Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

[enn858]

Hi

I have a 175 BC with a 175 Mercruiser FWC
I have 2 questions:

1) The outdrive has the standard (zinck?) anodes - but as the boat only runs in Fresh water should i change anodes to eg. magnesium? - i have no mercatode installed - would this make any diff?

2) The engine (2007 model) should have a over rev. limiter according to merc. but in the original workshopmanual it is not described - does anyone know how this over rev. limiter works and at what rpm it kicks in?

3) I have im just making the 20H service incl alignment check etc (have manual and all tools) i will also replace the impeller and do a pressure/vacum chack before instaling the drive again - but how do i block off the drive lube monitor connection on the upper leg? i cannot pressure check when the leg has this open oil channal - any good ideas? The leg will be stored in my workshop until next spring - but would like to make everything ready so that the boat can come back on the water as soon as the ice on our lake is gone - hopefully in April next year

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

1),....... i've never had Any Problems with the original Zincs,..... Donno........

2),....... The Rev-Limiter is part of the T-Bolt V Ignition system............

3),......... Why,... would you want to Change the Impeller with Only 20hrs on it,..??..
Same Question on the Pressure/ Vacuum Tests,..??....
It's Brand New.......
If there's No Signs of Water in the outdrive Oil,...... Wait till there's a few Hours on it.........

Btw,...... There's a Check- Valve at the Outdrive to Gimbel Housing connection.........

 

[krazyballer489]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

ya u shouldnt have to change the impeller until it goes on one of my boats it was an 86 never changed it until this year

 

[enn858]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

1),....... i've never had Any Problems with the original Zincs,..... Donno........
Some seems to recomend magnesium anodes - that`s why i am asking

2),....... The Rev-Limiter is part of the T-Bolt V Ignition system............
Yes but when - at what rpm does it kick in? mine runs 5200 at WOT (max 4800) and there is no reaction - so it must be set higher or?

3),......... Why,... would you want to Change the Impeller with Only 20hrs on it,..??..
I have the outdrive off and in my workshop - i like to have a new impeller each year.
Same Question on the Pressure/ Vacuum Tests,..??....
It's Brand New.......
After separating upper/lower leg it would make sence to check the sealing.

If there's No Signs of Water in the outdrive Oil,...... Wait till there's a few Hours on it.........

Btw,...... There's a Check- Valve at the Outdrive to Gimbel Housing connection.........

OK does this valve sit on the upper gearcase side? or on the gimbal husing side?

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

1. The anodes come in both aluminum (for use in fresh, Brackish and saltwater) and magnesium (for use in fresh water only) so what it came with is ok.

2. I don't recall the 3.0L engine having a rev limiter. Where did you read that? While Bondo's statement is true that the Thunderbolt V does have a rev limiter, the 3.0L engines don't use the TBV ignition, they use the Delco EST ignition.

3. The Alpha I Gen II impellers do not need replaced that often. Replacing them after 3 boating season is a good preventive maintenance rule of thumb.
No need for a pressure and vacuum check unless you have water in the oil or leaking oil. If you take it apart to replace the impeller, it's a good idea to do a pressure check to make sure the small quad ring between the upper and lower didn't get moved out of place.
But if you just want to do it, you have to remove the drive from the boat so the quick disconnect between the drive and the pivot housing for the gear lube monitor is disconnected. Then do the test. (after draining the gear lube of course).

 

[enn858]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

I want to replace the impeller now that i have the parts apart - and want to make a pressure check (i have the equipment so why not?)

I e-mailed Marine Power Europa (Merc. HQ in Europa) and asked if my engine had a rew limiter - and they answered
"Your 3.0L engine should have a rev limiter integrated into the electronic
ignition system. Description of the way it works is in the service manual.
It acts differently according to the percentage of the overrev."

What a nonsense answer.

