Alpha I Fail?

[Starkenwolf]

Hi guys, I'm a true I/O newbie and boy did I have a long Sunday!
So we go out 27 miles, don't catch anything worth reporting and on the way back in (running fast, around 4200 rpm's) I notice a change in engine pitch, then the drive belt is squealing.
We were pushing it on fuel so I let it set, tried to restart and nada. Ok, so I call Sea Tow for fuel....2 1/2 hours later, I'm on the swim platform at 9:00pm in 4-5 ft seas putting 10gals of fuel in the tank lol! She starts right up, but no power. I mean 3 knots and the belt is squealing so badly I'm afraid to go more throttle. Sea Tow says, "What d'ya wanna do, Cap?" Tow of shame......... I know I know....kills me.

SO: couple of things....Sea Tow Captain thinks it's a belt issue. I'm not sure. On the muffs it starts right up, no squealing. I didn't engage throttle as I'm afraid to with it out of water. So I'm reading and I'm confused. It seems the prop spline bush? could be spub out? Or, and I hope I'm wrong, but the engine coupler could have gone? Or is it possible it's simply a belt as suggested?

As I mentioned, I am truly a newbie with I/O's and I could use any help you guys could offer.....Mercruiser 5.7 Alpha I stern drive 0L458837 with Quicksilver Engine Coupler 92-816391A4

Also, is the prop designed to be turned freely by hand when engine is in neutral?

----Just went out for the stern drive model number and I see something which looks like a small piece of aluminum in what I believe to be the water exhaust port......does that sound like the splines are shot?

Geez, any help you could offer. Thanks so much!

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

What you should have done is opened the engine hatch and listen and look for an indication of where the sound was coming from. If from the front of the engine, the belts would be the problem, if the sound was from the back the coupler would be the problem.
Did you smell anything, like burned rubber?

I mean 3 knots and the belt is squealing so badly I'm afraid to go more throttle.

If you gave it more throttle and the speed would not increase and the rpm increased, that would indicate the coupler was bad.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

I did smell something hot and a little rubber-like. It sounded like it was coming from the front of the engine. I never gave it more throttle....I was slowly increasing throttle when the whining was so bad it scared me out of giving it more.

Thanks for your quick response.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Are the belts loose?

If tight, start it up on muffs and see if everything is turning.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

I'll start it up and check the belts and that evreything is turning. It only has the one drive belt and another for the alternator. Should be easy enough to check them. Is it advisable to put it in gear when on muffs?
Thanks you again.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

I'm an idiot - the part number I listed for the coupler is actually the part number for the spline grease 92-816391A4....sorry guys.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Is it advisable to put it in gear when on muffs?

it doesn't hurt to shift it, but without the load on the prop from being in the water, it won't tell you much.
You do know that you have to trim the drive down to run it on muffs don't you? Never run the engine with the drive in the trailered position.

The serial number you posted is for the outdrive, do you have one for the engine?

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Yes, I won't run it trimmed up.

Great on the serial number!

The guy I bought the boat from went crazy with paint and painted over the label sticker for the engine. It's a Mercruiser:
model no. MCM 5.7 litre
Displacement 350 CID
Rated HP 260
Ignition Timing 8' BTDC

Checked belts - I would not say they are tight, at least not like those on our cars, but they still look new. I attached muffs and water lowered unit, and started it. Everything is turning, but has an odd "wobbly" sound that I don't remember, and after a couple of minutes, a little bluish smoke. Gasoline fumes strong. Doesn't want to idle for long, sputters out, but starts right up again.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

I've found the following while researching this on my own. I guess it would squeal like that if the drive shaft were spinning inside a spun coupler huh?




If these are too small, they are screenshots of this web page: http://www.mercstuff.com/spunprop.htm

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Have you looked at the back of the coupler?
The rubber should be smooth from the edge of the splined section of the coupler to the outer edge. Don't confuse grease, the rubber itself will be smooth if good, but rough an bulged up if spun.

I never gave it more throttle....I was slowly increasing throttle when the whining was so bad it scared me out of giving it more.

Did you or didn't you give it more throttle?

On muffs and in neutral.
Is it squeeling now while at idle while on muffs? While at idle, look and see if the shaft going into the coupler is actually turning or not.

If the shaft is turning, give it some throttle and see if the squeeling starts and is the shaft turning.

If all that checks out and no squeeling, try the same things with the drive in forward.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Never gave it throttle on muffs. Ok- so I just came in from your suggestions:

At idle on muffs, no squeal, shaft at back of motor is turning. Gave it some throttle, same, shaft and prop both turning. There is grease in the bilge below the shaft, looks like it came from the shaft assembly and was slung out. It didn't sling far, kind of pooled below the shaft, also, no grease flying at test just now.
It doesn't like to idle though, kind of sputtery at idle.

Didn't squeal on muffs....either way, with prop engaged or in neutral, at idle or under throttle.

