Need help with the crank sensor

f575gtc

Cadet
Joined
May 17, 2017
Messages
14
Hello everyone,

I am in the process of repowering a 2004 Maxum 1800SR3 boat I purchased with a blown motor. I found a nice replacement Mercruiser 4.3L V6 engine which is almost an identical replacement to the engine that came in the boat. My only concern is that the old boat had a crank sensor right under the harmonic balancer and the replacement motor has the spot for it, but it seems the sensor hole is blocked out and the other smaller hole has no threads for the bolt to screw into. It seems that one engine used a crank sensor and the other didn't. What is confusing me is that both engines are carbureted and I was informed that carbureted motors do not use crank position sensors, the wiring harness that came attached to the original engine also doesn't have a place for the sensor to connect making me really stumped, unless the sensor connects somewhere else.

The original engine serial is 0W015792 and mercruiser parts lists the timing chain cover with sensor, so it is showing me a carbureted engine does need the sensor which would mean I have wrong info about the motors.


The replacement motor is odd, it has the Mercury serial number plate on the engine but the numbers are 021346 which doesn't follow any Mercruiser number scheme.

If that is the case, It leads me to another question, why can't the timing chain covers be reused? They are stamped with replace after removing, but if it is removed cleaned and a new seal is added, can it be salvaged? Looks like they go for over $200 to replace.

Thanks for your time and help.
 
Last edited:

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,345
only fuel injection should be using a crank sensor, what ign system is on it
 

f575gtc

Cadet
Joined
May 17, 2017
Messages
14
The Brunswick Manufacturer's Statement of origin I got with the boat shows it as a 190 HP 190 M C/A1 which I assume stands for Carbureted Alpha One, I can't find any documentation on the ignition system it has

Even the Mercruiser installation guide I got with the boat mentions nothing of a crank sensor for the 4.3L Alpha drive, but the old engine definitely had it

I wonder if the M stands for Mercarb since the serial shows this engine could have TKS or Mercarb
 
Last edited:

NHGuy

Captain
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
3,631
See if there is a Mercruiser serial number on the bad engine too. That may tell you if it too was a replacement motor. Perhaps from a fuel injected donor boat. In which case you need to make sure there is nothing else ruining engines in your boat.
 

f575gtc

Cadet
Joined
May 17, 2017
Messages
14
the old engine was ruined because the manifold cracked and water cut into the internals. I am storing the boat at a relative's house and I am going there today to check to see if there are any other plugs on still on the boat though I would assume something like a crank shaft sensor would connect to he engine harness and not the boat directly.
 

f575gtc

Cadet
Joined
May 17, 2017
Messages
14
So I climbed in the boat and there is no visible plug anywhere near where the crank sensor would go. The boat has a Thunderbolt V ignition system, does that require a crank sensor? I am starting to think the engine that came out of the boat wasn't the original...
 

f575gtc

Cadet
Joined
May 17, 2017
Messages
14
Are boat manufacturers known to install extra components in case dealer installed addons are purchased and need those components like they do on cars?
 
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