Hello - I have a 1991 23" Celebrity with a 7.4L and a Bravo One drive........ s/n 0D633462. I have had other boats and performed repairs such as bellows job, gimbal bearing, trim units etc., so I am not intimidated by tearing into an out drive (not that its anything I do for fun!!!)
Anyway, been having a hot start issue lately but it is random and rare. Usually happens once or twice during a day on the lake. After doing some research here, I am guessing this a temp, vapor lock issue and will attempt the insulated tape on the fuel line before tearing into the carb. The other day though, this ocured after the motor running only about 1 hr in the early morning. Well, while drifting and trying to get it started......I drifted over a buey for a slalom course. As Murphy's Law has it, that is exactly when the motor started and I believe I tried to put it into gear and take off. The motor made a noise and died again. At which time I thought I had the rope wrapped around prop. However, I then watched the boey pop up and move across the lake as though the anchor was dragging it........assuring me that I did not break the rope. Tried to start again and there was a lot of drag on the battery as well as a grinding noise that seemed to come from out drive. So then...........I assumed part of the rope was wrapped around prop and / or some how not allowing the drive to shift back to neutral......I jumped in water to check but nothing......prop turns freely. Back in boat, now battery would not turn motor over completely and it sounds like something is restricted. Wanting to avoid any more damage then I already did..........I found a nice guy to tow me back to dock, loaded it up and hauled it home.
First, I wanted to check the lower unit oil. Where is the lower plug? my alpha's always had 2 plugs but this bravo has an oil bottle in the boat and I could only find a single plug on the upper unit. Did I not look hard enough? The upper plug had light coating of clean looking mercruiser green oil with only micro particles on the plug magnet.
Then, I removed the top and side inspection covers and discovered some metal particles in both areas. These are more then just small particles. They appear to either be either thin shavings or a bearing race or housing pieces and not gear parts (Unfortunately I have seen what broken gear teeth look like under the inspection cover). I probably should have checked to see if the small flat pieces are metallic. I can check that tonight. I have not rotated the motor by hand but the gears I can see from the top cover and back inspection cover appear fine.
My questions are this.......
1. Should a prop turn freely in neutral? I thought it locked and would not turn either direction in neutral?
2. Depending on answer to first question, I am thinking it should turn in forward which.....goes with theory that it is now stuck in forward. Could a temporary rope tangle do that?
3. I am waiting on a spanner wrench and a bearing carrier puller to take apart completely as all my tools were lost in a barn fire along with my last boat. Am I correct in assuming that I should start with the upper unit inspection since that is where the metal is?
4. Last........is there a specific bearing that is weaker then the others? the upper thrust bearing and upper gear look in great shape.
As always, thanks so much for the help
Matt
Anyway, been having a hot start issue lately but it is random and rare. Usually happens once or twice during a day on the lake. After doing some research here, I am guessing this a temp, vapor lock issue and will attempt the insulated tape on the fuel line before tearing into the carb. The other day though, this ocured after the motor running only about 1 hr in the early morning. Well, while drifting and trying to get it started......I drifted over a buey for a slalom course. As Murphy's Law has it, that is exactly when the motor started and I believe I tried to put it into gear and take off. The motor made a noise and died again. At which time I thought I had the rope wrapped around prop. However, I then watched the boey pop up and move across the lake as though the anchor was dragging it........assuring me that I did not break the rope. Tried to start again and there was a lot of drag on the battery as well as a grinding noise that seemed to come from out drive. So then...........I assumed part of the rope was wrapped around prop and / or some how not allowing the drive to shift back to neutral......I jumped in water to check but nothing......prop turns freely. Back in boat, now battery would not turn motor over completely and it sounds like something is restricted. Wanting to avoid any more damage then I already did..........I found a nice guy to tow me back to dock, loaded it up and hauled it home.
First, I wanted to check the lower unit oil. Where is the lower plug? my alpha's always had 2 plugs but this bravo has an oil bottle in the boat and I could only find a single plug on the upper unit. Did I not look hard enough? The upper plug had light coating of clean looking mercruiser green oil with only micro particles on the plug magnet.
Then, I removed the top and side inspection covers and discovered some metal particles in both areas. These are more then just small particles. They appear to either be either thin shavings or a bearing race or housing pieces and not gear parts (Unfortunately I have seen what broken gear teeth look like under the inspection cover). I probably should have checked to see if the small flat pieces are metallic. I can check that tonight. I have not rotated the motor by hand but the gears I can see from the top cover and back inspection cover appear fine.
My questions are this.......
1. Should a prop turn freely in neutral? I thought it locked and would not turn either direction in neutral?
2. Depending on answer to first question, I am thinking it should turn in forward which.....goes with theory that it is now stuck in forward. Could a temporary rope tangle do that?
3. I am waiting on a spanner wrench and a bearing carrier puller to take apart completely as all my tools were lost in a barn fire along with my last boat. Am I correct in assuming that I should start with the upper unit inspection since that is where the metal is?
4. Last........is there a specific bearing that is weaker then the others? the upper thrust bearing and upper gear look in great shape.
As always, thanks so much for the help
Matt
