Need Help - 1985 citation, Mercruiser 140

[328ifun]

Looking for some much needed help here:

My wife and I received a boat from her family, it was her fathers boat who passed away. I'm trying to get it running again.
Years ago, I was able to take it out every weekend and then it sat for awhile. Now the engine turns over with no spark.

I replaced all of the components underneath the distributor cap, checked all of the wiring and it all appears to be intact.

I noticed that the rubber grommet that's on the wire that goes from the points to the ignition coil is gone (where it grounds to the distributor, sits in between the cap and the base). I used spare wire to ground it to the Chasity. Not sure where to find a replacement cable or grommet.

Where to start?

Help me good this old girl on the water again!

 

[Bondo]

I noticed that the rubber grommet that's on the wire that goes from the points to the ignition coil is gone (where it grounds to the distributor, sits in between the cap and the base). I used spare wire to ground it to the Chasity. Not sure where to find a replacement cable or grommet.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... If you ground the points, ya kill the spark,......

 

[328ifun]

Thanks, not sure what you mean? So where the grommet is on the side of the cap is not a ground? There is a metal tab on the wire.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you do not understand points type ignition, start reading. there is a bunch of information in the stickies - or take it to an old-school mechanic.

no, the grommet on the side is not a ground, its a strain relief.

the points themselves pulse the ground to the coil, and the action of the points opening up is when the coil field collapses and creates the spark.

file the points
gap the points
check the dwell while cranking (should be 32 degrees)
then set the timing

 

[328ifun]

Gotcha,

The wire I had run really wasn't doing anything anyway. Since the tab is not a ground... I had read somewhere on here that it was and that it needed to be intact for it to work properly.

There is spark at the point. I verified by opening and closing it with key in the on position, no cranking. But it's not getting to the wires.

 

[328ifun]

I did exactly what you said Scott.

The boat is now firing! BUT I must have connected the plugs into the distributor incorrectly at some point so the firing order is off.

Anyone know the plug arrangement for a 1985 mercruiser 140?

Thanks guys

 

[Alumarine]

Firing order is 1 3 4 2

 

[328ifun]

Perfect! Little 4 cyl fire right up! I was surprised since it had sat for 4 years.

I put the prop into forward and reverse and am hearing a metallic tapping sound before it shifts into gear. I'm thinking lubricant?

Heres a video, thanks for the help everyone

 

[Scott Danforth]

Stop shifting on land. What you are hearing is the dog clutches beating themselves to death

Always shift crisply and only when in the water

Make sure to change the impeller and probably the bellows since those go off calendar not use

Also, do an alignment and gimbal check

 

[328ifun]

Okay, I didn't know...

I have spare impellers in my garage, I actually have a really good one to put on it. The bellows, gimbal and alignment look they may be difficult if doing it yourself the first time. Sure I can figure it out though.

Anyone know of a site that has good literature on this sterndrive (probably this one, right)? As well as reputable online store for gaskets and what not? Ill be looking for the best way to test or inspect the three mentioned above

Looks like i have a lot to learn

Here's a video of the sterndrive running:

 

[Scott Danforth]

Shop at iBoats

View the vids in the stickies in the iBoats forums

 

[328ifun]

Inspected the bellows yesterday and found that the Gimbal Bellow is cracked on left and right side. Looks like I'm going to pulling everything off and replacing.

With the boat being a 1985 and shops asking wanting $1000.00 to complete the work, I'll be tackling this myself. I work on cars regularly, if I take my time I should be good... Essentially the same as a pilot bearing a car minus the bellows, etc...

I just wanted to verify that that it being a 1985, it is in fact a Alpha 1 Gen 1 Sterndrive, part #30-803097T1 before I start ordering parts. I do not have the manuals or any documentation for the boat.

Probably go with these kits from iBoats:

Transom Seal Kit: 18-2601-1
Impellar/Water Pump Kit: 18-3251D

What tools do you all recommend to make this easier?

Any advice/tips/tricks are greatly appreciated, I may start the disassembly process this evening.

Thanks again

 

[Alumarine]

What tools do you all recommend to make this easier?
Thanks again

Slide puller to remove gimbal bearing if it's stuck.
Exhaust bellows tool to install exhaust bellows.
Beer.

 

[328ifun]

Beer is a must

 

[328ifun]

Hey everyone,

So I was able to remove the outdrive fairly quickly today. The think the key is getting the unit as horizontally straight as possible so the shaft pulls right out.

I'm waiting for replacement parts to come in, the work seems to be pretty straight forward. Going to pickup some dremel discs to cut the bellows retaining clip. I tried beating on it today with a flat head, no success.

I just have a couple questions if someone doesn't mind helping me:

I have no idea how the throttle cable works within the unit... When you put it all back together what does it actually connect too, what role does it play? Seems like it just sits there. How do you get the cable through the replacement rubber boot without damaging it?

What about the water hose? Do I need special tool to remove the plastic retaining clip that keeps it in place?

Thanks again for your help everyone, I'm learning as I work through this.

 

[TunaFish389]

Its not a throttle cable but a shift cable. It moves the drive into forwards and reverse. It slides into the drive by the bottom of the arm. You have to install drive in forward and boat in forward.

You can rent a bearing puller with slid hammer from autozone. A foot long screw (or longer) with a fairly wide washer sandwiched in between two nuts will do for a bellows install tool.

The shift cable bellow was tough for me, I actually hollowed out the cable side of bellows more to get it to fit. With lots of grease too. Not sure what that issue was but there was a lot of cursing.

 

[328ifun]

Thanks for the clarification Tuna. Most cables I've seen; throttle/shift usually have to be connected to some kind of lever on the transmission end. It confuses me that it simply slid out when I pulled the outboard off. So it should just slide right back in? Boat lever is forward. Not excited about doing the throttle bellows, you can look at it and tell its going to be a pain.

I called my local auto store and they said they have slide hammer that I can rent, which is good news. I found a wrench at harbor freight for like $10 bucks that I think may work well for the bellows install tool. If not Ill try the washers.

Right now, still waiting for parts. Including the socket to the remove the bell housing. I have a nice torx set that I may try on the bh... Im impatient

 

[328ifun]

Please excuse my ignorance and stupidity in one of my last posts. I just realized that the gen 1 alpha does not use a retaining ring on the main bellows boot. In my defense, I can say that it did look like a ring was in place. Looks like I was chipping away at the bell housing itself... time for some good ole JB weld on the rough areas.

Anyway, putting that behind me. I was able to get the gimble bearing out with a slide hammer pretty easily. At first I didn't have the slide hammer seated on the back of the bearing correctly, think I was on part the transom, the tolerances are pretty close.

4 good wacks and the bearing popped out. Was too easy in my opinion, pulling the bearing out may be the easiest part of this job

 

[328ifun]

This may turn into a restoration project everyone. If you're interested, here are a few pics of the boat. It would be neat if someone here has a similar or same model

https://ibb.co/pJc0WDL
https://ibb.co/nLCRLPR
https://ibb.co/JnqrQ6M

 

[328ifun]

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