New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

[PFJ]

I purchased a boat last year that had tilt/trim problems, starter wouldn?t engage. I have had boats in the past but this is my first ski boat and first inboard. I was told the motor is a 1980 or 81 470 (serial #5702789 outdrive serial #5643302). The tilt/trim motor is running real slow, and he said that he had the motor rebuilt but still the same problem no matter the direction. I was looking at complete units but the one on iBoat (Hydraullc Trim Pump Assy. - Metal Bracket - Sierra 18-6752) says 1983 and later without quick connect fittings. R, MR, Alpha, Alpha Gen II and Bravo. Are there and conversion or connector changers to get this one to work? If this can?t work I will have to just buy the motor and new reservoir. What fluid should I use in the tilt/trim? What version is my out drive? It talks about alpha, alpha 2 just wanted to know what mine was. The starter isn?t doing anything just buzzing I thought about taking it to a rebuild shop and getting them to repair it. The repair shops do automotive starters is there a real difference between automotive and marine? I also want to change it to electronic ignition, add an electric fuel pump, and change all the fluids. I found the electronic ignition conversion kit on iBoat, but I don?t know what electric fuel pump to get. What fluids do I need to buy for this engine, outdrive, and things I need to flush or clean since the motor hasn?t been run in two years? Thanks for all your help I?m new to this part of boating and I need lots of help.

 

[bspeth]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Get a fsm.and read through the stickys at the top of this froum,super information.A little advice: don't worry about upgrading everything right now,I know its natural when you first get a boat but just get everything working and go boating.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

your trim motor is probably original, it can be replaced and installed by yourself if your fairly handy, it's just plug and play...few wires and hydrolic connections. as for engine starter,, obviously you need to get it running... as for other upgrades,,,elec ign, elec fuel pump,, those are not necessary right away.. basic tune up stuff for now.... plugs, rotor, points, fluids.. new impeller would be wise...keep ? coming, lots of knowledge here to draw from.. good luck

 

[PFJ]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Thanks so much for your help, I have been reading the sticky's and found some good information, but something's unanswered. All the parts I am looking at are on iBoot.com. When I look at the trim motors its specific to the engine but the reservoir shows 4 different ones that doesn't look like would fit to that motor. Changing out the points with the conversion kit isn't a big deal I've heard and read to many stories where points have given to much trouble. The same with the fuel pump it isn't going to take that much time to install. I'm going to flush the whole fuel system anyway I'm also running new fuel line to. Can I flush the cooling system with automotive cooling flush or do I need to use something else? What kind of oil and what weight? Can I change the transmission fluid if so what kind do I need to put back in? What fluid do I use in the stern drive? I'm ordering a cap, rotor, plugs, plug wires and oil filter for the tune up. Just need to know which way to go with the trim pump. If you have any other information please let me know and thanks again for the help.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Oil. 20-40 or 20-50. Take trim motor out. Get #s. If u dont have a fuel/water separator install one. Trim oil is 30wt 5-30 is fine..

 

[achris]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

I purchased a boat last year that had tilt/trim problems, starter wouldn’t engage. I have had boats in the past but this is my first ski boat and first inboard. I was told the motor is a 1980 or 81 470 (serial #5702789 outdrive serial #5643302).

That's a 1980 (engine and drive), and the drive is an MC-1...

The tilt/trim motor is running real slow, and he said that he had the motor rebuilt but still the same problem no matter the direction.

When you say 'rebuilt', define. If it was just opened up and cleaned, that is not a 'rebuild'. I would open it up and check the brushes, commutator and bushings/bearings... Also check all the electrical connections are clean and making good contact. I would also check for voltage drop in the supply circuits.

I was looking at complete units but the one on iBoat (Hydraullc Trim Pump Assy. - Metal Bracket - Sierra 18-6752) says 1983 and later without quick connect fittings. R, MR, Alpha, Alpha Gen II and Bravo. Are there and conversion or connector changers to get this one to work? If this can’t work I will have to just buy the motor and new reservoir.

For your engine, have a look at this one. Mariner, Mercury Marine, Mercruiser Inboard Replacement Power Tilt and Trim Motor 6217 - Arco

What fluid should I use in the tilt/trim?

In the trim you can use either ATF or light weight engine oil (SAE20)

What version is my out drive? It talks about alpha, alpha 2 just wanted to know what mine was.

You have a 'Mercruiser-1' drive, or MC-1 (they ran from 1967 to 1982), and the drive ratio should be 1.84:1

The starter isn’t doing anything just buzzing I thought about taking it to a rebuild shop and getting them to repair it. The repair shops do automotive starters is there a real difference between automotive and marine?

