Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

[neilmw]

I started a thread a while ago regarding my alpha one drive and how i noticed steam coming off the top of the drive as water washed over it when we stopped for lunch at the weekend, Lots of help thanks. I now seem to have a tight engine, whatever that means?? had loadsa agro starting her today just seemed like a flat battery so tried a new one to no avail, guy from the marina came along and gave me hand and took the plugs out etc and we got her going, once running the engine is fine but does turn over very slowly when starting, I noticed on the last service reciept for the boat that the engineer had noted that the engine was tight due to lack of use......any ideas. Only had the boat a couple of weeks and the 2 occasions I have taken her out she runs like a dream.<br />By the way its an 87 searay seville with 165hp mercruiser.<br />any help appreciated.

 

[llerrad]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

165hp, 250 chev 6 cyl. never heard of one getting tight from lack of use. Hard to start after use usually can mean overheated eng. how is the operating temp? How does it turn over when cold or first started? Any noise from engine (knocking). Why were the plugs were removed? what did you find (water) or were the very hot do you have the right plugs (heat range) Don't forget many from the Colonies here may not understand agro. but some of us do.

 

[kcole683]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

Is that 165 a 3.7 liter 4 cylinder by chance?

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

If its a 3.7L you first need a large battery like 800 to 1000 cc amps, and another issue I just recently found out from Mercury, is they issued a TSB for timing, manual and motor label states 8-10 degrees, Merc now suggest 2-4 degrees, I just recently set up my fathers 3.7L and it now starts at the flick of the key, it no longer drags and seems tight, as you describe,( I timed it at 4 degrees) I also noticed it no longer knocks at High rpm which was always a concern, but merc insisted it was normal for many years when it was timed at 8 degrees.

 

[kcole683]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

I have a 3.7 in my boat and have tried the 4 degrees setting on mine because of the Merc. TSB.<br />With my engine it doesnt like to idle well at this setting (3.7 Mercs aren't exactly known for a smooth idle any how though).

 

[neilmw]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

Just to answer a few questions,<br />Engine temp is normal and has not overheated since I bought the boat,<br />I was having the trouble starting from cold.<br />There has been no knocking from the engine, in fact once running its sweet as a bird.<br />I removed the plugs in order to help turn her over. No water or anything untoward.<br />Its a 1987 4cyl 3.7lt<br />Sorry about the term "agro" thats what you get for coming from south London.....<br />Been to the marina today and she started up straight away, restarted several times and was fine.<br />The battery is 85amps, marine battery, does this sound correct? (new)

 

[neilmw]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

Still starting ok, but the engine does turn over. would this be a charataristic?

 

[llerrad]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

Can you expand on your last question.

 

[kcole683]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

Check all the connections from battery to starter battery grounds etc. You can pull the starter off and check it too. The starter should pull between 60 and 100 amps at 10.6 volts, rpm should be from 5300 to 10600 rpms when tested off of the boat on the bench. Many automotive parts shops will test it for free.<br />My 3.7 liter has never cranked to slow no matter where the timing was set. I had the starter rebuilt this year because of a no crank symtom. It wouldnt even spin when tested off of the boat.<br />Good Luck

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: Tight Engine ?? Mercuriser

I had a different Mercruiser engine with the same symptoms...had to hold the key in the start postion for a couple of seconds before it would begin to slowly crank over with a cold engine. After finally starting, it ran and started fine for the rest of the day. My mechanic told me to replace the slave solenoid and the problem would go away. He was right....replaced a $12.00 part in a few minutes and the problem never returned. Your milage may vary