470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

[aarons 470]

Hello all. I am a new member and just got a boat with a 1977 470. I have been reading about the common problems that can occur with this engine.

Engine runs great, I think the hours are low, it sat in a barn for years.

I just bought an alternator conversion kit for it and am going to install it soon.

So the Harmonic Balancer will be coming off. The fresh water impeller on these engines is on the Cam shaft. I have read you need to put on a sleeve to protect the cam. I figured may be a good time to install the speedy sleeve, or sleeves? I know little about the process of installing one etc.


Is this a fairly easy process? Can you do it with out removing the cam and the oil pan? Or should i just leave it alone until there is a problem? My boat is an 18' and i have good access to the balancer, about 3/4s of the balancer is above deck.

I am also wondering where to buy the sleeves?

Thanks all, I appreciate any help

Aaron

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

http://www.skf.com/portal/skf/home/products?maincatalogue=1&newlink=4_5_3&lang=en
pan is dropped ,all covers removed, head ,pushrods, lifters removed, cam removed and mic`d for size, sleeve installed, reassemble everything

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

So the Harmonic Balancer will be coming off. The fresh water impeller on these engines is on the Cam shaft. I have read you need to put on a sleeve to protect the cam. I figured may be a good time to install the speedy sleeve, or sleeves? I know little about the process of installing one etc.


Is this a fairly easy process? Can you do it with out removing the cam and the oil pan? Or should i just leave it alone until there is a problem? My boat is an 18' and i have good access to the balancer, about 3/4s of the balancer is above deck.

I am also wondering where to buy the sleeves?

Welcome:

Why are you removing the rotor (balancer), should not be necessary unless you intend to remove the stator which is also unnecessary?

It is not "easy" but is pretty straight forward. Read this http://www.sterndrives.com/470_coolant_leak.html Don't worry you do not need all the fancy tools.

Local bearing shop or internet good info here: http://www.skf.com/portal/skf/home/products?maincatalogue=1&newlink=4_5_3&lang=en

My advice, if it is not leaking coolant out of the weep hole in the engine pump I would not do anything except make sure the weep hole is clear and keep an eye on it, which you would do anyway even after you change the seals.

Rather than mess with the seals IMHO you should replace the outdrive impeller and housing with OEM mercruiser parts and do a cooling system pressure test on the closed cooling section (borrow the tools from autozone)

Here are the mercruiser manuals for your engine and outdrive: #3 & #6 respectivly http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#
Welcome to the club:facepalm:

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

stony, needs removal to remove the timing case cover

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

stony, needs removal to remove the timing case cover

Dr. He is not currently leaking, so I think it is best to leave well enough alone. He (as I read it) is only intending to replace the cam seals and the spedi sleeves can be installed with the cam in place, only have to remove the covers and waterpump impeller. No need to drop the pan or remove the cam or head.

 

[aarons 470]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

Welcome:

Why are you removing the rotor (balancer), should not be necessary unless you intend to remove the stator which is also unnecessary?

It is not "easy" but is pretty straight forward. Read this http://www.sterndrives.com/470_coolant_leak.html Don't worry you do not need all the fancy tools.

Local bearing shop or internet good info here: http://www.skf.com/portal/skf/home/products?maincatalogue=1&newlink=4_5_3&lang=en

My advice, if it is not leaking coolant out of the weep hole in the engine pump I would not do anything except make sure the weep hole is clear and keep an eye on it, which you would do anyway even after you change the seals.

Rather than mess with the seals IMHO you should replace the outdrive impeller and housing with OEM mercruiser parts and do a cooling system pressure test on the closed cooling section (borrow the tools from autozone)

Here are the mercruiser manuals for your engine and outdrive: #3 & #6 respectivly http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#
Welcome to the club:facepalm:

Ok, thanks Doc and stony. Sounds like it is a big job to add a sleeve. I better pass on that one.

As far as removing the balancer, I read some where after adding alternator kit, it is a good idea to remove the magnets that are glued on the inside of the balancer (rotor). And i figured if that needs to be done, i would pull the stator at the same time. If the magnets are ok to leave, that is less work for me.

