5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

You should verify that all the plug wires are in the correct firing order. Who knows who did what to this before you got it.
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

yep, will verify when i do the cap and rotor tomorrow. thanks for the help so far guys!
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

woohoo, ok she's running nice now. couldn't find wires today so had to order some, just new plugs, flushed the fuel lines, cleared the water drains that were plugged up, and checked all the spark wires and connections.

couple other questions....

1. the exhaust tube from the transome to the prop is broken. Is it broken or supposed to be that way?

2. i found a leak at the drive gasket. its leaking water when i have it running. is this an urgent repair or can i go test drive the stupid thing tonight?
 

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Don S

Don S

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

I wouldn't put that boat in the water again, until I found out what that home-made gasket is and what all is broken. There should's be any sealer or weld or whatever that is in your second picture with the circles and arrows.
You have some problems there.
Time to pull the outdrive and start inspecting.
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

i should have explained that more... the arrow is just pointing at a water trail from the gasket. damn, i really hadn't planned on learning to pull a leg apart. oh well!

how about the exhaust tube, is that normal?
 
MikDee

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

Wait, that bellhousing don't look right! :confused: It looks like it was broken in pieces, then pieced together, and welded :eek:

Nor does that outdrive gasket look like a normal one?
 
Don S

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

how about the exhaust tube, is that normal?
Click to expand...

The exhaust tube (aka exhaust bellows) is the least of your worries. The bellhousing is FUBAR. If that bellhousing is indicative of the rest of the engine, transom shield and outdrive, you have some big problems ahead.
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

whoa whoa whoa. you're talking about the line the 2 arrows are pointing at? that isn't a weld! its just a trickle of water coming from the gasket.
 
Don S

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

its just a trickle of water coming from the gasket.
Click to expand...

Must look different when it moves as compared to a still photo.
OK, it's not a weld. Pull the outdrive.
BTW, what outdrive do you have??????
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

phew ok, my boat isn't going to self destruct. lol. yet.

its an lpha 1 outdrive
 
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Uraijit

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

livethedream said:
i should have explained that more... the arrow is just pointing at a water trail from the gasket. damn, i really hadn't planned on learning to pull a leg apart. oh well!

how about the exhaust tube, is that normal?
Click to expand...

You probably just have a failed gasket there. Just take the nuts off the bellhousing, put the boat in forward gear, and pull the drive straight back.

They shouldn't have used silicone, so it might be kinda tough getting it off of there. There are eleventy billion threads on getting stuck drives off though, so I won't elaborate.

Buy a fresh gasket set for $6, and replace all of the gaskets that come with it (should be two o-rings on the spline shaft of the drive, one big thick o-ring that goes inside the bellhousing in front of the gimbal bellows, 1 gasket for the bell housing, and an o-ring for the water intake passage). It seems like the last two have failed. You can use a little silicone on the water passage o-ring to keep it in place while you re-install the drive. That's the ONLY place you should use it.

Be sure to remove that old silicone off the bellhousing and drive..

You also might find rusty u-joints and a bad gimbal bearing, if water has been allowed to get into the gimbal bellows.

As far as the exhaust bellows thing goes, it's not "normal" but it's not uncommon either. Might as well replace it now though. What's another $30 at this point, right? ;)
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

Ahha, thanks for the info. I'll do that tomorrow along with the cap, rotor and wires that didn't happen today. Is it safe to assume that pulling the drive off (and reinstalling) is too much weight for one person? The manual has good detail on the process, but doesn't say how much I need to be able to dead lift! :p
 
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Uraijit

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

The alpha drive isn't "light" but it's not too bad. Seems I've read that it's about 80 lbs, and that sounded about right. You should be able to get it off with no problem, but it sure makes it easier to have a helper when it goes back on. Having someone lift the input shaft into the gimbal bearing, and then make sure the shift cable stays lined up while you lift the drive on...

It's doable by yourself, but it's not fun.

Taking it off should be no problem if you can lift 80 lbs. Remember to keep your back straight, and lift with the knees. ;)

And remember to make sure the boat is in forward gear.
 
MikDee

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

Uraijit said:
The alpha drive isn't "light" but it's not too bad. Seems I've read that it's about 80 lbs, and that sounded about right. You should be able to get it off with no problem, but it sure makes it easier to have a helper when it goes back on. Having someone lift the input shaft into the gimbal bearing, and then make sure the shift cable stays lined up while you lift the drive on...

It's doable by yourself, but it's not fun.

Taking it off should be no problem if you can lift 80 lbs. Remember to keep your back straight, and lift with the knees. ;)

And remember to make sure the boat is in forward gear.
Click to expand...

