Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

[glennj3]

I let the family go on without me and the boat, I worked on it about 7 hours, very hot.
End of last year I replaced the water pump in the lower unit or boot, (my first time doing it). I ran it several times with the water hose, it was stiff or hard to move into reverse and forward but eased up after working the shifter handle some (all this earlier in the year).

Today it cranked and ran fine, shifter was hard, would not move into gear. Ended up dropping the lower unit to check the shift shaft. Things looked OK and replaced it, same problem. Seems I got confused and put the shifter into reverse instead forward when putting the lower unit back up. After looking at the shifter and figuring out how it works, I realized it needed to be forward to install the lower unit. Seems the lower unit is in reverse when off the boat.

Got it right the 3rd time. Then the linkage needed adjusting. Spent some time in and out of the boat Finally I cranked her up (with water hose of course). She went forward and reverse OK with a little grinding or popp. Then with the engine off checked to see if the prop would lock up with the lever forward and reverse, adjusted it to do that OK too.

I read that you want it in the gear fully or the clutch might wear badly. If the prop is locking properly does this mean the clutch it making good contact?

Another question, with the shift handle farward or reverse and the prop locks as it should, then I turn the prop in the oposite direction and it turns and makes nocking or clicking sound, is that normal?
I did replace the gear oil too.

Thanks,

Glenn

 

[Pete104]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Yea, it sounds like you got it right. But you won't know until it's in water!
Without it being in the water, the prop has no load. Without a load on it you can adjust it all you want & it will still act the same.

You need to take it to the lake & see for yourself how everything feels.

 

[riptorn]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

You might have to change the shift cable. I was told it should be replaced when lower is dropped and taken out because it never goes back in the same way.
Just what i was told
Clutch?

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Right, I can't tell if the killer switch is working correctly without the load on her. Don't want to adjust it while hot either!

I had to adjust the top cable by guessing how much the lower cable would need need to move into both gears!

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

The clicking noise is normal when in gear and turning the prop in the opposite direction.

 

[riptorn]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Not suppose to do that out of water. You have to wait for the prop to stop spinning or just take it off.

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Thanks fellows, I did let the prop stop before moving into the other gear, otherwise it did not sound good at all. But on the other hand, while in the water, the prop is turning while moving forward and they move into reverse without difficulty?
My family is gone for the day so I am leaving for the lake (45 minute drive) just to check her out alone. Bringing some tools.
Wish me luck. If all goes well may head to the waterway next weekend.

Glenn

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Hey fellows, took her to the lake, to my surprise she went into and out of forward and reverse perfectly.
I drove around slowly for a good warm up and was looking at the engine while driving.
After hitting up to about near full speed, I saw antifreeze bubble out between the (not sure what you call it but where you put the antifreeze) and it ran down onto a spark plug.
I slowed down checked the temp and it was at 175 F. slowed on down, went to the landing.
After a while I went back out, it would not take the gas and go, would crank run fine at low speed and would change gears fine.
So, she is running hot and will now not run fast. Sounds like it just chokes down. I adjusted the needle all the way in and out, no place in the range would it take the gas.
#1, could the thermostat be bad? Did I do something wrong replacing the impeller in the boot? Is there trash in the gas filter?

Any ideas will help. Thanks,

Glenn

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Time to do a compression check and a cooling system pressure check (you can borrow the tools from Autozone). 175 is not overheated, You may have a bad head gasket pumping air into the coolant. In the meantime, with the engine idling pull the plug wires one at a time to see if you have a weak cylinder. Good luck.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Hey fellows, took her to the lake, to my surprise she went into and out of forward and reverse perfectly.
I drove around slowly for a good warm up and was looking at the engine while driving.
After hitting up to about near full speed, I saw antifreeze bubble out between the (not sure what you call it but where you put the antifreeze) and it ran down onto a spark plug.
I slowed down checked the temp and it was at 175 F. slowed on down, went to the landing.
After a while I went back out, it would not take the gas and go, would crank run fine at low speed and would change gears fine.
So, she is running hot and will now not run fast. Sounds like it just jokes down. I adjusted the needle all the way in and out, no place in the range would it take the gas.
#1, could the thermostat be bad? Did I do something wrong replacing the impeller in the boot? Is there trash in the gas filter?

Any ideas will help. Thanks,

Glenn

Antifreeze...hmmm... I guess its about time you told us all a little bit more about your boat. Year, model, engine, drive, serial numbers, pictures, history, etc....Several things can be causing your problem....and several things can go awry on a first time boot replacement if not done exactly like it says in the (good) book...
Give us the scoop and there'll be lots of guys here to answer your questions. Best of luck!

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

I posted a reply, it must have disappeared!
The engine is a 470 Mercruiser, 1988 model Sea Ray boat, cabin cruiser. Had it since 1992.

