Odd run on the river

rasbury · December 2024

Hit the river today as it needed to be run and probably last chance before the holidays.. so it started fine- batteries a little low but started. Volt meter was showing like 10 volts but started coming up. As soon as I was able to accelerate it started coughing and spitting a bit...after a while it smoothed out but would not go above 3500 rpm. Sounded fine- was running smooth but just would not. Also have a noise- engine usually very quiet- this sound like an electric fan on a car- I'm guessing a water pump, alternator is in my future? When I lowered the hatch it changed the volume of it for a second...always something..

raybo3 · December 2024

Gimbal bearing????

aero3113 · December 2024

Did the sound change when you raised and lowered the drive? Turning left and right?

YYZRC · December 2024

Some people say the gimbal bearing pre-failure sounds like a faint helicopter womp womp womp type sound.

rasbury · December 2024

I'll have to spend more time on the water with it. I rebuilt the transom assy a few years back- maybe 50 hours on that bearing. Last time we took it out was smooth as silk. I got worried one other time (after a couple of boat tails) and it was the blower so that was just a brief duh moment. When I got the boat to storage I pulled the plug and there was a lot of water- when I checked the hatch on the water I could see a little but nothing like what drained out. . I just installed a new water system pump in so it may have been leaking some- but the tank was still close to full. The problems you get when it sits. I did not see any pulleys wabling but maybe I need to take the belt off and see by hand if something is going on. My gimble does have the zert fitting. Not sure I get why the coupler gets greased? I've used it so little I'm behind on the maintenace items like that. Water impeller I'm sure is due- temps were fine and could see water thru the site glass on the strainer. I'm fresh water cooled as well- that is the original pump. Same with the alternator and guess I'm 350/375 hours- since I replaced my stolen gauges I don't know exactly where the hours are. All the coolant, liquid levels looked good. I just did not have time to mess with it. I'm afraid to run it at home as I seem to burn up the impeller- my thru hull must not seal 100% or I have a leak somewhere that gets air.

I'll have to spend more time with it and investigate further but it was such a drastic change from a run maybe a month ago..

rasbury · January 27

Well, went out to do a little spec fishing and same program. Would not go over 3k and would not get on plane. I think my alternator is going...like the bearing- it just make a noise- charging. When I raised the hatch you could hear the tone change with electrical load. The crazy part, did not see any / much water in the bilge. When I got to storage and pulled the plug water ran for two to three minutes- that's a lot of water. It actually feels like there is to much water in the back of the boat to get on plane. And the really crazy part, and the power was off..
when I turned on the water at the sink behind the helm- it seemed like super pressure and ran for some time-AND it was hot! How the heck could it be hot? It's a cold water only facuet?

Formulaben · January 27

Wow, that's a lot going on...my hunch is you have 3 separate issues. I have the same boat and I really don't see how you could get HOT water out of that spigot unless the lines somehow got swapped. But a more logical cause if your hot water heater sprang a leak; that would explain the water leak but also could have heated the cold water side...just a theory. I don't know if you winterize or not, but raw water left in that hot water heater could get cold enough to freeze the heat exchanger and pop a leak from the time you removed it from storage to the fishing excursion if temps are cold enough and it had adequate time.

As for the alternator, I would pull it and have it load tested at the local auto parts store and see if it makes any noise. If you have to replace it, but sure to use a marine grade alternator (spark protected.) I highly recommend DB Electrical on eBay. Great prices, no core charge.

The serpentine idler pulley is right next to the alternator and they can make noise too. While you're at it, changing out the tensioner pulley isn't a bad idea either if it's original. FYI those parts above are for Mercruiser. Please double check for parts compatibility for YOUR boat.

As for not getting on plane, you know your boat better than anyone, but I still have to ask: was it loaded up with burly fishermen (like me) and gear? Was the fresh water tank full, gas tank full, etc? With my stock 22" props I often could not get it up on plane when loaded...of course, move folks forward and eventually she would get up. Upgrading to the 4x4 props and pitching down made a huge difference for me.

When was the fuel filter last changed?

rasbury · January 27

All good points- fuel filter recent change. I don't freeze here in Central Florida but has to be something with the hot water heater- no other explanation. I just don't know where the problem is but may get it back on the water- I don't think I had the pump on for fresh water- another new territory to learn I just had not thought about. Yes the water is full but no tubbys on board- nothing more than normal- something very odd going on. I'll get back out by myself where I can mess around more.

Formulaben · January 28

Mine had a leak in it, presumably from bad winterization. After removing it the bilge is about as dry as could be. I do recall a small valve for winterization, but not an isolation valve. I'd see if you could rig up something near the heater to soak up any fluid and see if that can pinpoint the water problem.

I have to use my trim tabs to get her up on plane and assume you have to also...have you verified they are working?

rasbury · January 29

I need to look at that whole system- just never had to deal with it before. Trim tabs a good call- I need to check that- I assume so- I've been focusing on all the water in the boat- but if it was water already in the boat it should not matter. Geez.....

GMSLITHO · January 29

That happened to me once the transom shower button was stuck so when I turned on the galley pump the bilge filled up

rasbury · January 31

I'm going to try and splash by myself Sunday where I can just sit in the water....

Lake_Bum · February 1

sounds like a great Sunday

rasbury · February 5

It was nice....even better this weekend...so got on the water no issues. Headed out on the lake and right on plane. Ran awesome. Started and stopped a couple of times, looking good. I only had a little time to burn so got on the river and figured I'd just run it- and then it started coming off plane. Backed it off, tried a couple of times but no go- so my remaining time was limping back to the dock.
So, back to basics- need to get a fuel pressure gauge hooked up so I can see what is going on with fuel pressure, pull a fuel sample again. It's not missing and it is fresh fuel. I need to research if there is a guridian mode so if something is tripping that
Otherwise, within the last 20 hours have replaced all the filters, cap/rotor/plugs/wires. I did have bad fuel in it, pumped it all out and have run it several times since...also the cold water tab at the helm got hot again and then would hardly flow....but there was not a lot of water in the bilge when I did load it back up. Couple of weeks and I'll get back to it...

Formulaben · February 5

What you're describing is very similar to what happened to me in my first season with the Rinker. It was a clogged fuel filter due to bad gas. I know you said you already replaced the filters, but I'd consider replacing them again since it's cheap and fairly simple.

After you pull the old filters make sure you cut open the pleated filter and check the folds for debris/mud. If they've gotten dirty after pumping out the old fuel then I'd guess the tank wasn't completely cleaned of debris.

rasbury · February 6

Thanks @Formulaben as it is good simple advice. My bad gas was a ton of water which the boat sat for 3 rears plus what ever accumulated since day 1' but I need to check/pull a sample. It was not missing or anything. I've got a week or so before I can get back to it so I will grab the filters no matter as after a fuel sample only thing I can do next is fuel pressure and move on from there.

Formulaben · February 6

Since you confirmed it was water I'd go nuts with the bottles of Heet. That stuff works pretty well.

PM me your address and I'll send you a fuel cap gasket. My own post in a different thread motivated me to get a new one, but they don't sell singles...so a six pack it was. No way I'm going through 6 of them (in my dreams!)

captkevin · February 6

Check it isn't a clogged fuel vent. When it starts doing open gas cap & see if things change. Easy enough to check.

rasbury · February 23

So, maybe not this next weekendm but the following...
I will equip myself with a fuel gage.

I will dump some heat- would like to find the electric pump I put together...see what is in there. It started and ran fine- will check the fuel cap - @Formulaben hooked me up with a cap gasket- there was not one on there. Thanks again!

What else can I check?

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