The outdrive impeller is bad, so i will replace that. It only circulates with a hose, tried a tub, it didn't pump at all. And Ill test the closed cooling system.

Is this weep hole easy to find?

What is a good operating temp on this engine, I read 220-250?


Thanks for the manual info stony.

Thanks Aaron

 

[wrestling coach]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

It better NEVER hit 220 or you are in for trouble. You have an aluminum block and an iron head. At 220 you will almost certainly blow the head gasket and/or warp the head due to those two different metals and their expansion/contraction rates. You should have a 160* stat and your normal operating temps will be right in that 160*-170* + area but NOT 220*

Dennis

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

As far as removing the balancer, I read some where after adding alternator kit, it is a good idea to remove the magnets that are glued on the inside of the balancer (rotor). And i figured if that needs to be done, i would pull the stator at the same time. If the magnets are ok to leave, that is less work for me.

The outdrive impeller is bad, so i will replace that. It only circulates with a hose, tried a tub, it didn't pump at all. And Ill test the closed cooling system.

Is this weep hole easy to find?

What is a good operating temp on this engine, I read 220-250?

Wow! You are going to have to stop reading so much

The rotor should have been balanced at the factory with the magnets in place, so I would leave them in place. If you wish you could remove the rotor to remove the stator, but again I would not worry about it for now.

Replace the impeller housing too. If the old impeller is not intact (fins missing) look for them under the front end cap of the heat exchanger.

The weep hole is on the lower starboard side of the engine waterpump.

The engine should have a 160 degree thermostat, and normal operating temperature is 165-200. I really like to see the temp down in the 165-175 range. The main thing is that the temperature stay stable at all RPM ranges from idle to WOT.

 

[aarons 470]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

Wow! You are going to have to stop reading so much

The rotor should have been balanced at the factory with the magnets in place, so I would leave them in place. If you wish you could remove the rotor to remove the stator, but again I would not worry about it for now.

Replace the impeller housing too. If the old impeller is not intact (fins missing) look for them under the front end cap of the heat exchanger.

The weep hole is on the lower starboard side of the engine waterpump.

The engine should have a 160 degree thermostat, and normal operating temperature is 165-200. I really like to see the temp down in the 165-175 range. The main thing is that the temperature stay stable at all RPM ranges from idle to WOT.

Ok, thanks Terry, I am leaving the balancer alone.

When you say replace the impeller housing, are you talking about in the out drive, or the engine impeller housing?

 

[boltonranger]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

Terry is right; he helped me through my 470 issues (thanks Terry!)
If coolant is not leaking out of the weep hole in the water pump and it holds pressure; wait 'til it does before you change the seals.
Mine began to weep and rather than run it further I put the speedi sleeves in and had a local marine shop press new seals in my timing cover. Definitely see after the fresh water impeller before running it further. Overheating this motor is not a good thing.
Welcome to the 470 Club!
-br

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

When you say replace the impeller housing, are you talking about in the out drive, or the engine impeller housing?

In the outdrive. The most critical part of the cooling system, and the one most likely to fail is the impeller. Since you have no history on this boat I would suggest that you replace the pump housing along with the impeller. I also like the OEM Mercruiser (quicksilver) parts for the better quality, yeah they coat more, but if you change your impeller at least every other year and don't run it dry or overheat, the housing should last many years.

 

[Noie]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

In the outdrive. The most critical part of the cooling system, and the one most likely to fail is the impeller. Since you have no history on this boat I would suggest that you replace the pump housing along with the impeller. I also like the OEM Mercruiser (quicksilver) parts for the better quality, yeah they coat more, but if you change your impeller at least every other year and don't run it dry or overheat, the housing should last many years.

Hello,

I am also a 470 owner ('77 Tristar). Have read this thread and couldn't help but reply.
I also have coolant leaking from front of engine and am aware or replacement alternator but don't want to put out
the $1000 at this time; will monitor.
Engine runs exeptionally well but at a much lower temp than the 160-170 (or even 200) range mentioned above.
Gauge works and indicates 110-120 under normal load and 130 when tubing.
Am I missing something here?