After looking at the diagram of the engine I see the thermosat is where the mechanic said it was not. It would appear to be between the Reservoir and the water distributor block. Which is also where it leaked at the gasket from. So my hunch at this point is a bad thermostat. So to replace ther thermostat do I have to take the metal reservoir off the water distrubutor or do I go beneath the the water distrubutor and take it off? Don't have the boat with me to take a look under to see.

Now for the carburator problem of choking off when attempting to give her throttle, be it in neutral or otherwise.

Glenn

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

I am not convinced that you have a bad thermostat. It has a 160 thermostat in it, so operating temp is 165-200, so you are not boiling over, and 175 is by no means overheating. The coolant bubbling out of the reservoir is of major concern.

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Well it may not be overheating per say but is heating much more than normal, she usualy runs around 145 or so. Yes the coolant boiled out between the gasket of the reservoir and only at the 177 degree mark.

GG

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Had the day off, put the outdrive into a small pool I have, pulled the hose from the pickup at the heat exchanger, cranked up the engine, no water being pumped from the water pump!! Never been in the lake but those infamous 15 to 20 minutes last Monday!
Guess I'll pull the lower outdrive off and take a look at the pump.
Glenn

 

[achris]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

If you've run for 15-20 minutes without water I'll put money on the water pocket cover being absolutely crispy too.... When you drop the gear housing, look up into the bottom of the drive-shaft housing and see that square plastic cover that the copper water tube goes into... That is the water pocket cover and if it's got ANY signs of having been melted, it's gotta be replaced... Use a flash-light and check it properly...

With a 470, any form of overheat, even if it didn't show on the gauge, you must do a compression check to make sure you haven't done a head gasket...

My money's on the impeller being ok, and you missed the water tube into the pump housing when you reassembled it.... All the above is still applicable I'm afraid....

Chris........

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Had the day off, put the outdrive into a small pool I have, pulled the hose from the pickup at the heat exchanger, cranked up the engine, no water being pumped from the water pump!! Never been in the lake but those infamous 15 to 20 minutes last Monday!
Guess I'll pull the lower outdrive off and take a look at the pump.
Glenn

I get a little shakey when I hear people talk about running their drives in a "small pool". I would be very leery about not having enough water to provide the proper suction head to the pump impeller. Why not use muffs? Just curious, I guess. I recently read someone giving someone else kudos (thumbs up) for using a tub vice using muffs. What do the pros say? I'll be checking back to hear how your impeller inspection comes out. Hope you find your problem!

 

[achris]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

I.... I recently read someone giving someone else kudos (thumbs up) for using a tub vice using muffs. What do the pros say? ...

In the bad ol' days, half a 50 gallon drum was the norm... No problems with that as long as there is a hose in there keeping it full... The thing you can't do easily is drop it in gear.... All the water leaves the drum rather quickly... :facepalm:

We had a test tank for running big engines. Just back to the boat up and lower them in... It was BIG, about 8 foot long and 6 foot wide, and well deep enough to cope, but again, running anything with a decent amount of power in gear would mean emptying the tank in fairly short order...

Muff or tub, as long as you keep the water level above the intakes.... choose your poison....

Chris........

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Guess I don't complete my replies, come back and it is not there.
So I will move on ahead to now.
The pool I used covered the intake well, had a hose in it to keep her up Actually put her into gear, did well.
Now the lower unit is off, the the water pocket looks normal looks like a rubber seal or something. The pipe fits into it snugly.
The impeller is busted up for some reason. Just happen to have a new one available. Had to use a drimel tool to cut off the old impeller.
Glenn

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

If anyone knows for sure which way the gaskets fit, just to make sure they were on correctly. I did take it to my mechanic last year, he checked it all out prior to me replacing the unit onto the boat. He said it was all together correctly.
Strange the o ring near the gear shaft was not there.
There was smutty substance all around the outside of the pump housing.

GG

 

[glennj3]

Re: Pulled Boat out for first outing today, worked on it all day....

Has anyone else had difficulty going on line to iboat.com the past two days? I have.
Anywho, put my impeller back on, had toreallyy polish the shaft to make it slide down, got hot and I had to cut it off with a drimel tool. The shaft was not smooth where the impeller sits on the shaft.
I went to Home Depot and bought the O ring for the upper gear shaft, looks like it fits fine. Does anyone know the correct size that should be there. I measured the shaft and O ring slot. Came up with 7/8 " outside and 3/4 " inside and 1/16. I don't know about the 1/16 part but it appears to protrude out far enough. What does it do anyhow, just keep sloshing water and trash from going up into the shaft gear?

Look forward to hearing from you fellow.

Glenn