However, I do hear an intermittent "crunch" sound about every other turn of the engine - crunch sound appears to be coming from the area at shaft. Can't tell but I believe where it goes through the transom.

Engine coupler at motor side is smooth from the outside all the way in. Then shaft is exposed for about 4 inches or so until it meets interior wall of the transom.

Sorry, man...I know how frustrating it must be talking to me lol. I do appreciate you....thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Pull the outdrive and have a look inside the bellows. bet it's full of water and the gimbal bearing is very rough, and may hang up on occasion. Have you checked the gear lube in the outdrive yet? Drain it and see what it looks like, and check for metal on the magnet.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Where would the magnet be? I will pull the outdrive and look in the bellows. And I will drain the gear lube. You suspect gimbal bearing needs replaced?

Would water in the bellows affect the idle though? It was idling fine, now it sputters....runs a bit rough until you give it a little throttle.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

The magnet is built into the drain plug.

The engine idle problem may be completely a different problem, could also be because the engine is cold and the drive or gimbal bearing is putting a load on a cold engine that it doesn't normally have.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Roger that - I'll pull it tomorrow.

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Hey Don. I haven't gotten home yet to pull the drive, but I did research some parts I will need and as it turns out, the drive I have MAY be part of the problem. I will verify when I get home, but the drive info is below. I have a 5.7 liter V8 and wonder if using the 2.00:1 ratio on the V8 at 4200 rpm's could have damaged the drive?

Hi Cameron,
Your serial number pulls up the following:
ENG: 0L371727 4111025M1 1998M MERCRUISER WPS 3.0L ALPHA
DRV: 0L458837 5121600LS MERCRUISER ALPHA 2.00:1
TRN: 0L554789 6111001LS MERCRUISER ALPHA TRANSOM
OWNER: LOUIS DIRAIMONDO
850 SOUTH SHOREDRIVE
MIAMI BEACH FL, 33141
Hull Id: SERR5076E999 Length: 018
Manufacturer: SEA RAY Width:
Nbr of Motors: SINGLE Hull Material: OTHER
Model: 180BR

It looks like the drive was originally installed on this SeaRay from Miami which has a 3.0L
four cylinder engine.
Doublecheck your drive serial number.
Serial number 0L458837 is an Alpha One Gen II standard (right hand rotation prop) drive.
It has a ratio of 2.00:1 which is NOT good for a 5.7L engine.
If you are sure about your serial number I would remove the top cover and count the teeth on your upper gears. This will confirm the drive ratio.
Your gear tooth count should be 20-22 for a 1.47:1 drive.
I suspect the count on your teeth might be 24-24.
A 24-24 gear tooth count is for a 2.00:1 ratio which is only used on small 4 cylinder engines.

As a note: ALL sterndrive ENGINE's rotate to the left.
Do not confuse engine-rotation with prop-rotation.
Most single engine sterndrives use a standard righ-hand rotation prop
A LH drive is typically installed on the port side of a twin engine application.
It is rare to see a single engine boat with a LH drive.
Usually the boat lists and pulls really bad to one side.
IMPORTANT: RH drives must use a RH prop and LH drives must use a LH prop.
You can NOT reverse the rotation of an Alpha drive.
So... if your drive is proven to be a standard RH drive, do NOT install and run a LH prop.
You will ruin the drive in just a short time.
Most LH drives will have a letter "L' or "CR" stamped into the end of the propshaft.
Not ALL LH or CR (counter-rotation) drives will have this stamping.

I hope this helps.
Ed

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

I have a 5.7 liter V8 and wonder if using the 2.00:1 ratio on the V8 at 4200 rpm's could have damaged the drive?

Ayuh,... With a 2:1 drive ratio on a V8, it'll rev to 8 Grand or more.... 'n go nowhere, Slowly...

That's Not yer Problem...

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Well that sucks as I've found a Gen I outdrive complete for $575 which is geared at 1.50:1. But I'm not even sure it would bolt up to my existing Gen II transom assembly.

OK, so back to the bellows and gimbal bearing.

This boat is quick, so you must be right.

Thanks, Bond-o

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

Well that sucks as I've found a Gen I outdrive complete for $575 which is geared at 1.50:1. But I'm not even sure it would bolt up to my existing Gen II transom assembly.

Ayuh,... You Need the 1.50:1, but an Alpha 1, will NOT bolt up to an Alpha 1, Gen.II....

 

[Starkenwolf]

Re: Alpha I Fail?

So, do you believe based on the info above, that this drive is in fact a 2.0:1 Gen II? Will counting the gears decide it once and for all so I can move on?

I'm thinking if I need the 1.50:1 anyway, that there's no sense in rebuilding whatever's broken on this one.

Also.....ummm.....how do I remove the top cover to count the gears?

Y'know, I'm great at what I do....but what I've never done is work on boats. I hate being a newbie!! Thanks so much for your patience and help.