1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

[m7e4d]

Hello all,

I am completely new to boating. I acquired a 17ft Bayliner from grandmother who has done nothing but store it since she bought it (the price was right for me, $0). I towed it home and could get the started to turn but the engine wouldn't fire. So, I cleaned the points, changed the sparkplugs, new battery, and added a bit of gas to the carburetor and it fired right up.

Now I have a few other issues to overcome. But first details about the motor.

1978 Mercruiser 470 inbourd (i believe stern drive, I am not too sure about my nautical lingo yet). The engine is in the boat and the drive is sticking out of the back.

The engine block says MCM470
and the SN is:
4874740

Now a few that I am having a bit of trouble with.

I am not sure about the charging system. I do not if it has an alternator or regulator. I cannot find the part. The battery has not yet died on my (and I had forgot to connect my ohm meter up to the batter when it was running to see if it was charing). Any advice, hints, tips, help is welcome with this issue.

Next, the throttle cable works like a charm but the shift cable is quite difficult to move. I have taken the throttle assemply level apart and sprayed enough wd-40 to ensure it wasn't that. I have also taken the cable off both ends and it does move quite freely within the sheath. The actual shifting mechanism in the back does not like to move..... It does, but does not like to. It appears to be hydrolic assisted at the least but no hydrolic motor runs when the engine does. The tilt works fine and that appears to be on the same hydrolic cylinder as the shift.

I can move the shift level and get it into gear but when I do it stalls (this has been pointed out by a friend that it could be a safety mechanism with the tilt to prevent the boat from going into gear when the drive is out of the water or not correctly positioned). I am not sure. I have not tried to put in gear except when the tilt is up.

Lastly, a previous owner attempted to install a new floor with 2inch screws.. Needles to say there are not many but a few holes in the hull. I have backed the screws out and need to know the best way to repair these.

Anything anyone can help me with would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks for all the help...

Max

PS. I also bought the manual:

Mercruiser
Stern Drives 1964-91 Repair Manual

It is put out by Seloc and has a lot of information which I have trouble deciphering for my specific applications.

 

[joseph.signore]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

M7,

Sounds like you have a nice summer project. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this site that will read this post and be able to give you some professional help however for now here goes my two cents.

1, Change the oil, all filters and lots of grease.
2, The boat should have an alternator on the front of the motor that?s belt driven.
3, Replace shift cable.
4, Have a marine mechanic inspect the outdrive before putting boat in water.
5, The shift linkage has a safety mechanism that probably needs adjusting causing the boats stalling problem.
6, Never run the boat with the outdrive in the full upright position. This will damage the bearings, driveshaft and ujoints.
7, Any screws penetrating the outside gel coat is not good. Your boat may have a balsawood core and any water will soak the wood causing additional weight and rot. I would get professional help with this repair.

Good Luck,

Joe

 

[Don S]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

Mercruiser
Stern Drives 1964-91 Repair Manual

It is put out by Seloc and has a lot of information which I have trouble deciphering for my specific applications.

Now you have a knee pad.
Here are links to the OEM service manuals for your engine and drive. Hope you have cable, as they are huge files.
Engine Manual. 1.4 GB (I didn't miss type, it's GB)
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/03/cover.pdf

Sterndrive Manual. Smaller file, but still 301 MB
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/04/cover.pdf

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

I am not sure about the charging system. I do not if it has an alternator or regulator. I cannot find the part.

You have an unusual engine ... well, not made like most engines... let's put it like that. Instead of a typical belt driven alternator, your engine has a stator - like an outboard - with a water cooled regulator. It was / is a poor design that did not last long and is expensive to fix. Most people retrofit a regular alternator instead.

Hello all,

I am completely new to boating. .... (the price was right for me, $0).

There is a saying, which is completely true by the way, that goes something like, "A free boat is usually the most expensive boat you can find."

A free boat is usually free for a reason. Now in your case, you have a generous relative. You still have a bunch of issues you will be contending with for this project. If you are mechanically inclined and enjoy a project, then great! You will be busy AND you will be spending quite a bit of money even if you do everything yourself.

Not trying to dissuade you - just letting you know what you're in for.

A couple of more points:

-Make sure you always having water running to the outdrive via a pair of muffs whenever you start the engine - even if for a few seconds.

-Your shifting problem is caused by a bad lower shift cable. The switch is not a safety switch, but a "shift interrupt switch" that enables the outdrive to shift out of gear while you are in the water.

 

[m7e4d]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

Thank you for all of your help. I am sure I will be relying on you guys heavily. Today I cleaned the interior of the boat and started cutting new pieces for panels, seats, etc to recover. I have sprayed the shifter cable and assembly with wd-40 which has helped immensely with the shifting and is now nearly quite easy to shift. I have also added some filters to the fuel line to ensure any gunk from the tank will not make it to the engine when I do start running it.

I am now working on getting all the switches, lights, gauges working properly. Because of a bit of corrosion on the fuse panel and the cables I have been replacing them.

From time to time I will be back to ask more questions and give my feedback.

Lastly, I was assured by my grandmother that the engine was rebuilt about 10 years ago. But it does run quite smoothly now (and I do have the ear muff water things on the back of the stern to keep the engine cool). All I need now is many hours to work on this and get it squared away.

