Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

[Twolane]

Thanks in advance to all the help. And, yes, I have looked at the "adults only" section and have a service manual on order. Am also sure that for someone even slightly more familiar with the terminology and the units/parts/systems it would all make perfect sense. That ain't me. At least not yet. So am asking for a hand from those that have already gained that experience to new guy whose kid just talked him in to a boat. Really do appreciate any guidance.

Would like to know (so I can get on the way) the tools necessary for standard maintenance of the drive unit. Have a boat that's titled as a 1979 with drive serial # 5119746. Sources I've found so far actually say that's a 1978 production so am assuming it's just carryover.

The boat hasn't been in the water in a long time. What I'm assuming is a limit switch on the left side has been hit sometime in its many years of storage and is broken. The unit now goes only one way but not both. Solenoid checks ok so am hopeful this limit switch is the only problem.

Since the boat has set for many years it seems prudent to replace whatever seals are in the drive unit also. Aside from the limit switch's physical damage the engine and drive are in surprisingly good shape for its age and appear to be unmolested. Harnesses tied up neatly and things generally appearing as you'd expect them to from a factory installation.

As mentioned above this is all new to me. Have a well equipped automotive shop. So the six cylinder Chevy motor is no worry. But if someone more familiar could offer a summary of what should be the recommended sercvice to bring a long stored drive unit back to a water ready condition and what unique tools would be needed specifically for my unit I'd really appreciate it. If there are tools necessary for relatively common maintenance tasks that are other than this unit re-seal please feel free to suggest whatever might be helpful.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

If you have a "well equipped auto shop" For routine maintenance All I can think of is a Mercruiser alignment tool. Get one on e-bay. OK and a set of muffs to provide water to the drive when test running, and a pump to add outdrive oil and a pump to pump the oil out of the crankcase.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

For the outdrive, I would recommend you buy a couple of cheap greaseguns and a tube of quicksilver spline and u-joint grease and a tube of 2-4C grease. Pull the prop and grease the shaft with 2-4C. Pull the outdrive and check the gimbal bearing, it must be perfectly smooth, if not replace it. Grease the gimbal bearing and u-joints (if greasable) with spline grease and grease the driveshaft splines. Replace the entire waterpump, (impeller and housing) Grease the gimbal ring pivot pins and swivel shafts with 2-4C. That should cover the basics, but I probably forgot something, but there are plenty folks here to fill in the gaps.

 

[sprobst]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

Also, you could build yourself an outdrive stand. Here's a thread to read about this. It's not absolutely necessary but I found it very helpful after I built one. I don't think I could get my drive re-installed without my home-made stand on wheels. You can also buy them.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=49747

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

Give the bellows a good look...they're rubber and will deteriorate over time.

To pull the drive, I tilt the boat slightly nose down, so that I can trim the drive at an attitude so the drive/driveshaft will be parallel to the ground...and the skeg will just touch the garage floor to bear the weight as it comes off.. Simply remove the trim rams/6 bolts and pull it straight out. It may require a little "persuassion" from being on so long, if so lower the bow a little more, just give the skeg a little clearance, lift it a couple of inches and let it drop a couple of times...it'll "walk" its way off the studs unless something's REALLY bound up.

It's really not that heavy...unless your wife's doin the lifting!

After that, I have a 2 black and decker "workmate" benches which I use to place the drive into for maintenance/disassembly. With the prop off, I lift and set it in one...it'll fit between the two split halves...I then seperate the drive, remove the upper and clamp it into the other.

 

[Twolane]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

If you have a "well equipped auto shop" For routine maintenance All I can think of is a Mercruiser alignment tool. Get one on e-bay. OK and a set of muffs to provide water to the drive when test running, and a pump to add outdrive oil and a pump to pump the oil out of the crankcase.

Thanks. A quick look shows that alignment tool available cheaply. Already scored (from Wal Mart of all places) a pump that screws on top of quart bottles and rounded up enough spare pieces to make a pressure testing tool (thanks to the home made tools thread here). Looking forward to gaining some greater familiarity with this thing. Hope nothing seriously bites me in the ***.

