Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

IanFS · Nov 8, 2011

Hi Guys

Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1 Gen 1

I've recently put new manifolds, elbows, exhaust flappers, Sterndrive seals, impeller, impller housing kit, etc onto my ageing Sea Ray.

When I started her for the first time, water flow was good, but one of the manifolds heated up quicker than the other which remained cool until I riggled the sprung loaded balls in the front of the thermostat housing (sorry not sure what they are called). After that the manifold cooling was ok.

What is puzzling me though is that before I replaced all the parts, when running with muffs, a light stream of cooling water would come out of the prop. Now there is nothing, only exhaust gases. I have the leg fully down, but there is no water coming out. The flow of water through the exhaust holes in the transom shield seems fine, the port side is stronger than the starboard side but still good flow on each side.

Is this because of a fault, or because there is more flow through the manifolds. Should there be a small stream of water exiting the prop?

Many thanks.

achris · Nov 8, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

English Mariner said:
Hi Guys

Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1 Gen 1

Got a year (or serial number)? Those engines ran from 1985 to 1990

English Mariner said:
I've recently put new manifolds, elbows, exhaust flappers, Sterndrive seals, impeller, impller housing kit, etc onto my ageing Sea Ray.

When I started her for the first time, water flow was good, but one of the manifolds heated up quicker than the other which remained cool until I riggled the sprung loaded balls in the front of the thermostat housing (sorry not sure what they are called). After that the manifold cooling was ok.

The special name for the spring loaded balls in the front of the thermostat housing is 'spring loaded check balls'...

English Mariner said:
What is puzzling me though is that before I replaced all the parts, when running with muffs, a light stream of cooling water would come out of the prop. Now there is nothing, only exhaust gases. I have the leg fully down, but there is no water coming out. The flow of water through the exhaust holes in the transom shield seems fine, the port side is stronger than the starboard side but still good flow on each side.

Is this because of a fault, or because there is more flow through the manifolds. Should there be a small stream of water exiting the prop?

Many thanks.

The exhaust shutters? Were they the same style as came out, or the new style?

fmalott · Nov 8, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

should i say it! there is no such name as Alpha 1 Gen 1 it's Alpha 1 or Alpha 1 Gen 2

achris · Nov 8, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

fmalott said:
should i say it! there is no such name as Alpha 1 Gen 1 it's Alpha 1 or Alpha 1 Gen 2

You are of course 100% correct. But for clarity I like when people say 'Gen I'. It removes any doubt about the subject. Maybe Merc should have called the 'Alpha One Gen II', 'Alpha Two'? Now, 'Pre-Alpha', that's a term I really don't like.... especially when so called professional on-line shops use it!!

.... There were 3 different models before the Alpha One; MC-1, 'R' and 'MR'.... all of which have very different internal components.... They can't be just lumped together as the same thing...

... ok. I have to get of my high horse now... Keep up the good work....

Chris........

IanFS · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Thanks for the Model name lesson, I think achris realised that if I had I put Alpha 1, the question of which one would have arisen. Had I put the year of course it wouldn't. :facepalm:

Firstly she is a 1988. In addition, I wasn't able to get the old style flappers in the UK, they had been superceeded by the new style with a break in the middle creating a double flap.

So it's very puzzling why some of the cooling water no longer comes out of the propeller.

achris · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

English Mariner said:
.... In addition, I wasn't able to get the old style flappers in the UK, they had been superceeded by the new style with a break in the middle creating a double flap.

So it's very puzzling why some of the cooling water no longer comes out of the propeller.

I suspected you went from old style to new style, which is why I asked the question. For some reason the new style double vane shutters seem to force more of the water to run down the inside of the exhaust pipe (Y-pipe) and run out of the relief holes rather than through he main exhaust port, hence less water out of the prop...

So, the answer to your question is, it's normal....

Chris........

IanFS · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Thanks achris,

I suspect when it's in the water the back pressure may encourage some water to come the props way, but as long as it's normal thats OK with me.

Cheers.

Oshkosh1 · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Did I just read "check balls"?

Gimme a break...its 30 and snowing. Not enough to break out my "new" '73 Panther...just enough to annoy me.

Oh...I also have very little water flowing through the prop while on the trailer/muffs. I was told this was normal due to the exhaust modification...no cause for concern.

achris · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Oshkosh1 said:
Did I just read "check balls"?

Gimme a break...its 30 and snowing. Not enough to break out my "new" '73 Panther...just enough to annoy me.

Oh...I also have very little water flowing through the prop while on the trailer/muffs. I was told this was normal due to the exhaust modification...no cause for concern.

ok, you got me. What's a '73 Panther'?
It's also 30 where I am, but that would 30C....

Oshkosh1 · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

achris said:
ok, you got me. What's a '73 Panther'?
It's also 30 where I am, but that would 30C....

It's a 1973 Arctic Cat Panther snowmobile which I've restored. Should be fun to ride on a vintage sled run!

And oh how I wish it were 30c here...not gonna happen for at least another 7 months...(that's what I'm saying on a boating forum...wishing for more snow on my sled forum!!

lol!)

Here I have two seasons...boating and sledding. Fall and Spring are for maintenance of both!!

IanFS · Nov 10, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Sounds like a great toy

It's 26c where I am at the moment, Woodvale Perth WA, on hols....what a great country, if only I could get in!!

achris · Nov 10, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

English Mariner said:
...It's 26c where I am at the moment, Woodvale Perth WA, on hols....

Ian,

Answered your email last night. I'm about 30 kms south of you (South Lake), or will be in about 12 hours time. Just on the way home from work

Want to meet up for a drink?

Chris........

IanFS · Nov 10, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Yeah just read your reply.

PM sent

achris · Nov 10, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Oshkosh1 said:
It's a 1973 Arctic Cat Panther snowmobile which I've restored. Should be fun to ride on a vintage sled run!

And oh how I wish it were 30c here...not gonna happen for at least another 7 months...(that's what I'm saying on a boating forum...wishing for more snow on my sled forum!!!)

Here I have two seasons...boating and sledding. Fall and Spring are for maintenance of both!!

I also have 2 seasons, fishing (summer + winter) and diving (summer). Maintenance is done when I'm not catching fish or diving for lobsters....

.... Oh, I have 1 more season. Each January my wife and I go to Italy for 2 weeks skiing. That's as close to a 'proper' winter as I need to get.

Have fun with the Panther....

Chris......

mike165 · Nov 10, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

English Mariner said:
Sounds like a great toy

It's 26c where I am at the moment, Woodvale Perth WA, on hols....what a great country, if only I could get in!!

If you are coming to the East coast give me a call I was a scouser way back!!!!

IanFS · Nov 10, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

Hi Mike

Thanks for the offer. We just couldn't afford the extra air fairs this time around. However we are planning a return in which we will be visiting East, since we have family over in Melbourne and Sydney it would be rude not to. I see you are in between the two Cities.

mike165 · Nov 12, 2011

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

English Mariner said:
Hi Mike

Thanks for the offer. We just couldn't afford the extra air fairs this time around. However we are planning a return in which we will be visiting East, since we have family over in Melbourne and Sydney it would be rude not to. I see you are in between the two Cities.

Not a problem,anytime I'll take you fishing in gods country at Talbingo in the Snowy Mts,stay safe

Alpha 1 Gen 1 through prop water cooling?

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