Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

[karayj]

Ok I have a 1986 merc 4.3 alpha 1 18 ft Thursday I tested my new prop spun around the lake top speed for 1 min about 4 times to test the prop went in all was well .<br />Today we went out stripper fishing and 5min min into it we throttle up and I notice a noise kept going then I noticed it a little loader we slowed down it was a knocking noise /ticking (lifter) noise.<br />I panic and thought it was the out drive then a put the boat in neutral and rev the engine and heard a tick/knock so I backed off the throttle to 800rpm and the noise was gone.<br />Then we trolled at 800 rpm there was no noise so we went fishing for 2 hours at 800 rpm then cutting across the harbor I gunned it a bit 2500 rpm the noise was loader I then backed down and then even at 800 it was knocking bad and sounding like a squeaking pulley but the noise was over the valve cover /lower block but I was not a constant tick like a lifter or a knock like a piston. <br />When I got home I put the boat in the lake rev it a bit it was sounded real bad at idle and notice hot water leaking near the back of the manifold or block onto the starter it was very hot water can anyone tell me what they think may have happed hope its not the engine ps took the right side valve cover off all seems ok I may take the other side Monday to see if it’s a bent push rod. I will wait to have a mechanic after I see your advice. I will reply to any advice asap i need this fixed fast and give more info if needed

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

just to add when in the lake the motor sounded like someone droped 5 bolts in the engine block its souded that bad i have workd on a few cars in my time and this is hard to figure sound wise can it be a fly wheel like i have seen in other posts??? where would i start ??/again at so point it was knocking tapping and squeaking at 800 rpm but earlier in the day it was only noisy at 1300 and up 800 was fine but at the end of the day600-800 or idle sounded bad so it got worse through the day ps I was about to sell it (wife ) and now that i cannot sell it it make matters worst putting money into the boat I'm sure you guys can relate to a wife screaming about pouring money into something she hates!!!

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

one more thing oil pressure at 800 rpm was at 30

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

keep the boat. get a wife that likes boating.

 

[y2j]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

my guess would be a cracked manifold.. fawked cylinder because of heat (knocking noise).. And a nice $2k repair bill<br /><br />but thats just my guess <br /><br />I could most hopefully be wrong

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

it never over heated i watch the gauge max at trolling was 180-200 then cooled off when trolling at 1000 rpm's

 

[iwldntli2u]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

Could have spun a bearing? Start tearing her down and see what comes up. If you are not able to tear and engine down then take it to the shop. What ever it might be it will not be simple.<br />Wish you Luck-

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

i would start with the exhaust manifold on starboard side. cracked manifold can make some strange noises and also be water leak cause. nothing lost if not the problem because to do much anything the manifolds come off anyway.

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

Well I started the boat sounds bad the flapper vavle is load but the engine sounds bad seems to be coming from the lower and and top ends so im on what to do stuck anyways engine removeal and body seen a past post with advice do i have to tek the out drive and gimble / how do you host the motor out if the boat is on the trailer height wise seems tought where sound i start i just need basic tips i cant faind a manucal for my boat brand what manual will work. or should i trash the boat for parts i just want 2,300 running good i could get 3,500 help the out drive is worth 1,000 alone, all advice needed

 

[anesthes]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

If it was a bearing he'd know it.. Even at 800rpm it would sound like a drummer from a bad brittish punk rock band.<br /><br />At this point I'd just drop it off at a marina and ask them to give you a written estimate.. Worse comes to worse, sel the boat as-is and the new owner will at least knwo exactly what he needs.. <br /><br />Without knowing exactly what it is (manifold issue, as weird as it sounds; internal engine issue, etc) you really have no solid grounds for resolution.. <br /><br />The only _good_ news is that if you decide to keep the boat, and sell the wife; the 5.0/5.7 should bolt up right in its place.. <br /><br />-- Joe

 

[JasonB]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

Sounds like a cracked manifold for starters. Have you checked the cylinders for water by pulling the plugs and turning it over?<br /><br />To get it hoisted out, build one of these: Pics <br /><br />I was able to pul the V8 out of my very high freeboard 19' bowrider while it was on teh trailer. It is made of 12' 4x4 posts, with 2 2x6 beams and 2x4 bracing. Also used it to lift my 15' boat in the picture. Hoist is a $40 Harbor Freight special. HAve about $100 in the whole thing. Works like a champ. May convert it to a tall swingset when finshed (a really tall swingset...)