I am quite mechanical and love a good project. So I plan to enjoy this thoroughly. I have downloaded the manuals provided by Don S, thanks for all the help so far.

Max

 

[ATAYLOR61822]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

The only thing I can comment on is the shifting issue. If you have wd-40'd the hell out of it and it's still hard to **** you probably need a lower shift cable. This is the cable in the outdrive and will probably require a mechanic as the outdrive will need to come off.

 

[m7e4d]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

Thanks for the help. The ease of shifting has improved greatly after a bunch of wd-40 and a working it. It was the cable.

Speaking of cable my steering cable is completely frozen up. I have tried and tried and cannot get it to budge. I know I need to replace it and know that this will be the biggest (to-date) purchase.

If anyone can help me find it I have a 1978 Bayliner Cascade the current cable is Morse brand. There are worn numbers (assume serial) on the cable and cannot be read.

The outboard moves quite freely, as well as the steering wheel, rack-n-pinion. I also cannot get the cable from the mount behind the engine. I have removed the bolts and the length of the cable moves freely inside the mount but does not fit through on either end to be removed.

I plan on taking the cable to my local boat service shop/marina for help and advice. But if I can get it here you will save me a trip.


Just a bit of FYI all switches and gauges working in dash. All electrical components are working outside the engine as well (lights, wiper, etc) with the exception of the horn which does not work.

Thanks.

 

[ne7800]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

I had the same problem with the cable not budging un hook it from the end where it hooks to the linkage then on the other side of the bracket there is a big nut on the cable holding it to the bracket once that is off thread the cable back out in to the boat so you have room to work on it what i did was took a heat gun and warmed up the cable (figured i had nothing to lose if it didn't work i would end up buying a new one anyway)with a lot of easy twisting on the vise grips and some more heat from the heat gun i finaly got some movement out of it i then turned the wheel till the cable was fully extended doused it with penatrating fulid and started buffing it with a scotch bright pad and the penatrating fluid till it was all shiny and new looking (well almost) i then hosed it down with a silicone lube and reassbled it and it works great

 

[m7e4d]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

I have must have worked on the cable for 2 hours (also was unable to get it out but tried desperately to get it out from the bracket it was in). Finally, I gave up after 2 cans of wd-40 and a (what felt like) a few pounds of grease. I ended up buying a new one from my local boat repair store for 160.

I am happy to report that the shift cable is now perfect. The engine timing has been dialed in. Before I take out to the water for her maiden voyage (i.e. drop it in the water and go no further than 20 feet from the dock) I need to get a new tachometer, fix the sender to the gas gauge, install the new steering cable (comes in Wednesday or Thursday), and recarpet the floor.

Today was a good day with one set-back. I have found that my stator charging system doesn't work...... I do have a very old 6amp battery charger that will be left on overnight tonight. I am going to replace the 6amp charger with one I will buy later online around 12 amps and install to the boat so all I have to do is hook it up. My power consumption is quite low while running and at this time I don't have the money/machine shop for the alternator add on kit. But I would love links to it so I can keep it on the back burner for now.


Thanks,

Max

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

So your plan is to simply run it with no charging going to the battery while it is running?

 

[m7e4d]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

That is the plan... Until I can afford the alternator. Although, Today I am going to look at the voltage regulator and see if there is any simple reason why it is not charging any.


I hope that it does charge, but if it does not I should be alright for a bit during my test. I will be sure to be bring along a spare battery.

 

[RipZone18]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

Hey i am new here too, and have a Mercruiser 470 but i actually paid for mine. Did not realize the "unique" nature of this engine until after I got it home.

I don't think Iboats.com sells the alternator kits so hope i don't get in trouble for linking to another site

http://www.breezeworks.net/ has a great price for the alternator mounts but they are having issues keeping them in stock.

Another site is marineengineparts.com, More $$ but its the full kit including alternator.

I got really lucky from some of the pictures on the breezeworks site my buddy was able to make the alternator mount for my boat, that saved me a bunch of $$. I attached one of the pics from the breezeworks site.

Good luck and hope you get it in the water before the end of season.


Tim

 

[mainexile]

Re: 1978 Mercruiser 470 any and all help.

That is the plan... Until I can afford the alternator. Although, Today I am going to look at the voltage regulator and see if there is any simple reason why it is not charging any.


I hope that it does charge, but if it does not I should be alright for a bit during my test. I will be sure to be bring along a spare battery.

There are some in these forums who don't have much good to say about the 470. And while it does come with its unique set of problems, when it is running right it is a strong, torquey little engine. Watch out for coolant leaking out of the weep hole in the bottom of the water pump, and make the repair quickly to avoid having coolant leak beyond the second seal into the crankcase. The repair process is specified in the OEM manual and in earlier posts in this forum - just do a search. As for the regulator, that thing is a known failure point. The original configuration with the liquid-cooled regulator and the stator on the crankshaft was a poor design that should be replaced as soon as you can afford it. Keep in mind that if you run the boat without an operating alternator, you're gonna drain your battery pretty quickly. And if you're running on a cranking battery, as opposed to a deep cycle, it is not accustomed to deep draining and recharging. You could end up spending as much on new batteries as you would on the alternator kit. Just something to consider.

Steve