A slight stickiness

[jhr]

Had a great weekend: out on Saturday (grey but calm) and again yesterday (took an extra day off work) when we went down to Yarmouth in greyish, calmish weather and came back in the evening under sunny skies and in a flat calm /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. Yee-Hah!

I have, however, a niggling throttle/gearshift problem. When, and only when, the engine is cold, I am finding it difficult to get the boat out of gear. As far as I can tell, it's related to the fact that the revs won't quite drop back to tick-over if I throttle back, sticking at about 1000 - 1100 rpm rather than what should be about 700 rpm. As soon as she is warmed up, tickover drops back to what it should be and there is no further problem. I think I'm right in saying that the engine isn't meant to come out of gear above tick-over revs, but don't quite know how I get round this problem, since an EFI engine should, surely self regulate it's tick-over speed at any temperature? (well, that's what the engine in my car does). Three questions: (1) am I right in my diagnosis? (2) any alternative theories? and (3) anybody got any idea as to what should be done to overcome the problem, before I hand it to the men in white overalls? The engine is a Mercruiser 5.0 EFI with an Alpha 1 drive. Oil level in the leg is all correct and has no sign of water contamination.

This hasn't caused a problem yet, tho' mooring at the Buckler's Hard fuel jetty yesterday was a bit of a challenge /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

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[Col]

Not a lot you can do really. As Alfa1 has a dog clutch, they are notorious for hanging in gear at high tickover.
How long does it take for revs to drop? Can you not take off covers etc: while engine is warming up, and then move off?
There is normally a few minutes of preperation before letting go of mooring lines.

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[jhr]

Thanks, Col - I was afraid that might be the answer. Your solution is the one I have adopted, by and large, and you are right that there's always things to do before you set off. My question was prompted by the fact that I set off in a tearing hurry yesterday and hence ended up at the fuel jetty with hilarious consequences.....

Still, I think I can live with it when I get a day out like the one we had yesterday /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[ArthurWood]

Try boatdoctor.com

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[Roy]

Hello James

We bought our first boat a few years back now - a Searay215 and we had similar probs. We used to heat her up for a few minutes and then switch off leaving the blower running and then start her up again and she stayed at low revs tickover that way. Thought to mention this to you too : If your boat has a non metal pulley wheel, that is the main pulley wheel, suggest you order a spare metal style one from your local Merc dealer. We threw a belt due to this 'plasticky' wheel shattering - a quick repair was to araldite and screw the pieces back together and refit it and tension the belt. Got us home ok at slow speed. Loved the boat. Roy

<hr width=100% size=1>What does this mean then?

 

[jhr]

Thanks, Roy - that's very helpful and it's reassuring to know that others have experienced a similar problem. I'll try the switch on/switch off strategy and see if that helps.

I think the main pulley wheel is metal but I'm going to double check now!

We, too, love the 215. I've had her since last July and have had little to complain about so far, beyond the gear problem.


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[BrendanS]

If you had a plastic pulley, will pretty much guarantee it will have gone by now - there was rather a rash of them serveral years back.

mercruiser do a replacement kit with metal pulley and belt. Knowledgable mercruiser dealers will often sell you the pulley and belt kit, rather than just a replacement belt, as the kit is often cheaper than belt alone, and probably because that now no one is buying the kits cos all the pulleys have been replaced, they'd got stock sitting on shelves that won't shift?

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[jhr]

Hmm. I have an emergency get-you-home belt but it sounds as if a pulley and belt kit might be yet another "must buy" from the Swindlery.

Good thing that SWMBO doesn't browse the forum. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

Thanks, Brendan.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho