I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

[snookharvest]

Hi,

I just bought a 2002 bayliner with a mercruiser 3.0L engine. Engine runned perfect so far.

Yesterday we got out, and we were crusing before sunrise, maybe 3000 rpm, not more, the belt broke. The problem is that we didn't notice that the belt was broken, and we were with the engine at idle speed trying to figure out what was happening. (stupid, stupid, I know, beginner's fault )

Then a little (just a little) smoke came out of the engine, As soon as we noticed it, we stopped the motor right away. We heard some noise like if the oil/water? was boiling.

After that, after sunrise, we noticed that the belt was broken (Stupid, stupid !!!!) so we didn't start the motor again. After being towed and taken the boat out of the water, I replaced the belt and installed a flushing device. The motor starts fine at the first turn of the key, but it seemed that the cooling system is not working anymore. No water is coming out of the sterndrive. I waited a little bit to see if the thermostat was stopping the water, but when the gauge of the boat went to 175, I disconnected the motor, I did not want to overheat the engine again.

Well, then I let the engine to cool off again, disconnected the hose that carries seawater going into the thermostat and started the engine. No water coming out of that hose before the thermostat. So I guess it is not the thermostat, it is not the circulating water pumo, so it must be the water pump in the drive.

Do you thing that is actually possible that the overheat has affected this pump. It seems weird to me, since the lower unit was disconnected since the belt was broken ...

Any ideas/suggestions, before I try to dissasemble the lower drive ???

Thanks,

George

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Welcome to iboats.....
If you are getting no water from the drive, you need to pull it & split the upper & lower to see what is going on.....
Inspect the impeller & pump housing & base, as well as the water pocket cover that is located in the upper next to where the driveshaft indexes with the driven gear, (the hole with splines).....
If the water pocket cover has beeen compromised or distorted with heat, it will need replacement.......
The broken belt caused the overheat, then lack of cooling water caused the pump/water pocket cover failure from the excessive heat of exhaust gases.........
Pray the water pocket cover is OK, 'cuz that can be a tought fix, the impeller & housing are easy......​

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

I disconnected the motor, I did not want to overheat the engine again.

What does that mean?

Do you thing that is actually possible that the overheat has affected this pump. It seems weird to me, since the lower unit was disconnected since the belt was broken ...

What do you mean that you have the lower unit disconnected?

 

[snookharvest]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Sorry about my english. I mean that as soon as I realized that the cooling system was not working, I turned off the engine, so it didn't overheat again.

By disconnected I mean that we belt as not there, so the lower unit was not rotating, right ???

I am sorry, maybe it is that I am a totally newbie with engines, but when I was thinking about possible damage made by the overheating, I never thought on the lower unit, because I thought that somehow, it was the belt that was providing "transmission" to the drive.

This is because when the belt broke, the engine would run, but I could not get the boat to forward or reverse gear. This symtom is normal if you don't have a belt, right ?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Sounds like you have more than one problem.

With the engine running, the pump in the drive will still be rotating. The belt has nothing to do with the raw water pump in the drive or the shifting.

It could be a coincidence that your raw water pump was also in the process of failing anyway. They should be changed every 3 years or so. Do you know any history of the boat and if it has been changed before? Have you ever run the engine without water hooked up?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Sorry about my english. I mean that as soon as I realized that the cooling system was not working, I turned off the engine, so it didn't overheat again.

By disconnected I mean that we belt as not there, so the lower unit was not rotating, right ???

I am sorry, maybe it is that I am a totally newbie with engines, but when I was thinking about possible damage made by the overheating, I never thought on the lower unit, because I thought that somehow, it was the belt that was providing "transmission" to the drive.

This is because when the belt broke, the engine would run, but I could not get the boat to forward or reverse gear. This symtom is normal if you don't have a belt, right ?

This is a Mercruiser 3.0 with a alpha one sterndrive, correct?......
No belt has anything to do with the drive engaging foreward or reverse......

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

......

 

[snookharvest]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Ufff ....

When the engine stopped the first time, I turned the key on and the motor started, I pushed the lever to forward, and the rpm's went up but didn't change gear. I tried reverse, the same happened. I thought this was because somehow the broken belt had something to do with it. Then I left the motor in idle speed and it overheated.

So maybe it is not the water pump that is wrong, but the transmission between the engine and the drive, the water pump doesn't work because the axle don't spin.

