Productive Day Working on Boat

[John_S]

Its been a while, but got to hear the engine today.<br /><br />Boat didn't make in the water, last season. <br /><br />Pulled the distributer, and did the drill trick on the oil pump. Replaced the distributer cap and rotor. Found that the prior owner forgot to use loctite on the rotor or a gasket on distibuter cap. Pulled plugs, and oiled the cylinders, and cranked the engine over. Installed the new NGK BPR6FS plugs. Cleaned the oil reservoir (what is that gunk that settles to the bottom?) and flame arrestor. <br /><br />Took a little cranking, before she fired, and fogged for a minute. Let her warm-up, watching the oil pressure and temps. Motor was running a little rough, but found out the timing was at 10 degrees ATDC. Set base timing to 10BTDC, and she is running smooth. Nice to hear the sound of a V8 again. <br /><br />After measuring a few times, drilled and mounted the smart tabs. Did some other minor cleaning, etc. Lots of cleaning and waxing to go.<br /><br />I only have 2-4-C and Coupler/U joint grease in cartrige. Is one a reasonable substitute for spline grease?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

the question seems to be about the u-joint grease. i have no idea since ya don't specify the engine, not that i'd know yer engine anyways. but i'd guess that this would be a good start.<br /><br />

Bondo<br /><br />"Any Grease,.. Is Better,..... Than No Grease At All".........

i use this notion..........

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

I'm pretty sure Castrol Pyroplex Blue is the same stuff as Mercruiser Spline Grease...<br /><br />Castrol calls it "hyrdroactivated" which it sure is!.... try to wash it off your hands and it just gets stickier, and stickier.....

 

[John_S]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

I only have 2-4-C and Coupler/U joint grease in cartrige. Is one a reasonable substitute for spline grease?<br />

Yep, that was the question, buried in a bunch of what I dids yesterday. But, wouldn't mind comments on gunk in oil resivour, or impacts from no distributer cap gasket (explosion hazard, or just moisture protection?).<br /><br />The local, and only reasonably close dealer, doesn't carry the spline grease. They say to use 2-4-C, but thought I'd get other opinions. Maybe the specific spline grease properties are not as important, if you pull the drive after each season. <br /><br />I am traveling this next week, so can try some other dealers, if I get some spare time.

 

[Donald Terrell]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

John, I just replaced my dist cap among other things while performing a tune up, and it had no gasket, old or new. It is a prestolite V6, something I read said to put grease in the nipples on top of the cap and my new wire set came with some kind of grease. I didn't put any on, maybe someone can comment on this. As for the spline grease, I will be watching this post and using what the pros here recommend as I need to remove my outdrive. I am positive that my parts are marine and no one mentioned needing a gasket for the dist cap. When you say, crud in the oil, do you mean that you removed the oil pan or are you talking lower unit lube?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

As for Spline Grease,..... NAPA has access to the Sticky Blue stuff that Merc. recommends,....Part # 18-9200.......<br /><br />But,... If you're pulling the drive Annually, like you Should,.....<br />You can refer to My tag line.............

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

10*BTDC=Ford?<br />2-4-C will work for now ....<br />The wire stuff is liquid neoprene, to keep out moisture.....<br />You should post your make & model.....JK

 

[Don S]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

Don't see anyplace in your post about what Make, Model, and year engine/drive you have.

 

[John_S]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

'97 5.7L, alpha 1 gen 2, K series serial numbers. <br /><br />10 degrees BTDC is the correct timing for my chevy, mercruiser w/Thunderbolt 5. What was interesting is the merc manuals and the seloc, both showed the old style timing cover, with degrees on the tab. I have the newer composite timing cover, with the timing marks on the damper. Wasn't an issue to figure out, just expected that the merc manual would have mentioned both. <br /><br />The crud in the oil res, looks like very thick oil, maybe some of the additives that settle, over time.<br /><br />A gasket came with the mercruiser distributer cap and rotor kit. Plus another merc distributer, I have, had the gasket installed. Never saw any gaskets, back in the day when cars still had distributers. so thought it was some marine thing.

 

[Don S]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

That "Crud" in the reservoir is nothing more than the solids from the gear lube coming out of suspension. To prevent that, just clean the reservoir out yearly (I do them during winterization.) It usually takes a couple of years to start doing that.<br /><br />Merc just didn't change the pictures in the manual. But the specs show the new torque for the different covers. Also, in the parts, the picture is of the older style, but bolts, cover, gasket, and seal are all the same item number and part number.<br />Just remember, the OEM manuals were designed for the Mercruiser trained tech, not the home DIYers. <br /><br />Yes, the gaskets are a marine thing. Not so much for spark control, but for moisture control. All the air has to go through the vent screens.

 

[uaw9fan]

Re: Productive Day Working on Boat

Every coupler I've seen that has been greased with 2-4C or special lube 101 has been dry when the drive was removed. I'm guessing the teflon in the grease does not help the situation.<br />Every drive that was greased with spline grease will come off of the boat wet and slick.<br />I'd go with the spline grease.