Another Merc winterization question.

[Boomyal]

This is for Merc One outdrive. The factory manual states:

"Open water drain holes (one located in gear housing and 2 in drive shaft housing) and use a piece of wire to make sure they are open"

Other than this reference, nowhere in the manual can I find anything else regarding these 'drain holes'. Any one have the secret key?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Boom this would be one of the holes they are refering to, not sure about the other.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

RP, they make it sound like you need to remove something to open it. Your picture appears to just be a hole. I assume that that would qualify as the one in the 'gear housing'. You'd think they would have specified upper or lower.

Does water normally shoot out of this during operation?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Does water normally shoot out of this during operation?

No, water just floods that cavity (shift shaft seal cavity). if you see oil leak out of that hole the shift shaft seal is leaking.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

I would think the other(s) they mention would be in the upper half, just can't remember. :'(

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Perhaps the stringer drives still own us.Upper drive (OMC) = Drive Shaft Housing (MERC).

Lower Drive (OMC) = Gear Housing (MERC).

But I agree they mean the drain holes.

DHP

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Perhaps the stringer drives still own us.Upper drive (OMC) = Drive Shaft Housing (MERC).

Lower Drive (OMC) = Gear Housing (MERC).

But I agree they mean the drain holes.

DHP

Yep DHP, I feel like I'm having to learn a new language or that I moved to a foreign country. I hear ya on the housing designations.

Now, howza 'bout the location of the drain holes in the 'drive shaft' housing? Are all three of the mentioned holes just uncapped drain holes that you are supposed to poke to make sure they are clear?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

^ bump. Surely all you Merc guys have not all taken the day off!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

No Boomer,......

I already saw this thread,+ Know that you're talking about the Weep Holes,.....
The 1 on the lower case has been explained,+ at the moment,....
I just Can't Remember exactly Where the other 2 are......

They're just little drain holes that get built up with Crud or Paint,......
They drain some small Wet cavities in the Castings.......

If ya Want,.... I'll run out to the garage,+ Have a Look...........

Seems to me, they're just under the little Ribbed areas of the Upper housings,...... About 4"/6"s Down from the Top, at the trailing corners......

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

It's kinda late to have to run out to the garage bond-o, just when you get a chance, if you know they are there.

Our weather has backed off, from 25 deg at night (unseasonal) to near 50 deg at night. But freezing weather will be coming back. I just don't want to get initiated to the black anchors by starting out with a catastrophe.

As Mrs Boomyal is yet unaware that we are a two boat family, the BeachCraft is stored at a friends compound half way across the county, so I can't go peak.

Thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

boomyal, do you have service manuals 1 and 2. what page do they talk about the weep holes. apperently i'm ignorant and don't remember reading that...
is this one of the holes yer talkin about? it seems solid to the probe.

there is not one on the port side. only the starboard side of my 75 model I.

hum, ya got me thinkin. i didn't clean out that lower hole. the one to the shift shaft area. is that gonna cause me greif in the freeze? assumin it's full of wet sand. i just went and cleaned it out. so to speak. i assume it's full of sand like i said. my last model I was, i think this one is too. this is what i'm gettin out of it....

wet mud. also had a trickle of water runnin down it prior to the probe. i was gonna check the impeller next spring, and would clean this area out to at that time, but maybe i'll be havein the lower off now if i got a freeze issue with this weep hole....didn't mean to jack yer thread boom, but it is the same topic i think......

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Goo Zig, that looks nasty. That is the port that ReelPoor posted. I have not had the opportunity to give my drive an anal examination since I read that. Bond-o says he will check out his drive for the location of the top (driveshaft housing) drain holes. The much ballyhoed factory manual sure farted on this one.

I have manual #2 (part # 90-71707). It covers both drives and motors from 1974-1977. Manual #1 (pn# 90-68648 ) covers both drives and motors from 1963-1974.

The very non-descript blurb that I quoted above is found on page 1A-8, second paragraph, left hand column, under the header Merc I.

FWIIW, I also read that you should not run on muffs over an idle. This was a subject of a post not so long ago. I do not remember what the outcome of the post was, but it is another indication of the superiority of the OMC Stringer.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

FWIIW, I also read that you should not run on muffs over an idle.

You heard Wrong again Boomyal,........

But it Does need to be treated as an Unloaded Free-Wheeling Engine,.......
You can Rev it,..... Just Not to the Moon........

Another consideration is,.....
It takes Quite a Water Flow to feed the impeller at High RPMs.............

