RUNNING HOT

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

1992 4.3 mercruiser Alpha I drive. I just had my drive off to change the bellows and shift cable. Put it all back together and ran it on water hose last night and all of a sudden the temp crept right up to almost 200 degrees. I shut it off right away and let it cool. I then tried it again, it went back to 200 but stayed there, no hotter, no cooler. It made me nervous so I just stopped for the night. Am I fine at that temp. Is it possible it will change once it's in the water, or should I not put it back in the water at all just yet?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

200°F is way too hot. How old is the impeller in the drive? Did it run that hot before you did the work?

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Normally ran around 160 and I'm realizing the impeller prob needs changed. I haven't changed it and this is the 3rd summer I've had the boat. Had no issues so wasn't too worried about it yet. When I had it running last night I noticed no water was coming out of the prop. Is that a good indicator for impeller?

 

[stonyloam]

Did you change the water hose along with the bellows? If so look for a kink in the hose, that restricts water from the outdrive pump. Yeah, change the impeller while you are at it.

 

[Watermann]

On muffs the water normally drains out of the exhaust relief ports underneath. Yeah I agree 200 is way too hot and your not getting enough water to the motor. 3 summers since you had the boat but when was the water pump replaced before that? Big risk for such a cheap and easy part to maintain. Get the whole water pump kit and watch achris's video first.

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

I did change the hose but did not check for a kink last night. Right, who knows when that has been changed. Haven't had any issue with the temp till putting it back together last night. Hopefully it's the hose and I can make it through the rest of the year. My boat this summer is really fitting for that old saying of you know what rolls down hill. Thanks a bunch guys. This site is awesome.

 

[ralphy670]

Did you change the impeller while the drive was off? This would be my first guess

 

[Fishermark]

Did you change the impeller while the drive was off? This would be my first guess

That would be my first guess too. If you DID replace the impeller, perhaps something went wrong. But no - 200 degrees is not acceptable. (Assuming your gauge is working correctly of course).

 

[Bondo]

Did you change the impeller while the drive was off? This would be my first guess

Ayuh,..... Ditto,.... If ya didn't, start there,...

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

I accidentally ended up with 2 posts going about the same subject. Sorry. Anyways, no I did not change the impeller and I'm sure it's time to do so but hoping to get through a few more weekends. What I didn't check was the water hose to see if it was kinked and I'm thinking that could very well be the problem. If not, then the impeller will probably be the next project. It rolls down hill fellas. Thanks for your inputs.

 

[thumpar]

The impeller is not hard to do. It is not like changing it will end your season. It only takes about an hour.

 

[Bondo]

I accidentally ended up with 2 posts going about the same subject. Sorry. Anyways, no I did not change the impeller and I'm sure it's time to do so but hoping to get through a few more weekends. What I didn't check was the water hose to see if it was kinked and I'm thinking that could very well be the problem. If not, then the impeller will probably be the next project. It rolls down hill fellas. Thanks for your inputs.

Ayuh,.... Ya answered yer own question,..... Anyways start there in an Overheat condition,...

 

[Watermann]

Yeah I had to cut almost 2 inches off my raw water hose so it wouldn't kink.

 

[m_steiger]

did you have the lower unit separated from the upper unit? If so I'm thinking the water tube wasn't lined up correctly. You also need to make sure that the large O-ring the goes between the upper unit and gimbal assembly stayed in place when you put it back on.

 

[thumpar]

did you have the lower unit separated from the upper unit? If so I'm thinking the water tube wasn't lined up correctly. You also need to make sure that the large O-ring the goes between the upper unit and gimbal assembly stayed in place when you put it back on.

That plastic tube is just a guide tube. It is there to help reassemble the halves but that is it. The water flows through the inside tube. If the o-ring wasn't there water would be in the bellows.

 

[Fun Times]

I accidentally ended up with 2 posts going about the same subject. Sorry.

No problem! I went ahead and merged them together for you. Due to the times of each post, Some of the replies may seem a bit out of place though.

Good luck.