| Author |
Message |
    
David Howie
New member
Username: dave_58
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 11:55 am: | 
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Hi Guys, couldn’t be newer to boating so please excuse the vague description.
Recently purchased a 2001 Maxum 2100sc fitted with 5Ltr V8 Mercruiser & Alpha One stern drive, 148 run hours.
Launched the boat for the first time yesterday, started without a problem, left idling for a few minutes to warm up then with temps and pressures all looking good backed out from the jetty. Engaged forward gear and slowly brought the boat up on the plane. Boat was on the plane for less than a minute when smoke could be seen coming from the engine bay. Throttled back, put boat in neutral and carefully lifted engine cover, smoke appeared to be coming from the back of the engine bay rather than from the engine itself. Engine temp, lube pressure checked all ok, felt the exhaust risers and they were not hot, smoke quickly cleared with the engine idling in neutral. Decided to return to the jetty, when forward gear was selected a rough rumbling sound was heard which I think was coming from the stendrive. Put boat in reverse and again similar noise was heard. On the way back to the jetty noted the sound was more pronounced when the steering wheel was hard over to either side, also noted the extent of the noise / vibration altered depending how the drive was trimmed. Once tied up checked engine oil level which was ok, noted maybe a couple of gallons of water (slight oil content) in the bilge. Plan to contact a Mercruiser dealer tomorrow but any heads up on likely cause much appreciated. |
Bt Doctur
Senior Member
Username: bt_doctur
Post Number: 1202
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 11:59 am: |
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Sounds like water in the bellows took out the gimbal bearing.
Was any service performed prior to the sale?
Was a test drive offered ot taken? |
David Howie
New member
Username: dave_58
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 12:18 pm: |
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Hi Bt thanks for quick response, from the posts I've read suspected either the gimbal or the U joints, take it both require major stripdown. Unable to test drive as bought in Florida and shipped to me in Scotland. |
Bt Doctur
Senior Member
Username: bt_doctur
Post Number: 1203
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 12:50 pm: |
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http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf
For Alpha,GEN 1
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf
For Alpha GEN II |
Rick Sweeten
Senior Member
Username: linesix
Post Number: 1620
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 02:03 pm: |
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Smoke will either be from a burned exhaust hose or a failed coupler. Water would make me lean toward an exhaust hose although cool risers don't support this. I have never seen a gimbal bearing create smoke but I guess it is possible although if it went that fast you should have heard some noise, even at low speed. |
Brian Brackett
Senior Member
Username: kainon
Post Number: 1019
Registered: 03-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 02:38 pm: |
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I've seen a coupler smoke, but was do to failed front engine mount on an inline 4 |
chiefalen
Advanced Member
Username: chiefalen
Post Number: 322
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 03:55 pm: |
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How do you say screwed in Scottish? |
David Howie
New member
Username: dave_58
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 05:17 pm: |
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Guess it's still screwed. Will let you know what's found at strip down. Thanks
for the input. |
mike weakley
Member
Username: mikey43
Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 09:00 pm: |
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i will put my 2 cents in same thing happened to me it was in a 4 cyl smoken and smelled like burning rubber it was the gimbel bearing. |
David Howie
Member
Username: dave_58
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 03:59 am: |
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Thanks for input Mike, boat now at Mercruiser dealer. Will post findings. |
Rick Sweeten
Senior Member
Username: linesix
Post Number: 1623
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 08:52 am: |
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You will hear normally hear a gimbal bearing long before it fails that severly.
Let us know Dave,
Good luck,
Rick |
