Hello, First Post and Of Course a Question

[Lazy Daze]

Even with it cutting out I would think 4000,rpm would be faster than 23mph. Should be in the 30 mph plus range, unless something is up with the prop, he's 7 to 800 rpm short that boat should do close to 40 mph

Yes, I agree. Definitley higher at 4K RPM's. Top end on this boat is mid to upper 30's. See what happens next year.

Coupler - keep bumping the engine over (flip the kill switch) till you see the zerk. Yes, space is tight.

Gimbal bearing - on the outside of the boat, on the stbd side of the piece that is actually attached to the boat (transom plate) there will be a zerk.

Tilt/lock - this is the easiest one There is no such thing on a stern drive - that's an O/B thing.

Pull the prop off and grease the shaft.

Did you use the antifreeze that has propylene glycol in it (and not ethyl alcohol)?

 

[twerth]

Coupler - keep bumping the engine over (flip the kill switch) till you see the zerk. Yes, space is tight. I'll take another look.

Gimbal bearing - on the outside of the boat, on the stbd side of the piece that is actually attached to the boat (transom plate) there will be a zerk. I had already greased this without realizing what it was.

Tilt/lock - this is the easiest one There is no such thing on a stern drive - that's an O/B thing. Duh! I'd have sworn I read that this needed lubed in the Alpha brochure.

Pull the prop off and grease the shaft. Will do. This wasn't on my list. Thanks for the suggestion.

Did you use the antifreeze that has propylene glycol in it (and not ethyl alcohol)? Propylene. The pink RV/marine stuff from Walmart.

I've inserted some responses in blue font above. As always, thank you for your help!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Both kinds are pink - just mentioning that again, for clarification. But if you actually saw propylene on the label, good.

Yer welcome!

 

[twerth]

Yup. I checked the label. It's propylene.

 

[Scott215]

The couple is a tight fit. I reach down though the access hatch and get it on the fitting. Then pump the gun

 

[twerth]

I'm an idiot. Still can't find a zirk for the coupler splines. Are you getting to this from inside the boat or outside? And where's the access hatch you mentioned? I'm not finding anything in the manual (or on Youtube) to point me in the right direction.

One more question (I promise). My trim gauge on the dash is a bit flakey. Trimmed all the way down, it reads zero (first hatch mark on the left). If it trim up, the gauge moves up but then drops back to zero. Does this sound like a bad position sensor or is it more likely the gauge?

 

[Lazy Daze]

I'm an idiot. Still can't find a zirk for the coupler splines. Are you getting to this from inside the boat or outside? And where's the access hatch you mentioned? I'm not finding anything in the manual (or on Youtube) to point me in the right direction.

One more question (I promise). My trim gauge on the dash is a bit flakey. Trimmed all the way down, it reads zero (first hatch mark on the left). If it trim up, the gauge moves up but then drops back to zero. Does this sound like a bad position sensor or is it more likely the gauge?

No, not at all!

It's inside the boat - you won't have an access hatch - that's for a different boat than yours so that doesn't apply. You just have to keep bumping the engine till you see it.

99% it's the sender. You can try cleaning the connections on the gauge, but it sounds like the sender has a dead spot. They're constantly in water so they only last so long.

 

[Bill Curtis]

The coupler is on the back of engine, where the flywheel is. Zerk (B) fitting just stick out of the bell housing where the drive unit slides in (A).

 

[Scott215]

I'm sorry it's inside the boat, straight down the back middle of the engine. The a few inches back towards the outdrive, like said above you may have to bump the engine. Bit pull the lanyard for the kill switch so it won't start

 

[twerth]

Thanks guys. I was in the right area but couldn't spot the zirk(s). I might have to do this by the brail method.

I have a remote start button so I can bump the motor with no danger of it starting. I had made several revolutions yesterday with a flashlight in the general area, but no success. I'll try again tonight.

 

[Scott215]

It's between the back of the engine and the back of the boat in that section somewhere maybe a few up to 6 in behind the motor but it's definitely there or should be there

 

[Scott215]

If you look at the back of the engine you'll see a coupler where the drive shaft slides into that coupler and on the coupler that the shaft the spline shaft slides into you should have a zerk fitting

 

[twerth]

Yup. I could see the driveshaft, and it was greasy. Someone's been able to get in there before. Looking at the diagram above from Bill, it looks like the zirks poke straight back out of the coupler. Those could be hidden in my boat, but I should be able to feel them. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Scott215]

No the zerks are not on the flywheel, they are 9n the horizontal part of the shaft that would spin with the crankshaft

 

[twerth]

Access is extremely tight, but I can feel the back of the engine and the drive shaft most of the way to the transom. I can see most of it too, but I can't find any zirks. The boat wins this one. I can admit when I'm beat.

 

[Scott215]

Maybe a 1991 does not have a fitting. I do not know

 

[twerth]

Well, aside from failure to find one grease zirk, I think I'm fully winterized. One other unexpected issue did come up. I was going to repack my trailer's wheel bearings, and it turns out they're totally cratered. It's possible the original 1991 grease is still in there, and it took on some water. So she's on jack stands unit the new ones show up. But I'm glad I found this one now instead of out on the highway.

I just wanted to say that I've been on A LOT of forums for different kinds of vehicles over the years, but I don't think I've ever run across a nicer and more helpful group than the people here. You've been extremely patient with a total noob, and your input has been invaluable. Thank you all so much!

 

[GypsmJim]

New Sea Ray owner here. Last weekend I sold my WaveRunners and bought this:

View attachment 152562

It's a 1991 170BRLTD with a 3.0 Merc and Alpha One. Got it just in time to take it out once to make sure it runs and then learn how to winterize it. It's a little older than I wanted, but we looked at quite a few and none were as clean and obviously well cared for as this one.

Now for the question (probably the first of many). Top speed was only 20-23 mph, both indicated and GPS. I wasn't expecting 45 mph, but I thought it would do a little better than that. It seems to run well up to around 4000 rpm and then it starts to cut out. I'm not sure if I have carb issues or if that's the rev limiter joining the party. Hoping someone with more experience than me can provide some input. I'm used WaveRunners that would do north of 60, so maybe I just need to adjust my expectations? Thanks in advance.

That's a pretty light boat. With a 3.0 and a 19" prop it should EASY run in the 40's if close to 4600 rpm. My 19' Stingray with a 19" cupped SS prop would run 46.

I'm not positive, but I believe a '91 would still have points ignition. That's the first thing I would look into. Dressing those pesky things was a hassle. I never got real good CONSISTENT performance until I replaced them with electronic ignition.

 

[Scott215]

People here are really good we joke around a little bit but they've taught me a lot

 

[twerth]

That's a pretty light boat. With a 3.0 and a 19" prop it should EASY run in the 40's if close to 4600 rpm. My 19' Stingray with a 19" cupped SS prop would run 46.

I'm not positive, but I believe a '91 would still have points ignition. That's the first thing I would look into. Dressing those pesky things was a hassle. I never got real good CONSISTENT performance until I replaced them with electronic ignition.

Slow reply, but I've been out of town all week. I took a look, and my engine has electronic ignition. I pulled the cap, and the rotor and contacts show some use but don't look to bad. I think I'll run them in the spring and see if other things I've addressed did the trick. I am glad to hear I should be able to get 40mph out of her. That would make me happy.

BTW, when I filed the paperwork for the boat, it says the engine is actually a 2003. Evidently someone didn't do a good job of winterizing?

As always, thanks for the input!