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

ok i got a status the boat has a bad crank i need adivce do i sell the boat as is 1,800 or do i fix it and sell it for 3,200 how hard is a engine removal 4.3 18 ft bowrider where do i start looking for people how have done one and regret it or were happy it was so easy ps x car machanic jayvette75@yahoo.com email me with a number i will call you at my long distance expense to get better details rather then email if you choose all help and thanked for in advance.....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

I just rebuilt a early 70's IL6 Mercruiser 165.<br />Check out the pic on how I removed the engine.<br /> http://www.geocities.com/ajv003/EngineRemoval.html

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

tony I have a 350 L82 covette engine i can use would that be ok after takeing out the six and then the out-drive and gimble taking it out and going back in is that hard (outdrive) i heard it tough going back in what tools do i need i dont want to spend 200.00 in tools I just want to get the new engine and sell it

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

I reinstalled the same type of engine that I removed. If you replace a V6 with a V8 I imagine you will not only have to realign the engine but probably need a different mounting set up and a different outdrive (1.50:1 gear ratio).

 

[JasonB]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

The outdrive ratio is definetly different. I believe your V6 uses a 1.72:1 or something similar. The 350 may also throw the weight distribution of the boat off. At the least it will need new freeze plugs, cam, carb (if equipped), etc. The 4.3 is a good motor. I would fix it and re-install.<br /><br />Pulling the motor is actually easier than it looks. Unbolt the 6 nuts holding the drive to the gimball ring, pull the drive, label and unhook all wires-hoses-fuel-etc, remove the 2 bolts holding the engine bellhousing to the inside of the gimball ring, then unbolt the mounts.<br /><br />I had never touched an I/O before last year and didn't have any major problems pulling the V8 in my 19' bowrider. One tip: re-install is easier with duct tape on the bellhousing nuts!<br /><br />

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

ok i have an engine i can buy for 300. so i think im going for the replace engine deal and not give up you have all help me so much and will use your advice in the coming days and for the pictures of the engine host that i will build i thank you all for what i have heard thaking an out drive is not so bad and i don have to take the gimble out how about gaskets and seals what advice do you have for me ???

 

[JasonB]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

While the outdrive is off, it's fairly easy to change the Gimball if you think it's anywhere near worn out. You can get a slide hammer for free rental at AutoZone. I used the old ring on mine to drive the new assembly in. Also a good time to check all your bellows. You will need to line the drive back either way, but that's easy with the correct tool. I would also conside a new impeller.<br /><br />What info are you looking for an gaskets and seals?

 

[karayj]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

what I need to know is what gaskets I will need to put the out drive back after I'm done I want to take it out and remove the engine and try to put it all back and realize i need to buy a few things but remember i dont want to spend if i dont have to i'm putting the engine just to sell it as a running boat i want to minimize expenses as much as possible so i need to know what tools and gaskets if any I may need to put the out drive and engine back in.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Help!! motor may be gone you tell me

You'll need the NAPA part # 18-2618 Outdrive Gasket Set... $5.99 list price....<br /><br />BTW, You MUST Realign the engine/gimbal bearing after installing an engine..... Don't let anybody BS you... If they did it, They were More than Lucky.... Misalignment is the #1 cause of Coupler Failures....<br /><br />PS, Seasprite it took me this long to find your post... The dates are for the Last posting...