This is true, I've done it myself more then a few times. I'm sure there's plenty of guys here that have done it themselves also, but if there's silicone on the gasket, or any type sealant, it's going to be much harder,,, these outdrives should just slip in, & out easily. Nothing on the gasket. It would be good to have a helper though.

Another thing I wanted to mention Mercruiser makes an exhaust tube, as well, (it's like a large rubber funnel) it can be used instead of the exhaust bellows, it just clamps to the outdrive plate on the transom, instead of clamping to both the plate, & outdrive. It's easier to put on, maybe cheaper also? But you will get a bit more exhaust noise, not objectionable, but you will know the motors running, because the exhaust will be closer to the water surface. Some guys here have opted to use this instead of the bellows.
 
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Uraijit

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

MikDee said:
Another thing I wanted to mention Mercruiser makes an exhaust tube, as well, (it's like a large rubber funnel) it can be used instead of the exhaust bellows, it just clamps to the outdrive plate on the transom, instead of clamping to both the plate, & outdrive. It's easier to put on, maybe cheaper also? But you will get a bit more exhaust noise, not objectionable, but you will know the motors running, because the exhaust will be closer to the water surface. Some guys here have opted to use this instead of the bellows.
Click to expand...

This is what I have on my boat. I didn't know if it was only for particular drives though. Mine's an MC-1 drive, so I didn't know if it would work.

If it will work, I'd highly recommend it. My engine is dead silent at idle with the tube. I honestly wouldn't know it was running it it wasn't for the water bubbling noises coming from the back of the boat.

Out of the water, it's possibly a little louder than it might otherwise be, but it's still no louder than a truck with glass packs.
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

essentially that is the same as i have now right? open exhaust with the trim up, then this rubber tube kind of connects when the trim is down. does this not cause cavitation at the prop and water impeller problems?

Another update: new cap, rotor and 8mm wires installed. Used napa wires since i'm not in salt but it obviously doesn't come with the merc coil wire. Anyone have a new one layin around they'd like to unload? :p

Also started on the drive removal, oil is draining now, and just wondering what guys are using to pump oil back in at the bottom drain? Or is there another trick to filling everything that i'm missing?

Thanks again! I'm really learning alot about these systems and almost having fun. :p

edit: woop, did a search on the pump and i see walmart might have one. walmart canada kinda sucks tho so probly napa?
 
MikDee

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

livethedream said:
essentially that is the same as i have now right? open exhaust with the trim up, then this rubber tube kind of connects when the trim is down. does this not cause cavitation at the prop and water impeller problems?
Click to expand...

No it's fine! Once you have the tube, you'll never want to go back

Another update: new cap, rotor and 8mm wires installed. Used napa wires since i'm not in salt but it obviously doesn't come with the merc coil wire. Anyone have a new one layin around they'd like to unload? :p
Click to expand...

No Sorry, it's odd that it didn't come with one? or they didn't offer you one seperately?

Also started on the drive removal, oil is draining now, and just wondering what guys are using to pump oil back in at the bottom drain? Or is there another trick to filling everything that i'm missing?
Click to expand...

Remember, it's pumped up from the bottom, to the upper screw (air vent!)

Thanks again! I'm really learning alot about these systems and almost having fun. :p
Click to expand...

edit: woop, did a search on the pump and i see walmart might have one. walmart canada kinda sucks tho so probly napa?
Click to expand...

Good Luck, Mike
 
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livethedream

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

um, ok... on the exhaust, look at the pic i posted. not sure you got the background on what i'm saying mine looks like, and asking if its essentially the same as the tubes people are using. (in other words, my large flex hose is broken in half, and connects when the trim is down, just like the tube exhaust I could buy to replace)

for the wires, the auto kit did come with a coil wire but it has different fittings and doesn't work on the merc coil.
 
MikDee

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

No, you have a cracked bellows! The factory tube doesn't have convolutions on it, and it's short!

Can't you switch the fittings off your old coil wire? It's not that critical.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more

You HAVE a torn up bellows, not a tube. Depending on how it bends when you put the drive down, you could be adding air (exhaust) to your prop causing it to ventilate. Plus, you don't have exhaust gases going out the prop. It was designed to have the exhaust come out there.
In other words, you need to fix it.
NOW, your best bet would be to start a new threead on your outdrive problems. Having it listed under the heading of 5.0 merc efi, fouling plugs, missing, and more isn't the best way to get it seen, plus, all those that only read the first post and not all the midway posts have no clue as to what is going on.
 
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