 

[Twolane]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

For the outdrive, I would recommend you buy a couple of cheap greaseguns and a tube of quicksilver spline and u-joint grease and a tube of 2-4C grease. Pull the prop and grease the shaft with 2-4C. Pull the outdrive and check the gimbal bearing, it must be perfectly smooth, if not replace it. Grease the gimbal bearing and u-joints (if greasable) with spline grease and grease the driveshaft splines. Replace the entire waterpump, (impeller and housing) Grease the gimbal ring pivot pins and swivel shafts with 2-4C. That should cover the basics, but I probably forgot something, but there are plenty folks here to fill in the gaps.

Greasing all the mating surfaces and checking everything was part of the plan as whatever seals are in there are replaced. A question on this though; are these all obvious? Is there anything that's unusual or might be missed by an unfamiliar servicer or are they typical bearing mating splined surfaces with tolerances and "feels" that anyone would expect?

Had discovered that the little impeller is a must-replace item just because it's been sitting so long. So that will happen too. Are those commonly replaced as just the impeller and a seal or gasket (whatever is used there)? Or is the housing for the pump usually replaced along with it?

 

[Twolane]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

Also, you could build yourself an outdrive stand. Here's a thread to read about this. It's not absolutely necessary but I found it very helpful after I built one. I don't think I could get my drive re-installed without my home-made stand on wheels. You can also buy them.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=49747

The pics in that thread were great. Hate reinventing the wheel so can now take some scrap lumber and hopefully put together something that works as well. Thanks.

 

[Twolane]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

Give the bellows a good look...they're rubber and will deteriorate over time.

To pull the drive, I tilt the boat slightly nose down, so that I can trim the drive at an attitude so the drive/driveshaft will be parallel to the ground...and the skeg will just touch the garage floor to bear the weight as it comes off.. Simply remove the trim rams/6 bolts and pull it straight out. It may require a little "persuassion" from being on so long, if so lower the bow a little more, just give the skeg a little clearance, lift it a couple of inches and let it drop a couple of times...it'll "walk" its way off the studs unless something's REALLY bound up.

It's really not that heavy...unless your wife's doin the lifting!

After that, I have a 2 black and decker "workmate" benches which I use to place the drive into for maintenance/disassembly. With the prop off, I lift and set it in one...it'll fit between the two split halves...I then seperate the drive, remove the upper and clamp it into the other.

Very cool. Someone's technique from hands that have actually done the deed. Thanks.

And (yeah, it's a stupid question warning); the "bellows?" I'm assuming that's the thing that looks a little like clothes dryer vent hose?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

Had discovered that the little impeller is a must-replace item just because it's been sitting so long. So that will happen too. Are those commonly replaced as just the impeller and a seal or gasket (whatever is used there)? Or is the housing for the pump usually replaced along with it?

Since this is a new to you boat, I would replace the whole pump with the OEM Mercruiser kit 46-96148A8, then after that a new impeller every couple of years.

 

[Twolane]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

I'm still occasionally confused (perhaps more often than "occasionally" but that's another problem) by the different vendors apparently loose use of MC1, #1, pre-Alpha and a bunch of other jargon for things that I'm not yet sure about. Don't know what's the same with different names or what's different and might or will interchange.

Will someone take a look please at the following eBay link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370632934864

For my 1978 vintage sterndrive behind a 165 Mercruiser engine is this a collection of the tools I'll need for most of the regular maintenance? Thanks.

 

[dingdongs]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

you can get away with just the shaft for about $30 of your us dollars.ok on my 1974 boat even though i picked one up with all the fittings.
look here; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Driv..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item4845edd783&vxp=mtr

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: Tools needed for common maintenance and general advice on an old new-to-me 165

With the engine sitting for a long time, your fuel supply system is all gunked up. Being an automotive guy, you know what that means. Clean out the fuel tank, lines, hoses, filters, and yes, the carb will probably be all gunked up and in need of taking apart and cleaning it out. Regular tune-up stuff is a must also. Got a 165 myself. Love the simplicity and dependability of it.