The differences between marine and automotive starters is the spark/flash arresting. Inside a marine starter will be a couple of screens to stop direct exposure between fuel vapours and the starter-motor brushes. The auto-sparky should be a good place to get the starter reconditioned.

I also want to change it to electronic ignition, add an electric fuel pump, and change all the fluids. I found the electronic ignition conversion kit on iBoat, but I don’t know what electric fuel pump to get.

Electronic ignition is a great idea, but stay with the mechanical pump you have. Also, before you start changing all sorts of things, get the engine running properly first. Much easier to change a working engine than trying to find old problems with new (unknown) parts in....

What fluids do I need to buy for this engine, outdrive, and things I need to flush or clean since the motor hasn’t been run in two years? Thanks for all your help I’m new to this part of boating and I need lots of help.

Engine uses normal engine oil, 20W40 or 20W50. Your engine also has coolant. I would remove the heat exchanger and have it cleaned out and checked by a radiator specialist. Refill with new coolant. The drive should ONLY be filled with Quicksilver/Mercury 'High Performance Gear Lube'.... If the engine has power steering use the same fluid as the trim system....

If you don't have a proper factory manual (seloc and clymer are NOT manuals, they are knee-pads), let me know and I'll post a link for you to download.

Chris........

 

[achris]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

... Can I change the transmission fluid if so what kind do I need to put back in?....

No separate transmission on these engines, the shifting is done inside the lower housing of the stern-drive unit.

 

[PFJ]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Thanks guys for answering my questions, and Chris thank you for taking your time answering each question individually. When I bought the boat the gentleman said that he had taken the motor off, taken to a electric motor shop to be rebuilt and when he re-installed the motor it still would spin slow. He didn't tell me what they did to it, but just stated that it was rebuilt. What voltages should I read at the solenoids and the motor? What is considered to much drop? Thank you for the link to the trim motor. I will try to find a local starter rebuild shop. Do you know of any websites that sell rebuilt ones, or rebuild kits for the starter? I will take out the heat exchanger and get it cleaned. If I may ask why do you prefer the mechanical fuel pump or an electric one? The reason I ask is I've already ordered a Mallory 70 GPH 4psi (sealed), water/fuel separator, wiring kit, and 40 micron filter. I was going to make a block plate to cover the block where the mechanical one was. Please give me the link to download the manuals, and thank you for the advise not to buy the "knee pad ones". Thanks again for all your help.

 

[PFJ]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

I forgot to ask how do I bleed the air out of the tilt/trim lines and if I use a different fluid that the previous owner used can I just take a line off and flush the old out?

 

[achris]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Mechanical fuel pumps have been used (successfully) on engines since there were engines. They are simple, cheap, easy to replace, don't require any electrical power, and best of all, you're not mixing electricity and petrol.... Never a good combination that... Almost always ends in tears...
:boom:

As well as the extra work required to block the old pump hole off, you need to add quite a bit of extra to the wiring to get the system up to spec safety-wise. It needs a normally open oil pressure switch and all the wiring associated with that too, and I don't think you have the spare terminal on the starter solenoid... You'd have to make modifications for that too...

Manuals, 1980, yes? Yes....

ENGINE manual
DRIVE manual

Download and save... Enjoy the bedtime reading...

Chris.....

 

[achris]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

I forgot to ask how do I bleed the air out of the tilt/trim lines and if I use a different fluid that the previous owner used can I just take a line off and flush the old out?

All in the manual...

 

[PFJ]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

I have been looking at part numbers and pictures for the starters. The part number in the manual calls for this kind of starter

but the one on the motor now looks like this


The second picture is of a starter that fits a 1983 through 1986 my engine is an 1980. The starter was put on by the previous owner, and he put an automotive solenoid on the starter. My question is can the starter for the 83-86 work that he had put on there?

 

[achris]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Just needs a bit of wire re-working, but if it bolts up it can be made to work.

 

[79Renken]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Just want to say when I bought my 1979 I planned to upgrade to electric ignition. That was 12 years ago with points working as expected so that job just hasn't made it up the priority list. There is always something to do on a boat. But that is still a worthy upgrade.

As far as conversion to electric fuel pump... pass on that. These mechanical fuel pumps work well and as achris mentioned there are several safety aspects that have to be taken care of with that conversion.

Get her running, enjoy the boating season and plan some upgrades for a next winter project if you really want them.

 

[nola mike]

Re: New to Mercruiser and lots of questions

Slow trim motors + clicking/buzzing starters = bad grounds/dirty connections to me. Make sure both ends of all your big wires are clean and tight before you go replacing everything.