A few questions about my Mercruiser

[Juniorcarp]

I have 2 questions today hoping for some help.

I own a 1999 Sea Ray Express cruiser 305 Merc efi I/o Aphla 1 gen 2 gear ratio is 1.62

1) My outdrive completely failed at the end of the season. The upper gears were completely destroyed resulting in a lovely tow in from the coast guard . I replaced it with new and had the gimble bearing replaced. I only tried it in the boat launch ramp and the drive sounded very tight in both gears. I've dropped it off at a mechanic this week and asked that he check that the right gimble bearing is installed (by another mechanic) and check the alignment to the engine for me. Is there anything else I should be looking at?

2) The year before 3 weeks after purchasing the boat the cylinder heads needed to be replaced. When the original heads were on the boat it ran at 170 all day. Now with the new heads it runs around 175-180. It does have a 170 thermostat in it with is OEM to the best of my looking in the manual. If I install a 160 thermostat what could it do other than cool it 10 degrees more potentially?

This is my first boat and I've had nothing but horrid luck each summer ! I don't mind maintenance I get the Bring On Another Thousand theory just want the boat gods to let the catastrophic failures stop. (Had to rant sorry)

 

[fat fanny]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Being proactive is definately the proper coarse of action but learning to be proactive on your own ability to perform the work brings overwelming satisfaction and knowing it's done right a service manual and some thourough reading can solve alot of your issues. Just keep in mind that this can be a very exspensive hobby if you don't educate yourself!

 

[Juniorcarp]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Yeah it's been a learning curve but an expensive one ! I still enjoy it a lot just need to make the boat more reliable . More reliable means less expensive lol .

 

[Bondo]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... Yer drive is Brand New,... it needs a 10 hour break-in, 'n a change of oil at that point,...

Yer old drive, Blew up, from a lack of oil... 'least that's what Smokes 99% of the upper gears...

Yer temps aren't really outa line,... Change the T-stat if it bothers ya... Use a good 1, 'n the Right gaskets,...

Oh,... 'n there's Lotsa Great readin' for Newbies like you, up in the Adults Only section, at the top of this forum...

 

[Juniorcarp]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Hey thanks a lot I need to ask my mechanic to check that the drive reserve lines aren't plugged and flow good because I know when it happened i had oil in the reserve container at the top of the engine after . Does the new drive come with enough oil in to run it or do I need to top it off before the '10' hour break in ?

Yeah I think I will drop to the lower thermostat just for piece of mind .

 

[Pete104]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Don't take ANYTHING for granted!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

drives are shipped with NO OIL and the monitor bottle will not feed fast enough to supply enough oil.
you run it for the 10 hrs and then change the oil.
"and the drive sounded very tight in both gears" define sounded tight.

 

[Juniorcarp]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

It had oil I checked it before starting the boat and used the "monitor" bottle .

 

[Juniorcarp]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

"and the drive sounded very tight in both gears" define sounded tight.

It definitely didn't sound like the previous drive not that I wanted it to at the very end . Was a smooth sound no grinding or anything just a louder tighter sounding wine like an electric generator sound.

 

[achris]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Checking the oil means taking the 'VENT' plug out and making sure there is oil in the drive, not just looking at the monitor bottle....

When you fill the drive it MUST be done from the bottom plug, up....

Chris......

 

[Juniorcarp]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

Yes that's exactly what I did. You explained it better than me . So after 10 hours get it changed out. Is there anyway from the monitor bottle to the drive that could prevent oil from getting to the drive or is it all just gravity fed ??

 

[Don S]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

That reservoir can be empty and not damage the drive, as long as the drive was filled correctly. Everything in that bottle is a reserve in case there is a leak in the drive. So even if it was plugged up, that would not be the problem.
Is your idle rpm in the 650 range? or are you shifting at higher rpm?

 

[Juniorcarp]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

That reservoir can be empty and not damage the drive, as long as the drive was filled correctly. Everything in that bottle is a reserve in case there is a leak in the drive. So even if it was plugged up, that would not be the problem.
Is your idle rpm in the 650 range? or are you shifting at higher rpm?

Yes I was idling around 650rpm . I did pull the top vent and check the level before starting the test, it was full from the factory . So is the drive just gravity fed from the reserve or is there a vacuum pump that draws it in ? Should I be asking to check for a plug-age there ? I appreciate the help guys

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: A few questions about my Mercruiser

See if this makes sense.
Once the drive is properly filled and the bottle filled and connected to the drive , when you operated the boat the oil heats up and expands, the oil level may go up slightly. When the drive cools a vacumn is created and the oil is drawn back into the drive.Should you develop a leak the res. bottle will show a lower oil level alerting you to a possable seal problem.The drive will have a 3-4 inch pocket of air. Once this pocket burps out just refill the bottle to the proper level