new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

[gclipse]

first of all hello to all the members on here i just bought a 1994 wellcraft eclipse about a month ago it has a 5.7 mercrusier and a alpha 1 outdrive since i got this boat the second week i took it to a craigslist mechanic and he put some belts changed the lower unit oil and throttle cable linkage he did mention that he noticed that the engine wasn't aligned any how i don't know if he got it out of line or what but we test drove it and it drove good at the lake across his shop and then that same day i get to the river and the starter goes out so another emergency craigslist mechanic put one on there from the auto parts store ok so 620.00 dollars later and two days later i'm flying down the river at 52 mph and all of the sudden i here like a zipping sound on the outdrive and it smelled like burnt rubber, i put the throttle on neutral so when i tried to get back home i had to take it back in slow slow motion lol it took me 5 mins. to get to where i was and 2 hours to bet back any how guys ............... so what do ya'll think can this be repaired or do i need a whole alpha 1 out drive, thats what a mechanic told me this morning oh and also its been making a thumping noise when i turn the wheel far right or far left................ thanks for reading my history on my boat its just the begining ................

 

[deves3000gt]

Re: new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

welcome to the forum

I am not sure about the prob you have with your outdrive. I am sure someone hear will be able to help,(there always is) I know you have bigger problems to worry about but I just needed to ask about your starter. you said you got it from a auto parts store. was it a marine starter? i know the starters look the same but there are spark arestors in the marine ones that keep the boat from going boom(if you knew this already forgive my rambling)

Just a thought here about the drive i wonder if it could be the u-joints went bad. I wouuld think if it were the gears it wouldnt move once they went bad. what do you guys think?

 

[meesh]

Re: new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

Well to start, you need to pull your drive and check your coupler. It's located in the back of the engine, the drive shaft slides into it. The burned rubber smell was probably the coupler failing.

 

[gclipse]

Re: new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

thanks daves3000gt for the info on the starter well i just found this out from you and did some research on the marine satrer and a auto parts starter... so yea since i only cranked it 3 times since putting on a auto parts starter i'm gonna take it off and get my 135.00 back, i getting that i might have to pull out the drive or pull out the motor to get to this rubber smelling coupler so this will give me a chance to clean up the ol mercrusier maybe beef it up clean it up and shine up the engine bay, is there any other tips or tests on really findind out what this was ..........thanks for the help

 

[captmello]

Re: new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

Its the coupler, your merc was out of alignment and fried the coupler. Even a volvo guy can tell you that.

Good luck.

 

[gclipse]

Re: new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

ok thanks for the info ..so am i looking on taking out the engine replacing the coupler and then re aligning the out drive with the engine together it that correct?................ it there any thing else i should replace while all this is out, just to be on the safe side for the next 3 or 4 years.
can someone refer to the part number to this engine coupler

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: new boater from houston texas with repairs needed already

Howdy neighbor,
You also mention a knocking sound when turning. When you pull the drive I think you will see you also need u-joints and possibly a gimbal bearing. It does sound like you need a new coupler but, you can test it to make sure. With the engine off put the drive in gear, have someone stand on the propeller to turn it. You look behind the engine and see if the drive shaft turns. Drive shaft turns then it?s your coupler. Shaft doesn?t turn its a destroyed outdrive. A spun propeller hub will make your boat act in a similar way but, you won?t get a burning rubber smell. Most likely you will have to pull the engine to replace the coupler.
Some parts you can get at the auto parts store. Some you can not. The starter, alternator and distributer are a few that have to use marine parts. Most of the time its best to use a marine shop to make sure you?re getting the correct parts. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.