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

bond-o, the hallowed manual said two things:

Do not run above idle speed on the muffs. (man #2, pg 1A-5, first box.

and

Do not run full city street pressure on your muff.(man #2, pg 1A-5, right column, item #3 toward the bottom of the column.

How is little ol' me supposed to argue? Maybe I should find a taker for my little $500 toy and stick with OMC's.

Now don't get upset with me. I'm relying on you to check in garage tomorrow for those 'drive shaft housing' drain holes.???

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

I'll Tell Ya What,.............................................

I'll Trade ya 3 Boned out Stringer Drives,..... With Engines,...... Complete......
That I've got kicking around here,...............

For that Problem Mercruiser that You Have,.............

What do ya Say,.....??......??.......d

 

[Don S]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Yes, Merc doesn't recommend going over idle and not to run full street pressure on your muffs.
Truthfully, I've never figured out the reason for either. Several years ago I asked our Merc rep when he came in. He shook his head and smiled, he didn't know either.
His only comment was that many people have very low water pressure or try to run an engine with several hoses stuck together and while they will produce enough water to keep the engine cool at idle, it might not work at higher rpm.
I've run them on Dyno's at full load at full rpm and trust me, you need full water flow as much as you can give it from a hose.
Basically, don't overrev the engine, make sure it's staying cool and run it over idle if you want.
I always run them around 1500 to warm them up to change oil and flush them. Cuts down on the time that people don't like to pay for.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Yes, Merc doesn't recommend going over idle and not to run full street pressure on your muffs.
Truthfully, I've never figured out the reason for either. Several years ago I asked our Merc rep when he came in. He shook his head and smiled, he didn't know either.
His only comment was that many people have very low water pressure or try to run an engine with several hoses stuck together and while they will produce enough water to keep the engine cool at idle, it might not work at higher rpm.
I've run them on Dyno's at full load at full rpm and trust me, you need full water flow as much as you can give it from a hose.
Basically, don't overrev the engine, make sure it's staying cool and run it over idle if you want.
I always run them around 1500 to warm them up to change oil and flush them. Cuts down on the time that people don't like to pay for.

Ok, Don broke the tie. Actually, IMHO, the manual did not make sense. I know about those official declarations that nobody can ever confirm. Of course I'm aware of not free reving engines and like Don say's, you always run an engine up to 1500-2000 rpm to warm it up and change the oil.

Ok bond-o, I'm satisfied. Will you pleeeeeeeeze still check in your garage tomorrow?

ps bond-o, the only real problem with my mercruiser is my lack of knowledge and a goofy manual, otherwise, it's near ready to rock and roll. 8)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

I'll try to take some pics in the morning,.... Probably can't post til After work,......

Does this mean,....
I'm Still going to have 3 Old Junk Stringer Drives,.......... With Engines,...... Complete......
Laying around here........................................:'(

 

[ziggy]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

hum, it'd appear that i'm usein the incorrect service manual.... i got c-90-68648. there is vol. 1 and vol. 2. it had occured to me that there might have been a change in service manuals between my 72 and 75 but i never pursued it... looks like i should have....sounds like i need the next new good book... 90-71707. i can't referance the proper page. gonna have to get me one of themz if that's the facts on my 75 too....
yep, that weep hole had be cleaned out (reamed out, straight in, but not up, so it aint clean) seconds before i took the pic.... like i said my 72 model I, that shift shaft area was caked solid with sand. took me a good half hour + to clean it out good with the upper and lower seperated, it was solid. appears that this one is too... now i'm worried about the water its holdin in there...
good thread boomyal....i'm still learning, i got a long wayz to go i think......
went to the lake today with the sweety and the cat. gorgeous 68* day for boatin. i'm winterized, except for these mitigagateing new weep hole facts....

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another Merc winterization question.

Zig, if they are packed full of muck, there is probably not enough water in them to do any harm. It would be bad if just the hole was closed up, holding a cavity full of water. I'm not sure what kind of problem could be created with those cavities packed full of grit 'cause I don't even know where they all are.

Watch ebay for your manual. I just got mine 6 weeks ago for 16.95 shipped. It also had an inch thick supplement for which I have not yet determined it's value to me.

Once you find a new manual, you can put yours out on ebay. There is always a market for them. It is just hit or miss to find the one you need. 6 weeks ago there were tons of different factory manuals listed, now there are very few. Put it on you calender to check periodically.
****************
bond-o, let's see (checking my meager inventory of Mercruiser parts) I have a 15.25 x 21 prop that is only slightly distorted. How many of those 'boned out' OMC's will that get me?