Question

Play between your UPPER SWIVEL SHAFT and GIMBAL RING ??
Good Luck Muc