Mercruiser Batwing manifold/riser Replacement -- When ? (as preventative maintenance)

[garycinn]

I have a 2001 Bryant 196 w/ 4.3L TBI. Being a 7 year-old boat with 300 hours in fresh water (raw water cooled), when should I start worrying about replacing these 'wonderful' batwing manifolds with the standard two-piece manifolds? Now, 400, 500 hours; 10 years? The thing runs like a top, but I plan on keeping her for a while and don't want it to fail and ruin the engine.

Should I take them off (never been off -- I know, I probably should have by now) and inspect? I am just now putting in new plugs at the end of this season.

If I did replace the batwings, I would get the conversion kit so I wouldn't have to replace the Y-pipe / pull the engine.

If I don't replace the batwings now, should I inspect the shutters now after 7 years? I'm a little nervous about shutters b/c I helped a colleague change his water pump impeller on a '94 Alpha and found a couple of shutter halves in the exhaust chamber.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Mercruiser Batwing manifold/riser Replacement -- When ? (as preventative maintena

What temp does it run at?

Fresh water got me could go 20 years, mine 23 years old, salt water i had to change the riser when i got it.

First time it goes anywhere near 180 than you know it's time for a riser.

How about your impeller in the drive?

How about your t-stat?

When were those looked at changed?

How about your rubber on the drive?

How about your out drive oil?

 

[garycinn]

Re: Mercruiser Batwing manifold/riser Replacement -- When ? (as preventative maintena

What temp does it run at?

Fresh water got me could go 20 years, mine 23 years old, salt water i had to change the riser when i got it.

First time it goes anywhere near 180 than you know it's time for a riser.

How about your impeller in the drive?

How about your t-stat?

When were those looked at changed?

How about your rubber on the drive?

How about your out drive oil?

Chief,

I think it has a Merc 180 stat, so it runs that or just under most of the time; never seems to wander. I change the impeller every other year (doing it again this year); t-stat is good, replaced it about two years ago when winterizing; drive oil is good -- never water and changed every year w/ Merc Gear+ oil.

The bellows seem good. No cracks, I store the drive down during the season and off-season. I know I am probably due around the 10 year mark just as a precaution.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser Batwing manifold/riser Replacement -- When ? (as preventative maintena

when should I start worrying about replacing these 'wonderful' batwing manifolds with the standard two-piece manifolds?

Ayuh,...

Personal experince,...
A Bud had a set on his boat, he blew up the motor, we shoe horned a 350 into it's place....
I give the Batwings to another Bud who builds boats from the Junk Parts pile....
Now he's rebuilding his motor because of water ingestion....
Bent Rods,+ All...
Those were freshwater run with unknown hours....

Personally,...
I'd do the conversion kit as Soon as I laid eyes on'em...

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Mercruiser Batwing manifold/riser Replacement -- When ? (as preventative maintena

Woa 180 t-stat?

 

[abj87]

Re: Mercruiser Batwing manifold/riser Replacement -- When ? (as preventative maintena

160 it the max for raw water cooling