New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

[ajax5240]

Picked up a Merc Alpha1 140hp for just about free and a 18' runabout and trailer. Had a Volvo before, so some of the differences are new to me.

It had popped a freeze plug, and the previous owner thought the block was cracked. We started it on the hose to see what we were dealing with and it dumped water out of the freeze plug hole, was happy to find that as I thought I had a bad motor on my hands. Cleaned, sealed and re-installed the freeze plug. Started it again, and ran for a mon or so. Where does the water come out on these things, and how long would it take an empty engine to fill up and start running out the drive? We didn't want to mess anything up so we shut her down pretty quick.

When trying the drive out (still on the hose) there is a bit of a grind into forward and reverse. Is this normal on a hose with no prop resistance or does it need adjustment? The guy supposedly just put a new cable on it, so adjustment wouldn't surprise me. Any links to that part of the manual?

It is missing the button to operate throttle only, can you get just the button, or do I need a new controll?

Any special dos/ or do nots for this drive and engine (like removing the OMC sticker haha)



Thanks for any help!!

 

[achris]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Your Volvo had cone clutches. This Mercruiser (or is it an OMC????) has a dog clutch. You can't 'ease' it into gear, it's just a quick forward (or reverse) motion... It will take a bit of time to fill the engine block with water, yes. What I do, just watch the water coming out of the sides of the flushers as you start the engine (obviously needs 2 people). When the engine starts, there will be an obvious decrease in the amount of water getting out from the flushers (it's now being sucked up and pumped into the engine). Until you have water coming out of the idle reliefs or the prop hub, don't rev the engine, just let it idle.

So, it is a Mercruiser or an OMC?????

Chris......

 

[ajax5240]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

No, it's a merc. I had asked about an OMC I was looking at buying and like 4 people said not to remove the sticker and the nut behind it. Something falls off inside and you have to disassemble the drive.

Guess it was a joke that wouldn't make sense in this subject as most merc guys aren't going to read the OMC topic stuff. Except to see how lucky they are not to have one...

 

[achris]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

...as most merc guys aren't going to read the OMC topic stuff. Except to see how lucky they are not to have one...

I don't have to go to the OMC forum to know that... I worked on OMC (Johnson and Evinrude) outboards... I will only work on Mercs now (don't own a shop, can take my choices.. )

 

[ajax5240]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

So, having worked on em. What are the main things for me keep an eye out for? Is there anything you can do to squeeze a little extra umph out of that four banger? Going to do a rebuild over the winter, can you bump up the compression or stab a cam in it?

 

[achris]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Merc tried all that. Go that little 3 litre so produce 155hp, for about 4 minutes... 140 is about the reliable limit for it, even the new ones with MPI are only rated 135hp (propshaft)...

To keep it running, just keep up the regular maintenance and fix little problems before they become big ones....

Chris......

 

[ajax5240]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Thanks for the info! I'm sure I'll have more questions as I dig into this thing.

 

[achris]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Thanks for the info! I'm sure I'll have more questions as I dig into this thing.

Post engine and drive serial numbers and I'll post up manual links...

(everything 'Merc' is done by serial numbers)

Chris......

 

[ajax5240]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

I really appreciate the help Chris!

Engine: A432651
Drive: A391967

 

[ajax5240]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Looks like a 1985 from my search. Did you get the same thing?

 

[achris]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Looks like a 1985 from my search. Did you get the same thing?

Yep....

ENGINE MANUAL
DRIVE MANUAL

You might like to add those serial numbers to your forum signature (like quite a few of us have). That way it's there on every post, and you don't have to think about it..

 

[ajax5240]

Re: New to me, Alpha 1 w/ 3.0 140

Thanks for all your help! The manuals will be put to good use!

I'll get on the signature fix, not going to try it from the cell phone though