Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

[joemamma_222]

Hey all I'm thinking about buying a boat..It;s a 1965 starcraft with a Chevy 2 4 cyl 110 HP motor and Mercruiser outdrive. The guy has receipts for about 900 bucks from last year when he had the Outdrive rebuilt. Dont have any serial numbers for ya But he said that the trim and tilt works but slowly Lets the Outdrive down over a long period of time. He said most people tell him its a leaky cylinder but he said he;s not losing any fluid. He said it was a valve that needed replaced. Does anyone know what I might be looking at here ? And maybe how much to fix it ?<br />thanks ! <br />Joe in Ohio

 

[tommays]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

IMHP to buy something that old is a bad way to go you run into parts that cant be bought anymore and service shops dont like repiaring things that old<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[joemamma_222]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

Well I've never paid for service yet....I've tackled some doozies too...Anyone got an Idea ? Is there a valve that could be letting fluid by ?

 

[tommays]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscatalog/collections/index.cfm?fuseaction=collectdetails&colid=04#SD <br /><br />this is a place for parts and it looks like they still have a lot of stuff in stock<br /><br /> i would try to get the correct service manual to figure out the trim<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

How long is a "long" period of time? Mine is a 69 Merc 160 6 cyl GM and it takes 19 seconds to go from fully up to fully down. Only 11 seconds to go from down to up. I don't know if this is normal or not but it works very nice and smoothly so I'm not gonna worry about it at the moment. How does it act going the other direction?<br />I've enjoyed the challenge of my older boat this spring. I got my best compliment the other day when a Dept of Conservation guy made the comment "Hey, cool old boat" at the marina. Just the reaction I was lookin for.

 

[joemamma_222]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

It's not the time it takes to manually power up and power down. It's when you turn the boat off after lifting the outdrive. You can walk away, come back later and the outdrive is lowered all the way. Seller says, outdrive up and down is quick but it won't stay up over the course of 3 hours(during trailering). <br />Thanks,<br />Joe in Ohio

 

[Laddies]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

Is it tlit or trim, 1 or 2 hoses per cyl

 

[Trent]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

The 1965 110hp I had many many years ago was just full power tilt. I would personally pass on this old boat. It was great in its day but a little underpowered for alot of boats back then. You can find alot of newer boats out their. Just my thoughts.....

 

[joemamma_222]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

Appreciate it Trent but it is on a starcraft aluminum boat that has awesome WALLEYE boat potential. Boat is very light and top speed is 41 mph. It's a 1965 starcraft holiday with a double axle trailer.Owner claims Over 110 in each cylinder and eats no oil.... I Really wanna get this boat and I'd really love to know the "key" issues I may have when I get it concerning the outdrive. This is a Low hour 2 owner boat.I talked to him a little bit ago he said the Drive powers up and powers down IN just a "few" seconds...If left In the up posion a few "hours" later the outdrive will "fall" to the down position outdrive has new U's and everything and rebuilt. He got the receipts to prove. 900 bucks worth.... this is my first I/O and if/when It DOES go I just may havta put a 125 OB on her if it;s to expensive to fix Better than all the OMC's I keep passing on lol.....anyhoooo I Just need to know if anyone knows about these Power tilts....is there Just a cylinder to worry about ? or seems to me there'd be a check valve of some sort that may be having some blow by ? Anybody know what I'm looking at here ? $$$$-wise ? The service manual comes with the boat Thanks ! But Time is ticking ! Anyone ?

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

A cylinder could be leaking by on the inside with no visible signs from the outside and no loss of oil. Might just need a new seal kit in one or both cylinders. Not a big deal. If the power part works ok you've got the bigger battle won. My boat came with a couple little snap-on locks to keep the cylinders from leaking down while trailering. Mine don't leak so I really don't use the locks. I've seen them listed in several catalogs. <br />I wouldn't let this keep me from getting the boat if the price was right and I was satisfied with everything else.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

Why not use a set of trailering clips to hold it in place?<br />>>Oops, someone hit Post just before I did.<br />>>Great minds think alike.

 

[AaronG]

Re: Pre Alpha Mercruiser Outdrive Tilt and trim

I agree with thunderroad. The cylinder is probably leaking internally. Thats why it falls down over time.