Pre alpha water question

[deputydawg]

I got the power trim fixed, different drive attached, everything works good so far. Got it running tonight, it won't idle but ran good. All tune up stuff there. <br />Question is when I was running the engine on the garden hose, it ran up to and held at 140 degrees. Now how much water if any should be coming out of the exhaust? I had the prop off, and used water was coming out around the prop shaft. Is this normal? Is this harmful? I do not have any water in the gear oil though. If this is a bad thing any possible causes?<br />Also I have a slight leak at the large rubber hose coming up from the drive area. I see now that the previous owner repaired it with duct tape. Is this hard to fix the right way?<br />So far going good, total cost for repairs $5.73 to date. Wife still happy, life is good.<br /><br />Thanks all.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pre alpha water question

Got it running tonight, it won't idle but ran good. All tune up stuff there. <br />

For future reference, if it won't idle right, it won't run right either.<br /><br />140 degrees with out a load is normal. You probably have a 140º thermostat in it, which is also normal.<br /><br />

Also I have a slight leak at the large rubber hose coming up from the drive area. I see now that the previous owner repaired it with duct tape.

YOU NEED A SERVICE MANUAL..... NOW!!!!!!<br />We have no idea what "Big Hose going to the drive area" you are talking about.<br />You have more problems than you're even aware of, and don't have enough knowledge to even know if it's a problem. Or, for that matter what the parts are called.<br /><br />Your wife is going to be "REALLY Pissed" if you go for a cruise and the engine dies or the drive self distructs or the boat sinks because of a leaking exhaust hose.<br />You don't pull off the side of the road and stick out your thumb when you're on a boat. But you can get into a lot of ugly prediciments.

 

[gspig]

Re: Pre alpha water question

water from around the prop shaft is normal, you have a through the prop exhaust. Is the big hose inside or outside the boat. If it is outside and the top big hose, you need to get it replaced. That hose keeps water out of the u-joints and gimbal bearing. If it is the bottom big hose, that is for exhaust.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Pre alpha water question

The water leak I was talking about is on the inside, to the right rear of the engine looking back. I thi nk it is what the book calls the exhaust bellows. It looks like an easy fix, and yes will be fixed before I turn the key again. I was just wondering if anyone had any stories good or bad about similar leaks into the boat. My question could have been summed up easier I think, where is the used cooling water expelled? The book says it is mixed with the exhaust gases and is expelled from the boat. So with that in mind, I wanted to make sure the water coming from around the prop shaft (exhaust) is normal, or should the water be expelled from another port?<br />As for the engine, I meant running good at high idle, and sounds good. No misses, knocks, pings, or other unwanted functions. It will not stay at idle, but I need to replace the plugs and plug wires they show serious wear and cracks. The distributor cap is corroded on the contacts so will need replaced. The feul filter was plugged until I knocked about a teaspoon of junk from it. This too will be replaced as soon as I get to the parts store, and before I run it again. <br />I have been a mechanic for enough years, ASE certified, deisel certified, and specialised training in Yamaha motorcycle and ATV engine and transmission repair. Ran my own shop for years until it became a job and was no longer fun. I worked for dealerships until I got tired of "hangin parts" for customers to "avoid future problems". I have done a lot of work with outboards, but this is my first experience with inboards or ourdrives. The engine doesn't worry me, that is simple. The drives had be confused for a bit until I got help here and with my books. Mostly I wondered exactly where the watr was expelled from. If it is supposed to come out with engine exhaust or not.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pre alpha water question

I still stick with my opinion that you need a service manual. All your questions would be answered. There are water flow diagrams and all. I might even be able to find a water flow diagram, but I have no idea what engine you have and if it's freshwater cooled or raw water cooled.<br />And I bet when you worked on all those other things you used manuals, that or you just guessed at things a lot.<br />I/O's are different from "Other" types of engine operated machines, and being ASE certified, deisel certified, and specialised training in Yamaha motorcycle and ATV engine and transmission repair doesn't help with outdrives, and marine exhaust. Plus, no one ever knew if you had any experience with tools prior to this post.

 

[gspig]

Re: Pre alpha water question

The cooling water is expelled with the exhaust. As I understand the set-up, the exhaust manifold is water cooled. The exhaust travels through an upsidedown U called a riser to help prevent water running backwards through the exhaust system into the engine. Sound like your leak is between the bottom of the riser and the through transom connection.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Pre alpha water question

I agree totally Don, I have a Clymer and at your sugestion have a Mercruiser manuel coming. <br />Mine is a 1976, 165hp Mercury, cooled strickly from the outdrive. The engine side os second nature to me and is the easy part, but the drive, exhaust system, and cooliong system are new to me. The Clymer has helped a lot, but I found from your past posts to my questions that it wasn't enough information, so have a Mercury manuel you suggested coming. <br />The crack in the hose I found leaking is a vertical hose inside of the boat, and is as gspig says. It is also spitting exhaust gasses with the water. The bellows covering the drive shaft are good, and inspection shows no water inside. <br />Hoping to fix that and get it on the water by weekend (with my friend following me in his boat in case I need a tow).

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Pre alpha water question

deputy, Have a look here:<br /> http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pre alpha water question

Sounds like You're getting it Figgered Out.............<br /><br />Which Drive did you decide to go with ????<br /><br />Merc.s expell the Exhaust,+ Water through the Exhaust(at the Prop)........<br />And,<br />Most also have 2 ports(1 each side) about mid-way down the transom shield, to help relieve the back pressure idling at the dock..........<br /><br />Hopefully, Your Idle Issue will be Ignition related..... If Not, Look to the Carb.........<br /><br />You'll need a New Riser Gasket along with the New Exhaust Tube..... NAPA lists about 6 or 8 different 1s.... All about $40. to $50.00.....<br />Also a Good Time to Check,+ Clean the riser.......

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Pre alpha water question

Thanks Bondo, it is coming together with help here. I found a burned out boat with a good outdrive the same as mine. I put that on, filled it with oil and ran it for a while, an hour or so. Then I changed the oil just to clean everything out. What I drained out was very clean and using florescent die (can't remember the name right off) found no metal in the oil. <br />Had some bad plugs so the idle should be that. I am going to go ahead and take the carb down and clean it up. <br />Thanks for your help on this project.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Pre alpha water question

Deputy---You might pressure test the drive before you put it in the water-----water pressure when drive is submerged pushes in on the drive seals-----can't see that in the driveway. If the drive was subjected to heat from the boat fire, might have affected the seals in the drive.<br /><br />Search this forum for pressure test kits and how to use.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Pre alpha water question

Thanks for the advice ddboater, I will do that. The fire only burned the front of the boat. The plug wires toward the front were a bit distorted, but all of the wiring at the rear of the engine are still in shape, no sign of heat. I will check into pressure testing just to be safe.