IslanderVT
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2013
- Messages
- 48
Hi Folks,
'88 Mercruiser 260 with Alpha 1 drive...all factory original. Raw water cooling in fresh water only its whole life.
Problem is getting increasing temperature at idle that quickly restores to normal over ~1000 RPM. No other issues....runs like a champ.
Has original Mercruiser temp gauge (3-tone orange lettering at the bottom) w/o numbers, but it has always run at the first mark on the gauge in normal mid-season water (slightly lower in colder early-season water). I think the temp gauge is working correctly because the behavior is repeatable. I'll try to verify with a thermocouple at the temp sender.
This boat sat in my garage for 6 years. It needed a gas tank, stringers, bulkheads, deck, etc....which I did this spring.
I suspect the impeller took a set and is now pumping at lower volume. I should have changed it initially, but coming off all that other work I mostly wanted to get the boat running and shake out any other problems....thankfully there are few.
I'm planning a full replacement of the impeller and housing. I've done impellers in the past but not in many years, and not with any advice from experts like you...so a few questions.
1) Parts:
- Should I go with OEM or Sierra? Any difference worth picking one over the other? I'm inclined to go OEM unless there are other strong opinions.
- From another post, it appears that I need these 2 kits for a full make over...this is a '88 vanilla Alpha 1:
Quicksilver 46-96148A 8 (Water Pump Upper Housing Repair Kit)
Quicksilver 46-44292A 3 (Lower Base Kit for an Alpha One)
Also fresh gear oil, and a pair of new drain plugs for the lower unit.
Sound right? Any other bits and pieces I might need? In general, fasteners are in good shape without much corrosion, but I haven't split the lower unit in a while. I'll check hoses, but I replaced the upper water hose between the transom assembly and hull a few years back, so that should still be good.
2) Procedure:
I greased the splines (with actual spline grease!), u-joints, shifter, etc when I hung the drive this spring, so I don't plan on removing the whole drive, just the lower unit. Is this OK?
Is there a good thread or video anyone can recommend for this repair? I've done these before, but over time I've probably lost some of the key points for doing a perfect job...which is my goal.
Anyone have any key tips or tricks they could share?
Do people normally torque fasteners? Should any gaskets or o-rings be coated with grease prior to install?
3) Other things while I'm in there...Anything else I should attend to while I have it all apart?
Thanks!
'88 Mercruiser 260 with Alpha 1 drive...all factory original. Raw water cooling in fresh water only its whole life.
Problem is getting increasing temperature at idle that quickly restores to normal over ~1000 RPM. No other issues....runs like a champ.
Has original Mercruiser temp gauge (3-tone orange lettering at the bottom) w/o numbers, but it has always run at the first mark on the gauge in normal mid-season water (slightly lower in colder early-season water). I think the temp gauge is working correctly because the behavior is repeatable. I'll try to verify with a thermocouple at the temp sender.
This boat sat in my garage for 6 years. It needed a gas tank, stringers, bulkheads, deck, etc....which I did this spring.
I suspect the impeller took a set and is now pumping at lower volume. I should have changed it initially, but coming off all that other work I mostly wanted to get the boat running and shake out any other problems....thankfully there are few.
I'm planning a full replacement of the impeller and housing. I've done impellers in the past but not in many years, and not with any advice from experts like you...so a few questions.
1) Parts:
- Should I go with OEM or Sierra? Any difference worth picking one over the other? I'm inclined to go OEM unless there are other strong opinions.
- From another post, it appears that I need these 2 kits for a full make over...this is a '88 vanilla Alpha 1:
Quicksilver 46-96148A 8 (Water Pump Upper Housing Repair Kit)
Quicksilver 46-44292A 3 (Lower Base Kit for an Alpha One)
Also fresh gear oil, and a pair of new drain plugs for the lower unit.
Sound right? Any other bits and pieces I might need? In general, fasteners are in good shape without much corrosion, but I haven't split the lower unit in a while. I'll check hoses, but I replaced the upper water hose between the transom assembly and hull a few years back, so that should still be good.
2) Procedure:
I greased the splines (with actual spline grease!), u-joints, shifter, etc when I hung the drive this spring, so I don't plan on removing the whole drive, just the lower unit. Is this OK?
Is there a good thread or video anyone can recommend for this repair? I've done these before, but over time I've probably lost some of the key points for doing a perfect job...which is my goal.
Anyone have any key tips or tricks they could share?
Do people normally torque fasteners? Should any gaskets or o-rings be coated with grease prior to install?
3) Other things while I'm in there...Anything else I should attend to while I have it all apart?
Thanks!