[Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

[zang8027]

I am new to boating (owning my own that is) and I just bought an 85 Imperial 170HP I/O. I noticed my gas vent must be clogged so I took the engine cover off to troubleshoot it. While down there, I noticed some hoses that are disconnected. I ordered a Selic manual but who knows how long it will take to get here.

Anyone got a picture of the engine (facing the back of the boat)? I have 2 hoses that are not going anywhere and I cannot figure out where they go. One in the top of the engine which may connect to the air filter, as I see the air filter has a place it could fit. The other almost looks like antifreeze on the bottom left, that runs no where. Its also low.

I am trying to troubleshoot two seperate issues and now I see loose hoses. Sorry I am not home so I dont have a picture yet but I could get one. Does anyone have a pic of theirs that I can see?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

I am new to boating (owning my own that is) and I just bought an 85 Imperial 170HP I/O. I noticed my gas vent must be clogged so I took the engine cover off to troubleshoot it. While down there, I noticed some hoses that are disconnected. I ordered a Selic manual but who knows how long it will take to get here.

Anyone got a picture of the engine (facing the back of the boat)? I have 2 hoses that are not going anywhere and I cannot figure out where they go. One in the top of the engine which may connect to the air filter, as I see the air filter has a place it could fit. The other almost looks like antifreeze on the bottom left, that runs no where. Its also low.

I am trying to troubleshoot two seperate issues and now I see loose hoses. Sorry I am not home so I dont have a picture yet but I could get one. Does anyone have a pic of theirs that I can see?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Yer title is misleadin',... You ask 'bout an Alpha drive, yet yer talkin' 'bout a 470 motor...

'n I've got a Better idea,... You post up some pictures of Yer motor, 'n the hoses yer talkin' 'bout....

Yes, there should be a tube, from the valve cover to the flame arrester...

Btw,... There ain't no Air Cleaner on a boat motor,... Very little dust in a boat...

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

I am new to boating (owning my own that is) and I just bought an 85 Imperial 170HP I/O. I noticed my gas vent must be clogged so I took the engine cover off to troubleshoot it. While down there, I noticed some hoses that are disconnected. I ordered a Selic manual but who knows how long it will take to get here.

Anyone got a picture of the engine (facing the back of the boat)? I have 2 hoses that are not going anywhere and I cannot figure out where they go. One in the top of the engine which may connect to the air filter, as I see the air filter has a place it could fit. The other almost looks like antifreeze on the bottom left, that runs no where. Its also low.

I am trying to troubleshoot two seperate issues and now I see loose hoses. Sorry I am not home so I dont have a picture yet but I could get one. Does anyone have a pic of theirs that I can see?

Sorry you went and spent good money on that publication. Especially when you can find the "right" manual for your needs right on this forum, for free. Oh well, you can always use the Seloc manual for a kneepad when you are in the garage working on your boat/drive.:facepalm:

 

[zang8027]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Ok here is the pics..

I assume they fit together but its a loose fit, which is throwing me off

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

I am new to boating (owning my own that is) and I just bought an 85 Imperial 170HP I/O. I noticed my gas vent must be clogged so I took the engine cover off to troubleshoot it. While down there, I noticed some hoses that are disconnected. I ordered a Selic manual but who knows how long it will take to get here.

Anyone got a picture of the engine (facing the back of the boat)? I have 2 hoses that are not going anywhere and I cannot figure out where they go. One in the top of the engine which may connect to the air filter, as I see the air filter has a place it could fit. The other almost looks like antifreeze on the bottom left, that runs no where. Its also low.
I am trying to troubleshoot two seperate issues and now I see loose hoses. Sorry I am not home so I dont have a picture yet but I could get one. Does anyone have a pic of theirs that I can see?

Welcome aboard... take some pictures like Bondo said, will be much easier to know what you are describing.

Oh yeah since your new and all.... there isn't a left and right on a boat. Its Port and Starboard
respectively, as perceived by a person on board facing the bow which is the (front)..... and the stern is the (back).

edit... we must have been typing the same time.

The first pic goes to the flame arrestor just like you thought.

The 2nd hose goes to a tap near the radiator cap, that overflow/reserve bottle is usually mounted on a bracket off the front of the engine, you must have a belt driven alternator on her, which would be aftermarket. And the overflow bottle got moved for the alternator conversion.

 

[zang8027]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Welcome aboard... take some pictures like Bondo said, will be much easier to know what you are describing.

Oh yeah since your new and all.... there isn't a left and right on a boat. Its Port and Starboard
respectively, as perceived by a person on board facing the bow which is the (front)..... and the stern is the (back).

edit... we must have been typing the same time.

The first pic goes to the flame arrestor just like you thought.

The 2nd hose goes to a tap near the radiator cap, that overflow/reserve bottle is usually mounted on a bracket off the front of the engine, you must have a belt driven alternator on her, which would be aftermarket. And the overflow bottle got moved for the alternator conversion.

Thank you. I did notice that there is a hose routed from the bottom of it to the other end of the engine, and the alternator looks new, and is belt driven so that makes sense that it was moved. So do I not need to worry about that hose?

 

[zang8027]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

here you can see the hose to the port side with the 2 clamps in the middle. It runs to the bottom of the reservoir so I assume its just an extension hose added.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

that hose should be attached as well. You will have to replace the hose with a longer one. See if you can take another pic of the area of the radiator cap, looking back at the stern of the boat.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

deleted... answered in your last post!