My 135 can go to 5200 rpm on standard prop without any rew limiter trigging.
So would like to know if there is any and when it will "kick in"

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

It's a standard Delco EST distributor, there is no rev-limiter in it in US models. I have no idea if something else is installed in European models or not.

 

[enn858]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

Thank you for the answer - that is also what i thorght - i dont think there is any difference on US/EU models - at least i have newer seen any neither have my Mercruiser dealer.

I am a marine engneer and works on diesels everyday - but this is my first IO gas engine (have worked on Outboards before but not I/O) i would like to have a rew limiter - do you have any idear of where i can buy a kit and install?

My kids use the boat every day in the summertime - and if you eg. trim too far out i couls fear engine damage due to too high rpm - or is this not something you have seen on the 3.0?

Another thing i have been trying to find out is - the drive can be trimmed out to the limit the trim switch allow (trim switch is adjusted acc. to Mercruiser manual = 510 mm on the trim cylinders) - but when i pass wery shallow water i have a few times trimmed it further out (using the "trailer" switch) i know this will stress the U joints - but i keep the engine at idle - is it ok to run at idle with the outdrive trimmed that far out or should i avoid it?
I always make shure that the water intake is well bellow water line (actualy it cannot at all be trimmed so far out that the seawater intake comes out of water)

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

Hold on, why do you want a new limiter? The prop is supposed to be what limits the rpm, not a rev limiter.
Get the correct prop that will give you between 4400 and 4800 rpm (preferably closer to 48 than 44) and you will also have a better running boat.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

My kids use the boat every day in the summertime - and if you eg. trim too far out i couls fear engine damage due to too high rpm - or is this not something you have seen on the 3.0?

I may be completely out of line here, but it's not like I am venturing into new territory. Maybe you should teach them how to use the boat properly and if they don't operate it properly and responsibly, then don't let them use it. IF they can't figure out how to use the trim properly and how to watch the tach, I doubt anyone using a boat near them is going to be safe.

There are trim limit switches on the gimbal ring to adjust max trim, but a push of the trailer button overides that.

 

[enn858]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

Hi

Any good engeneered engine should have a over rew limiter - many things can fail and make the engine rev up - so to protect the engine from serious damage is only common sence and an over rew protection system exisists on almost every other engine produced today - but it seems like Mercruiser has neglected this safity issue on the smallest Stearn drive engine.

I know that i can change the pitch on the propeller - but it wont save the engine from over rew in all situations - and ALL other mercruiser stearndrives today has this feature build into the engine management system.

My Q about runing the stearndrive trimmed out past the normal trim range was: will the U jounts be able to withstand this as long as the engine is only idling in forward - the workshop manual is not precise on this - it stated how to adjust the trim switches and in one place is says it is allowed to operate with more trim if you operate under 1200 rpm - in another place it says that it is not allowed to operate the engine with the Stearn Drive tilted out past the normal tilt range.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

Any thing past Straight is wearing the U-joints,.......

When you've reached the Design Limits,...... Things begin to Stretch........

You Can run it at Full Trailer Tilt,........But Not for long.....
And,...
As to the RPMs,......As Usual,.... When the RPMs go Up, Things Happen Faster.........

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

Any good engeneered engine should have a over rew limiter

And any good engeneered boat should have access to the engine........ But they don't.

And any good engeneered boat should have a fuel/water seperating fuel filter,....... but they don't.

The design of any good engeneered boat should be checked by Marine Techs before the design is sent to production.

 

[enn858]

Re: Mercruiser 135 / alpha one g.2 2007 year model

Ha - I agree - i am working on large Diesel engines every day (MAN B&W) - but often our development/construction department dont listens to us techs that make their "sh.." run everyday and it is us that has to face the customer and solve the problems in the real life far away from their offices.

BTW the first thing i did with my new 135 I/O was
-Adding a water/fuel filter
-Instaling FWC
-Checking every adjustment (incl engine alignment)
-Lubricating everything

If you make it yourselves you know it is done right.