1989 Mercruiser 4.3 with Alpha 1 Gen 1. New to boating, have some questions.

[Tanker_01]

I just bought a '89 Rinker V180 with the 4.3L and Alpha one G1. It needs the gimbal bearing replaced (rumbles at low speeds) but other than that drives great and starts super easy cold. One thing I noticed the first time we took it out is it does not like hot starts at all. It seems like either fuel is running back from the carb into the tank and not priming enough to get fuel flow back into the carb. My first question is can I add an inline fuel pump and a momentary switch to prime the carb? or is there possibly a check valve I can run inline to keep pressure for starting? when I gave it a spritz of ether it started right up no problem.

As far as replacing the gimbal bearing, I have ordered a replacement kit complete with bellows and gaskets and such. I also plan to do the U joints while I am in there as well and replace my chewed up prop. Are there any tips and tricks to replacing any of these parts?

My last question is where and how do I find out what belts I need to get to replace my chirping ones? Do I just need to search the engine serial to find out or will that not tell me the correct ones?

Thanks in advance for any info! I'm new to boat stuff and used to car stuff so most of this is familiar but the out drive stuff is all brand new to me.

 

[BruceK]

Carb sounds like it may be rich, your faults are usually the other way round.

Removing the gimbal bearing the first time is a right of passage. This passage can be made a whole lot easier, sometimes, with the correct bearing puller. Much depends on the service interval adhered to and previous maintenance.

Squealing belts are worn or loose. Chirping ones may disguise other issues. Misalignment, worn bearings on tensioners etc.

 

[Tanker_01]

Carb sounds like it may be rich, your faults are usually the other way round.

Removing the gimbal bearing the first time is a right of passage. This passage can be made a whole lot easier, sometimes, with the correct bearing puller. Much depends on the service interval adhered to and previous maintenance.

Squealing belts are worn or loose. Chirping ones may disguise other issues. Misalignment, worn bearings on tensioners etc.

I ordered this puller: Alpha Bravo OMC Volvo Gimbal Bearing Installer Puller + Align Tool Mercruiser | eBay

As far as the belt goes I am really hoping its just the belts that are making the noise, they have a good amount of dry cracking on them. they aren't squealing or anything at startup but I wouldn't exactly describe it as a chirp really that probably wasn't the right word. more of just belt noise when its running. goes away at higher rpm.

 

[spannerman]

Hot start problem is well known on carb Mercruisers I have had it on both of mine. What happens is when you switch off the engine temp rises due to lack of cooling water before cooling down, this makes the fuel in the float chamber evaporate and as the butterfly is closed it fills the inlet manifold with fuel laden air. When you try to start there isn’t enough oxygen for it to combust. The secret is to fully open the throttle slowly so as not to pump much more fuel into the carb then crank, this gets fresh air in and it will fire, just be ready to pull the throttle back when it starts. There was an insulator gasket available to stop heat transfer from the engine up into the carb.
Yours being an American boat should have a non return or anti siphon valve as they call it in the US fitted at the outlet connection on the tank as this is a USCG requirement for all US built boats. Of course it maybe be stuck open or someone has removed the ball and spring in the outlet which prevents runback.
My boat is Norwegian built so does not have this valve so mine runs back when its not used so I fitted an outboard motor primer bulb in the line to save on cranking to pull the fuel up from the tank.
Regarding belts if the serial number isn’t on the plastic engine cover then its on a data plate at the back on the starboard side just above the starter motor where the block meets the flywheel housing.

 

[bowler]

Not trying to push anyone away but when I had a similar setup I visited the iboats forum on a daily basis. They have a dedicated forum for mercruiser sterndrives with tonnes of info that might be of use:

Mercruiser Sterndrive on iboats

Enjoy the boat!

D

 

[Tanker_01]

I made an account there but it wont let me post to any of the forums yet I guess. Ive tried a couple times.

 

[fred247]

if it starts from cold, it can't be a fuel issue, "THERE WOULD BE NO FUEL HOT OR COLD" could be a automatic choke issue, I had the same issue some years back and after much fault tracing found that it was a set of carbon HT leads breaking down.
would start and run all day, but when turned off the hot engine would not start, leave it to cool down started first time. new leads cured the problem.