"88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

[Mokaman]

Hey guys me again. After getting the muffs on the new drive in my "88" A1 I/O Merc, and giving her a good testing and warm up, I was remembering the last good run in Lake Michigan last season. We were out for a few hours and shut her down for a rest. While everyone was out playing I took the time to look her over. So I started and put into gear, as soon as i did she died, repeat, repeat, repeat. Finally getting her to run, I decide the dock was the best place to be. At the dock she did it again. This happened once again on another outing. Never does it on lite runs. It seems to be on heavy playing. At that time the boat was fairly new to me, so I didn't know the history. Could this have been an impeller issue, overheating? Or could it be something else. I really don't want a repeat this year.

Time to do it right before I'm on the water.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

Hey guys me again. After getting the muffs on the new drive in my "88" A1 I/O Merc, and giving her a good testing and warm up, I was remembering the last good run in Lake Michigan last season. We were out for a few hours and shut her down for a rest. While everyone was out playing I took the time to look her over. So I started and put into gear, as soon as i did she died, repeat, repeat, repeat. Finally getting her to run, I decide the dock was the best place to be. At the dock she did it again. This happened once again on another outing. Never does it on lite runs. It seems to be on heavy playing. At that time the boat was fairly new to me, so I didn't know the history. Could this have been an impeller issue, overheating? Or could it be something else. I really don't want a repeat this year.

Time to do it right before I'm on the water.

To me personally it sounds like a carb( fuel) issue and a rebuild might be in your future. when was the last time you did a tune up including cheking your timing?

a bad shift cable cut, off switch could also be a culprit but you stated this onlyhappens after a hard run so I would put that on the back of the list.

P.S. Pull your fuel filter and check for junk and water in your gas. Maybe when you run her hard you suck up the junk at the bottom of your tank

 

[Bondo]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

So I started and put into gear, as soon as i did she died, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Ayuh,.....

That sounds like a Bad lower shift cable......

 

[Mokaman]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

OK thanx guys I will check into that. Its prolly time for the complete tune up anyways. She runs good however I just got back from my first time out this year. Heres what she did, Starts right up, on plane in a flash. Ran her out for around 15 mins just to check for overheating and leaks. So far everything is A-OK. Now its time to dock. With a strong wind, a river current and a few boaters wanting to load and unload I'm trying to keep a position to dock. So forward and reverse are being used alot. She keeps dieing when shifted into neutral starts right back up but still know that cant be right. Now this is all at an idle BTW. I thought it might be a low idle and a bad return spring. So carb rebuild may be it. Any thoughts? I really have had enough embarrassments at the docks.

 

[wil7483]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

She keeps dieing when shifted into neutral starts right back up but still know that cant be right.(

Shift cable / shift interupt switch?

What everyone else thinks?

 

[ziggy]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

lower shift cable...
the way i understand it. is.
what trips the shift interupt switch is the fact that as ya shift, yer trying to release undercut gears under load. they won't release under this condition. as yer puttin force on the shifter trying to get it from fwd or rev. into nuetral. the inner core wire stops moving. they harder ya try to shift the more the core wire can't move. so the outer cable starts to move. this is hooked to the shift plate and the shift interupt lever. so it moves. depresses the micro switch, kills the engine, unloads the gears and they come out of gear, then the interupt switch don't have the load on the outer cable so it returns to it's neutral contion, the run condition.
when the cables wore out. the core wire and the outer cable move together more than they should as they is binded up from wear patterns. this causes the malfuntion. dieing going from gear, into neutral..... feel freely to correct me if i understand this incorrectly......

 

[Mokaman]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

Thanks, that makes sense, I will look into right away. Thanx again have a great one everyone.

 

[Mokaman]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

Before I pay for a part, Can someone please verify if this is the correct part for:
1988 Merc alfaone? not sure on it's generation 1 or 2?
http://www.iboats.com/Mallory_Kit_Shift_Cable_9_72100/dm/*******.677070908--keywords.lower%20shift%20cable--**********.375253138--view_id.364184
thanx again guys.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

Ayuh,.......

1988 is Alpha 1.....

Use your serial # in your parts searches......

 

[ziggy]

Re: "88" Merc Alfa1 dies after hard run

i've read more than once, especially where shift cables are concerned. that the oem one is the way to go...... get the mercruiser shift cable. not any of the aftermarket ones......