1986 5.7 Alpha 1 outdrive problems

[bigdaddypt]

I have a 1986 Mercruiser 5.7 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. The last time I took it out it developed a problem. It stalled. When I put it in neutral, started it up, it fired right up no problem. But when I shifted, it stalled. Tried again...same thing. Started again, pushed in the throttle to rev just the engine and that was fine.

Also I noticed when I took it out of the water to flush it that the thing isn't circulating water...but it obviously had to when it was running before it started stalling or else I would have overheated and blown the motor.

I've read about the shifter cable causing the stalling when putting it into gear, but find it wierd that I ahve these two problems at once, and seemed to occur at the same time.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1986 5.7 Alpha 1 outdrive problems

More than likely you did have a overheat and melted the shift cable where is passes around the exaust. Trace it with your hand feeling for a melted spot.

 

[jtybt]

Re: 1986 5.7 Alpha 1 outdrive problems

FWC or raw water cooled? How do you know it isn't circulating water?

Like the Doc said, something in the lower shift cable is causing the inner cable to hang up in the housing causing the interrupt switch to hang up in the 'interrupt' position.

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: 1986 5.7 Alpha 1 outdrive problems

FWC or raw water cooled? How do you know it isn't circulating water?

Like the Doc said, something in the lower shift cable is causing the inner cable to hang up in the housing causing the interrupt switch to hang up in the 'interrupt' position.

I know it's not circulating because I had it on the hose and was getting nothing out of the exhaust. I turned the engine off and took out the drain under the exhaust manifolds and the antifreeze that I had in when I winterized it was still there.

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: 1986 5.7 Alpha 1 outdrive problems

FWC or raw water cooled? How do you know it isn't circulating water?

Like the Doc said, something in the lower shift cable is causing the inner cable to hang up in the housing causing the interrupt switch to hang up in the 'interrupt' position.

Raw water cooled.