86Rinker19ft
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2011
- Messages
- 38
Hello all. First off the basic info: 1986 Rinker V180, 3.7 Mercruiser (serial # A408965), 3.0 liter alpha one stern drive (yes I know thats not the correct stern drive), 14 x 19p prop (aluminum).
So today I took the boat out for the first time on the water since I replaced the engine. The engine was properly aligned and the shift cables just got check/adjusted at the marina (however the mechanic couldnt start the boat and there for did not check his work after setting the cables. He is however a VERY experienced mechanic that is the owner of a marina specializing in Mercruiser stuff.) So I went out on the water today, let the boat warm up to 170ish and then took off. The boat seemed to engage drive ok but would not really want to go over 2000 rpm without basically falling on its face? I could slowly bump at the throttle and get it to go to around 2500-ish, but at any rate could not achieve anything close to WOT. So I shut it off, checked the oil level-perfect (Fresh oil change with Mercuiser brand 25w-40 oil as recommended at the marina), coolant was full, oil pressure stayed between 55-60 the whole time, and the temp NEVER got above 175-177. We were out for about 20 mins. just putzing around at 2400rpm and then it seemed to want to fluctuate the idle down a bit and acted like it was falling on its face again. I rapidly moved the throttle lever back and forth listening to the idle and got it to smooth back out. I then shut it off again to see if it would start back up, which it did just fine. So we take off again and maintain around 2200rpm for about 5 mins, then I shift down into neutral and it seems to idle higher than normal. Typically it will idle at 700rpm, but now after driving and coming down into neutral it wants to idle around 1100. I shut it off and start it back up and it returns to the correct idle???. On a side note, the voltage regulator is not hooked up because the stator is shot. I have another one to swap out but i wanted to check the boat out and see if it would run first. Also when starting it after sitting I have to remove the spark arrestor and manually choke it because I am not sure how or if the choke works? Any and all advise is very much appreciated as I am trying to get all the bugs out before this upcoming weekend obviously=-)
So today I took the boat out for the first time on the water since I replaced the engine. The engine was properly aligned and the shift cables just got check/adjusted at the marina (however the mechanic couldnt start the boat and there for did not check his work after setting the cables. He is however a VERY experienced mechanic that is the owner of a marina specializing in Mercruiser stuff.) So I went out on the water today, let the boat warm up to 170ish and then took off. The boat seemed to engage drive ok but would not really want to go over 2000 rpm without basically falling on its face? I could slowly bump at the throttle and get it to go to around 2500-ish, but at any rate could not achieve anything close to WOT. So I shut it off, checked the oil level-perfect (Fresh oil change with Mercuiser brand 25w-40 oil as recommended at the marina), coolant was full, oil pressure stayed between 55-60 the whole time, and the temp NEVER got above 175-177. We were out for about 20 mins. just putzing around at 2400rpm and then it seemed to want to fluctuate the idle down a bit and acted like it was falling on its face again. I rapidly moved the throttle lever back and forth listening to the idle and got it to smooth back out. I then shut it off again to see if it would start back up, which it did just fine. So we take off again and maintain around 2200rpm for about 5 mins, then I shift down into neutral and it seems to idle higher than normal. Typically it will idle at 700rpm, but now after driving and coming down into neutral it wants to idle around 1100. I shut it off and start it back up and it returns to the correct idle???. On a side note, the voltage regulator is not hooked up because the stator is shot. I have another one to swap out but i wanted to check the boat out and see if it would run first. Also when starting it after sitting I have to remove the spark arrestor and manually choke it because I am not sure how or if the choke works? Any and all advise is very much appreciated as I am trying to get all the bugs out before this upcoming weekend obviously=-)
