Continued saga Sea Ray 230 problems

U

UKcarnut44

New Member
May 20, 2008
19
Hamilton OH
OK so the alternator issue is resolved . Thanks Frank.
My over heating issues persist. Has anybody experienced problems with the suction hose between the outdrive and bell housing. I did NOT !!!! use the Mercruiser hose I used 3/4" hose. I suspect it is pressure hose not suction hose. Are there any other issues that could cause sudden overheating and a drop in oil pressure.
THIS IS BECOMING VERY FRUSTRATING, the engine does not smell hot nor does it feel tight.
 
Sea Ray Cuddy which I have just rebuilt from the hull out. The boat came literally in pieces and has been refurbished as close to original as possible in a 20 year old boat. Picture enclosed.The motor was rebuilt to 350mmagnum specs by Carolina Machine Engines, this is the second motor they have rebuilt for me, the first was a 460 King Cobra which is a great success.
I had a problem with the alternator, solved thanks to this site. I still have a persistant problem with overheating. The boat runs on the ear muffs no problem. But in the water I can run for about 15 minutes the engine begins to overheat and the oil pressure drops to almost zero. For reference the carb is rebuilt, the outdrive is new from sterndrive engineering, the bell housing gimbal assembly have been rebuilt, the engine was a remanufactured long block, engine timing is set 5deg, all parts were thoroughly inspected before re-assembly. A previous thread has suggested bad grounds but I now believe it may be more sinister. Anybody any ideas ????
 

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Faulty/sticking thermostat?

but it wouldnt explain why its fine on the muffs but not in the water.
 
From my view, the frightening part is the drop in oil pressure...

Since you talked about muffs, I am assuming this is not a closed loop system...if so, ignore everything hereafter and look for a clogged heat exchange (radiator).

If it is an open system, it sounds like a pressure issue and I would be betting on the impeller. Here's why...using muffs, the water pressure is provided courtesy of the municipal water tower and gravity. Without muffs, on the water, coolant is sucked into the system through the outdrive, circulates and then returns and is the only real cooling agent provided to a very hot environment. I would be interested in impellers, collapsed hoses...that sort of thing.

Also, have you confirmed the sensor information with a DVOM or a fixed temperature gauge on the engine itself?
 
don't think this applies but I'll throw it out there, could it be what happened to me. You didn't mention what outdrive or year but could the tube from the outdrive through the transome plate be crushed from salt deposits and/or corrosion?
 
If memory serves me right the aftemarket hose has to be cut exactly at 9 inches.I would double check that the hose isn't kinking when the drive is put into its operating location.
 
Just to set the record straight the UK is the real UK not KY.
For the more sane people out there!!!!! thanks for your input. A little more information to add the out drive is brand new from Stern Drive engineering, the bell housing and Gimble assembly were completely stripped and rebuilt. I have contacted a local marine repair business, " Cincinnati Dry Dock" who have been most helpful, their suggestion is the hose at the Outdrive or the flapper valves in the exhaust. The suggestion about the independant gauges makes sense since this was such an extensive rebuild and the boat was in such a sorry state and had been in salt water. Since everything else is new it has to be something unusual. I am not new to engine rebuilds but this is perplexing.
 
I like the idea of the flapper exhaust valves as those would not be in play on the muffs. Would it be possible to run the engine in a tub with enough water to cover the cooling intake but not the exhaust? Of course, if the exhaust exits bellow the intake gills, you could try is running the engine in an empty tub with the muffs on. It should run fine until the water level reaches the exhaust wherein the symptoms would appear.
 
So you have an Alpha knock off (SEI) with a 350Magnum Merc?

Sorry if I'm dense but I'm trying to decipher the above.
I know that on some Alpha drives there was/is a external water pump like the Bravos. Does your's have this?
Have you inspected the impeller in your SEI?
Has it been replaced?
 
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