 

[aarons 470]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

Hello,

I am also a 470 owner ('77 Tristar). Have read this thread and couldn't help but reply.
I also have coolant leaking from front of engine and am aware or replacement alternator but don't want to put out
the $1000 at this time; will monitor.
Engine runs exeptionally well but at a much lower temp than the 160-170 (or even 200) range mentioned above.
Gauge works and indicates 110-120 under normal load and 130 when tubing.
Am I missing something here?

I am not sure of the temp range on these 470s. I only know what is stated above.

I just wanted to tell you I just ordered an alternator kit from the seller on E-bay "volvo351". Incase down the road you need one.

He gave me a really good price that included shipping. It wasn't as pain full of a purchase as i thought it was going to be, and it is a quality kit.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

Hello,

I am also a 470 owner ('77 Tristar). Have read this thread and couldn't help but reply.
I also have coolant leaking from front of engine and am aware or replacement alternator but don't want to put out
the $1000 at this time; will monitor.
Engine runs exeptionally well but at a much lower temp than the 160-170 (or even 200) range mentioned above.
Gauge works and indicates 110-120 under normal load and 130 when tubing.
Am I missing something here?

It should have a 160 thermostat, so I suspect that your gauge may not be reading correctly (mine never gets above about 140), but the important thing is that it stays consistent, and you change your impeller often, every other year is good. If you are leaking coolant out of the weep hole in the circulating pump it needs new cam seals, a great off season project. If you do not change them the inner seal (there are two) could fail (the outer seal has already failed) and dump antifreeze into the crankcase which will trash your engine bearings in short order. Read this: http://www.sterndrives.com/470_coolant_leak.html and don't worry you do not need a lot of expensive tools, and it is not an extremely difficult job. As for the alternator I went with the breezeworks kit http://breezeworks.net/ $300. If you DIY the cam seals should be less than $100. Come on back with a new thread if you decide to tackle it.

 

[aarons 470]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

I hadn't seen the breezeworks conversion. I hope i didn't make a mistake i like that it comes with a 3 wire alternator.

The one i got was about the same price. But I wanted a 3 wire alternator with mine and the guy gave me one for the same price as a 1 wire.

I am still wondering why the 1 wire alternators are still popular? They do not seem to offer any benefit other than you save 10 minutes of installation.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

I looked at that kit and it seems like it is just fine. I like breezeworks because he is a "470 guy". I think folks like the 1 wire alternator well..... because it only has one wire to hook up . I like the 3 wire too.

 

[Noie]

Re: 470 club, new member. I Have some questions about the speedi sleeves

It should have a 160 thermostat, so I suspect that your gauge may not be reading correctly (mine never gets above about 140), but the important thing is that it stays consistent, and you change your impeller often, every other year is good. If you are leaking coolant out of the weep hole in the circulating pump it needs new cam seals, a great off season project. If you do not change them the inner seal (there are two) could fail (the outer seal has already failed) and dump antifreeze into the crankcase which will trash your engine bearings in short order. Read this: http://www.sterndrives.com/470_coolant_leak.html and don't worry you do not need a lot of expensive tools, and it is not an extremely difficult job. As for the alternator I went with the breezeworks kit http://breezeworks.net/ $300. If you DIY the cam seals should be less than $100. Come on back with a new thread if you decide to tackle it.

Thanks for the info. Tstat does remain constant but will check it out further along with temp sender. Impeller and housing was changed last year and plan on changing impeller next year; cheap insurance. Good idea about cam seals winter project.
I have attached a photo of the water pump and with arrows. Perhaps it's just leaking at the gasket as this is where I occasionally see a drip suspended.
Have checked out the sterndrives.com website and that particular alternator article. I think that is where I got the $1000 from as that is what they are asking for the conversion kit. Also checked out breezeworks which is much more reasonable.
Will also be joining their forum.
Not sure if I should be starting another thread but have an electrical problem. Engine would not stop when key turned off. I could pull the key out and it still ran. Turned off though when I got back to the launch. Noticed volt gauge reading 16-17 v. Read in troubleshooting that a high voltage reading could be caused by a faulty ignition switch. Performed continuity test on B I C and A and everything seems ok.
Not sure what would cause the engine to keep running when the switch contacts seamed ok.
Bought a new one but may hold off installing until