new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

[bjhatch]

Hi Guys,

I've been reading this form for days trying to learn as much as I can. I bought a 94 2130 ss Chaparral that has a rebuilt engine (completed Sep 2007). The first thing I though was odd is the fact the block and the carb are clean, but everything else looks original. For example, the hoses look old and the steering pump is a little rusty? The steering pump was also empty and there was water in the trim pump reservoir. I guess they used old parts with new ones?

Down to my first real question. I tried to start the motor (5.7 mercruiser --I have no idea how to find the serial number. It's not visible by the bell housing) and I got the "click" which has been referenced 100 times in this forum. I pulled the wires (terribly corroded) and I noticed there are 3 red wires going to "A" and the red/yellow wire is broken off so the wire was just hanging there? One of the red wires is going directly to the battery; the other 2 are going back and out of sight? That doesn't sound right, does it?

Second question: There is a thin purple wire laying on the engine with a plug attached to it. The wire looks to be coming from the back of the engine and laying long ways towards the front. Any ideas what that is for?

Third question: Is there a good reference diagram I could see that would show me the mercruiser 5.7 as well as the chaparral (or even a user manual)? The starter seems easy enough, but without a diagram, it's Greek to me. I saw the diagram by DON S. but again, there was only one red wire going to the starter.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

 

[Bondo]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

Is there a good reference diagram I could see that would show me the mercruiser 5.7 as well as the chaparral

Ayuh,........

You can find the Factory Manuals for your Motor,+ Drive,..... Right Here.......

There's Rarely or Never a Shop Manual for the Boat,....
As they're just wired in a "Typical" fashion.........

 

[Silvertip]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

New engines don't come with all of the accessory items like steering pumps, distributors, carbs, fuel pump etc. You get either a short block (basic engine block minus cylinder heads) or a long block (complete block with heads, valve covers, etc) but no accessories on either. I take it you bought this thing without hearing it run or test driving it. If that's the case I hope you bought it cheap -- real cheap.

 

[Don S]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

Manual #17 is the one you need to download from Bondo's link, then you are going to have to determine which wiring diagram in section 4F will be like your engine.
Thunderbolt IV or V, where the ign. module is mounted, type of drive, etc. it all makes a difference.
That purple wire may go to the automatic choke. But as I recall, there is an unused purple wire included in the wiring harness.

 

[bjhatch]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

Thanks for the help guys, I guess there are three wires going to the starter as noted on the diagram. Once I replace a few wires and locate the circuit breaker, I should be in business. There's oil in the engine, battery is brand new. Any other suggestions before I put the muffs on and crank it up?

Silver Tip,

I paid 5K for the boat and trailer. The guy who sold it to me provided the shop repair bill detailing the new engine...which is under warranty...I was told the block was cracked due to lack of winterization. He had it rebuilt to sell it. It sounded iffy, but I had a hard time finding a decent 20 foot boat under 5K without a blown engine, so if this one is blown...I'd be able to live with it...If it's not, I got a deal.

Live and learn right?

 

[95yj]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

If the purple wire has a bullet connector on it with a plug in it, AND you have a Thunderbolt V ignition, then it goes back to the ignition module and is used to ground it out to put it into base timing mode. There is also a pur/wh with a spade connector that goes to the + side of the electric choke.

 

[MikDee]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

Another item to check is the steering pump cooler, if the block cracked, this might have also, (hence low, or no fluid) in the power steering pump. It is usually in the back, or bottom, on one side of the motor, and has a water cooling hose running into, & out of it. Water in the trim pump is not good either, somewhere the system is compromised (open) letting water in, & fluid out. If it hasn't been cranked, or run in awhile, I'd pull the plugs, put some oil in the cylinders (for some lube), then examine the plugs while there, carefully for firing issues (dry, wet, oily, flooded with gas, carbon, washed out looking, white=lean, brown=rich, or tan=desired, and the gap size) then proceed, and once you get it running, make sure to keep a close eye on the ammeter, & oil pres gauge, and if they look ok, next watch your temp gauge closely as the engine warms up, anything you don't like, shut it down. It shouldn't run hot atall on the muffs anyway, (this is assuming it has a new rubber water pump impeller in the outdrive, usually the 1st thing done when replacing an engine) also they usually have a 140* thermostat in them, just so you know how hot it should get fully warmed up under power in the water, you'll see this temperature normally then. Be sure to run your blower/scupper 5mins before attempting to start, so there's no explosion from built up gas fumes in the bilge. Good Luck, Mike

 

[flabum]

Re: new to boats w/a ton of I/O questions

With your description of the condition of the wires and water in the trim resevoir, I would guess that the boat suffered from a partial sinking or the bilge got filled up with rain water. If all that wiring is wet, you may want to consider a new engine wiring harness. You may also want to remove the starter and alternator and have them tested at a starter shop.