Second test. Still some problems :(

[Spookeay]

We took her to the lake again today. Put her in and no leaks. YEA!!!!! but,

My Port engine is getting hot. Pulled the drive and installed a new impeller. Still the same problem.


Unhooked the water input line from the water pump and found I am not pumping from the raw water pump.

I think I have a clog or the wrong housing on there.
I am going to go back in the morning. "Left the boat at the lake" and install a new housing and kit plus try to back flush the line while I have the drive off from the hose to the water circulatory pump and see if that will get it.
I also raised the drive, I hear of the hoses kinking in the bell housing but that was of no help.

But I did get some good photos of the boat at the pumps and my new Club SeaRay Burgee

 

[Ka1oxd]

Looking good Heather! I hope you solve your heat problem!

 

[Spookeay]

Thanks I think I know what it is....

When I was in a rush to get it on the water, I took the impeller housing out of a Pre Alpha and installed it with a new impeller. although that housing fits the studs, I think it's not the same porting. I almost bet that is going to be the problem, at least I hope so because if it's not, I am at a blank.

 

[andyr]

What she said, plus make sure you don't have a gasket flipped. They go on two ways but the passages only line up one way. Make sure you used the right gaskets. The kits come with an assortment to fit any pump. They look similar. Don't overtighten the bolts or the impeller won't turn. And my personal favorite - don't forget to install the drive key for the impeller.

 

[Spookeay]

Don't overtighten the bolts or the impeller won't turn.

Tell me how this can be?
I could see it rip the key out or spin the rubber on the hub, but to tight and not turn?

 

[Four Suns]

Oh come on.... surely you knew not to tighten the waterpump too tight or the impeller will rub... It's just like if you tighten the head bolts too tight then the cylinders will hit the valves.... sheez... bunch of amateurs.

 

[Spookeay]

It's just like if you tighten the head bolts too tight then the cylinders will hit the valves....

I hate it when the cylinders hit my valves.
Damn loose cylinders bouncing all over the place.:smt043

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

A friend of mine had a similar problem. It ended up being an issue with a rubber seal connecting the water pump housing to a hose within the drive that had two seals (the old one that was never removed + the new one installed with the new impeller) where there should have only been one. The additional seal when compressed deformed and blocked the water flow from the pump enough to cause an overheating condition.

I don't know much about the Alpha Drives, but taking the additional rubber out solved his problem.:huh:

 

[Spookeay]

Thanks Jimmy, I will take a look at that also. Going to leave here soon and head down to the lake and boat. I am sure we will get it right now that we know the cause.

 

[Spookeay]

Well here is a update on how it went today. I could make this short and say horribly but I will throw this out becasue I am looking for ideas.

Ok, early morning. Got to the lake and the boat. Installed the new water pump kit. this was a full kit. Housing, gaskets and everything. Backed it into the water and same thing. starts to over heat. Pulled it out and took it back apart to check everything again. Ran water into the tube to see if there was a constriction and ran it back out from the raw water input from the engine side. flow was fine. Put it back in No dice...........Went to the marina and got a new circulatory pump. No help. Now, at this point I am thinking I have a engine problem so,,,,, I swap drives. Upper and lower units... Now, the over heating moves to the other engine so I know it's in the drive and not a engine problem. I got the thing home tonight and tore the all back apart on the bench and cant see any thing wrong... All looks clear.... I have been doing this kind of work for a while and I have never had something so frustrating in my life. Start throwing out some Ideas,,, I am open to any thing at this point.

 

[Dave S]

I am certainly no expert on outdrives, let alone Alphas. The only thing that comes to mind is what can happen on a Bravo pump which is a worn housing (especially the plastic ones) which can result is low water pressure even with a new impeller. Could it be something like that on an Alpha? It sounds like water flows OK with the garden hose method so maybe it has something to do with the impeller housing not allowing enough pressure to build up. Are these replaceable on an Alpha? Is it also possible that whatever mechanism drives the impeller in the pump may be faulty or broken?

Just trying to give you a few ideas.

Dave

 

[skibum]

Could there still be a foreign object stuck in a water passage somewhere in the drive? Maybe you've got something in there that can move a little. When you flow the water backwards through it, the object might be pivoting out of the way and allowing water to flow, then when water goes through the correct way, it gets wedged back into place and restricts the flow again.

Maybe try swapping just the lowers to see if you can move the problem back again?

 

[fwebster]

Its been a long time since I've had outdrives, but as I recall, the feed line from the transom assy to the engine is small..like 5/8" or maybe 3/4". It won't take much of an obstruction to retard flow. Try removing the pump from the lower unit then disconnecting the water line from the engine and back flush the lower unit into a bucket or trash can....something big enough to see what if anything comes out. Bet you find it.

 

[Spookeay]

OK Thanks,
I have done all that has been suggested already.

I am starting to think it's a sub standard or faulty impeller.
The veins are very soft to the pinch and I can easily turn the shat by hand where as the other drive is very stiff to turn from the friction of the impeller in the cup.

Hummmmmmmmmmm.
I took the new impeller out and note it may have all of 10 min total run time on it and it's already deformed. Now that is kinda strange is it not?

 

[Dave S]

From everything you are saying I think it sounds like this is a water pressure issue whether caused by an obstruction, bad impeller, or whatever:huh:.

If you have both drives off why not try switching the impeller from one drive to the next and see what that does?

Dave

 

[SCORPIO]

Is the key grabbing in the shaft keyway? Sure sounds like something simple you just aren't seeing yet. Could there be a misalignment between the plastic tube from the pump to the copper tube in the upper unit?

 

[Spookeay]

I think I have it and it's been looking me in the face since I got the boat.

After some changes tonight it's running well on the hose...........Will need to take it to the lake in the morning to confirm.

One drive is a Alpha-1
One is a Pre-Alpha.......

2 different pumps.
Both will fit the same stud pattern but won't interchange.....

Stay tuned and wish me luck.

 

[87cc]

Good luck Heather ! I don't mean to hijack your thread but I wish I had a woman as knowledgeable & interested in boats as you are :smt038

 

[GoofyLeo3]

Amen, brother. 5 hours on the water and the woman wants to be dropped off on shore leaving me to play on the water as long as I want.:smt038
Hope the proper impeller fixes Heathers problem and she's back cruising soon.:thumbsup:

 

[Spookeay]

:smt089This is just not my week and it's by birthday on top of that. Sigh....
Got to the lake backed it in and the starter went out!!!!!!!!:smt013

I am going to go drink a beer or 15 now....
Good day.