 

[fmalott]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

that's the over flow if your motor over heats and blows by the cap it will run down the hose with the two clamps to the reservoir it looks like someone cut the hose when they did the alternator conversion

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

that's the over flow if your motor over heats and blows by the cap it will run down the hose with the two clamps to the reservoir it looks like someone cut the hose when they did the alternator conversion

That is not exactly how it works. The 470 has a closed cooling system and the reservoir should be full when you start. As the engine heats to normal operating temperature the coolant expands and when the pressure gets high enough (about 14 psi) it causes the radiator type pressure cap to release and allows the excess to flow into the expansion tank, EXACTLY the same as in your car. When the engine cools the coolant is drawn back into the reservoir keeping the system full at all times. The expansion tank hose should be clamped securely to the tube where the radiator cap fits on the reservoir, and the other end attaches to the fitting on the BOTTOM of the coolant recovery tank. the tube on the recovery tank cap is unnecessary and does not attach anywhere. Is there a tube from the reservoir cap to the bottom of the recovery tank? If so you are OK there. The other tube goes to the fitting on the flame arrestor. BTW the tank should be about 1/2 full of coolant.

 

[zang8027]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

That is not exactly how it works. The 470 has a closed cooling system and the reservoir should be full when you start. As the engine heats to normal operating temperature the coolant expands and when the pressure gets high enough (about 14 psi) it causes the radiator type pressure cap to release and allows the excess to flow into the expansion tank, EXACTLY the same as in your car. When the engine cools the coolant is drawn back into the reservoir keeping the system full at all times. The expansion tank hose should be clamped securely to the tube where the radiator cap fits on the reservoir, and the other end attaches to the fitting on the BOTTOM of the coolant recovery tank. the tube on the recovery tank cap is unnecessary and does not attach anywhere. Is there a tube from the reservoir cap to the bottom of the recovery tank? If so you are OK there. The other tube goes to the fitting on the flame arrestor. BTW the tank should be about 1/2 full of coolant.

I appreciate all the help! I understand now. There is a line from the cap down to the bottom of the tank. I filled it to the fill line and tested the coolant with a coolant tester. I clamped the hose to the resister so that is good now. I left the other hose loose into the bilge. I assume it will vent it anyway. Took care of the carb while i was in there.

Also had gas in my gas tank vent hose, which explained a lot. Had to take that off and blow through it to clear it. That was the original issue I had. Now, hopefully it doesn't stall when i put it in gear! That was the only issue I noticed when i took it out.

Again, I really do appreciate your insight. I expected a "dont mess with it if you dont know what your doing" type response but was taken back when you guys helped a noob like me. Thanks

Last thing, you mention 470.. is that what the engine is? The stern says Alpha one.. not sure exactly what engine this is.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

470 is the model of the engine... like a Small Block Chevy, many variations but almost the same engine. Different options/features, I have one of the last models... the 3.7LX same block, I have the 4" heat exchanger and 4 barrel carb... which you may as well, not sure of the different options by model/year.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Re: Anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

You have a 470 type engine which is a Mercruiser designed 4 cyl aluminum engine with a iron Ford 460 head. Lots of folks don't like them because they have some flaws. First the head gaskets tend to fail if the engine is overheated (and sometimes even when it isn't) because of he iron head on the open deck aluminum block. IMHO it is a good idea to do a compression check once a year, to assure that you are OK. A second problem is the design of the engine circulating pump. The pump is driven by the camshaft and the seals can (will) fail over time, when it fails coolant will leak out of a small weep hole on the lower starboard side of the pump. You should locate that hole and make sure it is clear and check the engine once in a while when it is running and up to temperature. The seals are not too hard to replace (just a pain). The third major problem is the charging system and your alternator takes care of that. The big advantage is winterization, just make sure your antifreeze is about 50/50 and pull the AFT plug on the exchanger and let her drain (I do it right on the ramp when I pull my boat in the fall) and you are freeze protected. You have a Alpha 1 outdrive. The manuals you need are here Mercruiser #8 for your engine and # 6 for your outdrive http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html. Have fun and welcome to the "470 club"

 

[zang8027]

Re: [Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Yes the seller told me about pulling a bolt on the heat exchanger. Is that the aft exchanger you are takin about ? He said there's two bolts. One is antifreeze and one is the heat exchanger.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: [Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

here are the pages from the manual Terry gave you which cover winterizing the engine... There is a ton more in the manual link, I recommend you check it out.

The plugs you are referring to are on the last page

 

[achris]

Re: [Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Hi there,

Here's the service manuals, you should download and SAVE.

Engine -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfNUtFamtXdDZBUTA
Drive -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfOVRUNEk0anBUR3lQYTkwcUh5RElUQQ

The other thing I would suggest, when you post a question, included the serial numbers of the engine and drive. We like those as it enables us to look up exactly the correct answer for you. You'll find the locations of the serial number in the manuals you just downloaded

Chris........

 

[zang8027]

Re: [Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Hi there,

Here's the service manuals, you should download and SAVE.

Engine -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfNUtFamtXdDZBUTA
Drive -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfOVRUNEk0anBUR3lQYTkwcUh5RElUQQ

The other thing I would suggest, when you post a question, included the serial numbers of the engine and drive. We like those as it enables us to look up exactly the correct answer for you. You'll find the locations of the serial number in the manuals you just downloaded

Chris........

Haha well I guess that $30 i spent on the manual will come in handy if I'm on the water.. nice to have a manual here! Will do.

 

[achris]

Re: [Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Be very careful using that seloc as a manual. They have many errors and omissions.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: [Resolved] anyone got a picture of their Mercruiser Alpha One?

Yes the seller told me about pulling a bolt on the heat exchanger. Is that the aft exchanger you are takin about ? He said there's two bolts. One is antifreeze and one is the heat exchanger.

There are two drain plugs on the aft (nearest the transom) underside side of the heat exchanger. the aftermost (nearest the transom) plug is the raw water, the one in front of it is antifreeze. All you need to do to freeze protect is pull the raw water plug and let it drain.