Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

[JoLin]

In the mid-late '80s, Four Winns made a w/a cuddy model called the '"267 Quest". Later models from 1991 on are a completely different design.

The standard powertrain configuration on these early ones was like any other I/O boat, but they offered an optional arrangement in which the 5.7 motor was mounted forward between the helm seats, and a "jackshaft" (driveshaft) ran from the motor back to the standard Alpha I/O unit.

I haven't seen or heard of any other boats configured this way. Is this the sort of setup that it's wise to walk away from, or is it just another way of doing things that a potential buyer shouldn't be overly concerned about? If I were to find a decent example, I'd order a survey anyway. Just curious if any of the experts have any thoughts or experience with a similar arragement.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

or is it just another way of doing things that a potential buyer shouldn't be overly concerned about?

Ayuh,... Exactly...

A driveshaft is all that's added to the normal installation....
That equates to a few extra grease zerks to lube now,+ then...

 

[Lou C]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

That set up is not really different, from what Albemarle does with their I/O powered offshore fishing boats, the advantage is that it gives better weight distribution than your typical stern heavy I/O, more like a straight inboard, but with the manuverability and speed (and extra maintenance if in salt water) of an I/O. If I found such a boat I'd not be bothered by it as long as you can get at the service points on the sides of the engine block (drains, oil filter, starter, etc). Some straight inboard boats with this type of engine mounting have difficult access because the engine is dropped inbetween the main stringers of the boat. As such it can be tough to get at spark plugs and water drains if raw water cooled. Most conventional I/Os have easier engine access.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

That long shaft, where you gonna get one if needed, or is a standard size.

The u-joints easy to come bye, anything special?

There any bearing holding that long shaft?

2 piece like a main bearing in a motor? Or is it like a auto shaft?

If yes they easy to get? What oils them?

This coupler on the motor standard? Or something special?

Everything else same or something special?

Now the shaft comes in from the out drive how it connect to this long shaft?

I'm not saying walk away but with anything different any not made in great numbers, parts maybe hard or impossible to come bye.

Than you forced to have fabricated parts made.

And that ain't cheap, i don't care what anybody says.

 

[Don S]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

Parts are readily available, and all the information for repair and servicing is in the OEM service manul. They are still used by Mercruiser today.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

Ayuh,...

Except for a couple of cast Housings,....(1 of which I'm Missing for a current project)

Most all of the Wear,+ Toss parts are just more of the same parts used i the standard I/O configurations,...
Aka,.. U-joints, bearings,+ such....

Btw,....
If anybody's got 1 of the housings that bolts to the flywheel cover in 1 of these installations,..??..??
That's the 1 I'm aneed'en......
In other words,..I've got the aft 1/2,.. But need the motor end.....

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

All i'm asking: is EVERY THING available?

If one stikin piece you can't get makes the whole thing a piece of junk.

I had a feeling that a coupler would be the weak link.

Motor side, drive side.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

The jackshaft is pretty common in "go-fasts", that is how the whole staggered engine setup works. Most of them are bravos, but that doesn't really matter.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oddball Mercruiser I/O Arrangement - Any Thoughts or Experience

All i'm asking: is EVERY THING available?

Ayuh,....

Currently available from Mercruiser,+ a host of other places...