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Alternator Belt issues! need help 1988 350

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Birger

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Hi, I have a 1988 powerplay XLT 185. It has a mercruser 350 with an alpha 1. I am having an issue with the alternator belt burning up after a short period of time out on the water. I am not sure why this is happening. When I put a new belt on I loosen both the top and bottom bolts that hold the alternator in place. Slide the belt off and then slide the new belt on. I then I have a friend pull up on the alternator while I tighten both bolts. I then verify when I push down in the center of the belt that it does not flex more than an inch. I then proceed to start the motor and let it run for a bit. Kill the motor and then check for slack again. I have done this 5 times now and I am still burning through the belts. Also after the belt starts to smoke I check for play and the belt somehow has become lose, but when I go to loosen the bolts everything is still super tight and sold. *
Is there something that I am doing wrong? Is there anything I need to replace or align?
My next step was going to be buying new pulleys and a new alternator bracket, but thought I would post online first to see if anyone else has come across the same issues.
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Here is the boat I am referring to!
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i had the same problem, went thru 3 belts. Turned out it was the alt. freezing up. Take you alt to a shop let them check it for you.

I am assuming that the pulleys are not rusted.

They are lined up correctly, and that it is the correct belt.

But i bet it's the alt.
 
Thanks for your response. I checked the alignment and it is almost perfect. I have tried different belts to see if it would help but they all did the same thing. Yes there is a little rust on the pulleys, but only on the outside of them the insides where the belt sits is clean.
How easy is it to remove all the pulleys from the motor, alternator, and powersteering?
Maybe I should remove them all and give them a good scrub down.
Also do you know of a good place to get a new alternator (online)? I might as well replace it’s in pretty bad shape!
 
How easy is it to remove all the pulleys from the motor, alternator, and powersteering?
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... The crankshaft pulley, 'n the waterpump pulley are just held on with 4 bolts apiece...
Both the Alt., 'n the P/S need their respective Pullers to remove, 'n install 'em...

I'd sand 'em as well as possible on the motor, 'n Paint 'em up...

Btw,... The belt is loose, 'n the bolts tight, because the belt is wearing away...
I'd imagine your gettin' a pretty good build up of black belt dust by now....
 
OK! I removed the belts and it so happens that the pulleys are in pretty bad shape and so is the Alternator. I took the alternator out with intentions of ordering a new one, but I can't seem to find one that matches the model # of the old one. There are 4 wires in total going to it. 2 straight to the alternator one is black and the other is orange. The other two go to the regulator which is mounted to the back of the alternator.
The Model # is 8MR2030T 12N-90A-8425

I looked at a couple of websites, but still not sure cause nothing seems to match.
I also need to find all new pulleys
 
i think you can still clean em and paint em. You called the people i pm'd you ?

88' 350 motor isn't it ? Any 88' 350 pulley will do. Rock auto might have it.

Any junkyard will have a pile of them.

The alt. comes with a pulley.

What i did once was hold sandpaper to a pulley while it spun, did not remove it.

It cleaned up in a minute.

I still say it's the alt.
 
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Alright guys I orderd a new Alternator. Its a Mando 3 wire, I should be getting it tomorrow. I think I can just eliminate the ground wire that was hooked up to the old alternator. Lets hope This fixes the issues I've been having. I am going to sand down the old pullyes and power wash the bay today so it nice and clean. ;)
 
Alright guys! I cleaned up the pulleys put the new Mando alternator in and the new belts. I went to start her up and all I got was a clicking sound. The starter wasn’t doing anything. First thing I thought was the starter but I decided to bust out the trusty voltmeter and start testing voltage around the motor. Long story short I found that the starter relay was not working properly. I had 12 volts going in but when I turned to key I had nothing coming out. Drove to AutoZone and picked up a starter relay for 12bucks put it in and it started right up. I get a steady 13 volts on my gage and the motor runs great. I was ready to drop her in the water when I decided to do a couple of tests fist like the trim and steering. It so happens that the steering was frozen up again. I went around and greased everything up and tried to break it free with a little force and when doing so I ended up breaking the steering cable. So looks like I have another thing to replace now.
Do you guys know where to get a new cable?
I removed to worm type piece at the steering wheel already, but I am not sure how to remove the cable at the back of the boat. It looks like its all one piece. I am a little confused on how the whole system works.
Is this and easy job? Thanks again for all the help!
 
Birger said:
I think I can just eliminate the ground wire that was hooked up to the old alternator.
Click to expand...
That would be the Negative Alt Chassis-to-Engine-block wire????? If so, DO NOT eliminate this.
The alternator chassis should have this in place and connected.
 
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