The thing is that unless I have the worst luck on the planet, the broken belt must have something to do with the "lack of gears" thing. Could that be possible ?

Any suggestions ? I just made an appointment with a certified dealer next week, but I would love at least to diagnose the problem before.

Thanks,

Jorge

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

......

 

[snookharvest]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

No, no I mean the V-Belt.

this belt:

http://i15.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/a5/81/d557_2.JPG

 

[Bondo]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

The thing is that unless I have the worst luck on the planet, the broken belt must have something to do with the "lack of gears" thing. Could that be possible ?

Nope,...... They have Nothing in common......

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

The thing is that unless I have the worst luck on the planet, the broken belt must have something to do with the "lack of gears" thing. Could that be possible ?

Howdy, No.

The belt has nothing to do with the "lack of gears" thing. It IS related to your overheat. There is another water pump in the lower unit also that may be defective or has failed. replacing it requires partially dissembling the drive (lower unit)...

..by the way, that punp in the lower unit is there to pump water out of the lake up to the engine.....the pump on the engine [driven by that belt] moves the water around in the engine(only)......the pressure from the lower unit pump pushes the water out of the engine and overboard thru the exhaust system by replacing it with cooler water. BOTH pumps are required to keep the engine from overheating.

If you tow your boat on a trailer and you want to operate the engine with the boat out of water, you MUST provide water to the lower unit either by submerging it in a large container or using a water hose and adapter before starting the engine or you will destroy the lower unit pump.

Your lack of gears thing could be the coupler pictured above, it could be a shift cable problem or it could be a Lower unit problem. If it is the coupler, the engine must be removed to replace it.

I don't know if luck is related here but if it is yours is not the best....but you're among friends here....a lot of us have no better luck! I like to think that luck is only something you need in Las Vegas......I don't go to Las Vegas (Well I actually do....but I don't do things that require luck!!)


Cheers,


Rick

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Sounds like you have multiple problems......
Usually coupler failure produces a burnt rubber smell....
Look at the back of the engine where the input shaft from the drive goes in & look for shavings of metal or chunks of rubber.....
A failed coupler will cause an overheat......
If you are going to take it in to the shop, be$t brace your$elf.....​

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

......

 

[cheburashka]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

I think the circulating waterpump belt probably broke years ago

Sounds likely. What makes you think the belt broke right then?

Seems likely that you were running without the belt, then the coupler broke, which was completely unrelated, which caused the outdrive impeller to stop spinning, making the engine overheat.

What surprises me is how the guy who sold it to you could have run it without a circulating water pump or alternator. Can the pump in the outdrive provide enough water to cool the engine without the circulating pump?

 

[snookharvest]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Thank you so much for all your answers. You are helping me to understand better how mi boat works and what has happened.

I am completely sure that the belt was on and functioning properly a couple of days ago, when I checked the motor, and I noticed it was there.

If it wasn't, battery would have gone dead quick because of all the electronics, radio, lights, etc. I have been using the boat for over a month.

I am also sure that the drive water pump was functioning because I flush the engine (with the hose & flushing device) every time that I have used the boat.

I am guessing that the belt broke, the motor then overheated, and that overheat caused the coupler to fail/break.

This happened just minutes from starting the engine, just a ride off the ramps (not more than 1 mile) and everything happened.

I was so happy with the boat !!!! I hope that they can repair it quick and to so expen$ive.

Again, thank you, I will keep you updated on the results.

:

 

[Maclin]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

As far as the which came first thing, keep in mind that when the coupler breaks the water pump in the drive will not pump water up to the engine.

Now you have an "opportunity" to freshen it all up to where it will give years of service before any of this happens again.

Goods luck, sorry you had that happen to you.

 

[snookharvest]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

Quick Update.

I Took the boat to a certified mercruiser dealer. They told me that in the first place, the drive has a different gear ratio than it should have. Water got into the drive and pretty much ruined everything, including the gears.

They told me that the engine was fine, that the overheat didn't cause any further problems, and that id didn't have anything to do with the water getting into the drive and ruining everything.

They are going to replace the gimbal bearing, and they have to rebuild both the upper and lower drive, the gears are all wornout ...

Totaling $2000. I am so broke now ...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I am so stupid ... (belt broken and overheat on a mercruiser 3.0L)

You can buy a new aftermarket drive from SEI with a three year warranty & the correct gear ratio for like $1200.00, that will bolt right on.......​