Recent content by ruggles

  1. ruggles

    impeller and housing install 1991 OMC Cobra with 4.3L

    I am going to be replacing the cracked impeller housing and impeller with a kit this weekend. Do I need anything besides the paper gasket, o-ring and wear plate? Do I need any kind of sealant? I've read that you have to glue in the steel cage into the housing? Is this necessary? One more...
  2. ruggles

    omc cobra 4.3l shift cable and remote cable replacement

    Hi there, i've done the adjustment a couple times now albeit with an aftermarket cable. I got the OEM one from OMC and I got a new shifter cable as well to make sure I have everything covered. 1) should I replace the transom shift cable and adjust with the tools and then put the new remote...
  3. ruggles

    Remote shifter replacement (1991 OMC Cobra application)

    Well the winter season is upon us and I am going to take a final crack at solving my shifting issues (having either forward or reverse).I have replaced the shift cable with the tools and had shifting for a couple weeks before going out of adjustment. I'm going to replace the original remote...
  4. ruggles

    Sei conversion question

    I am thinking of doing the conversion to the alpha 1 but I have a question. Can you use the conversion kit with an actual Merc alpha or does it have to be an Sei drive? The reason I'm asking is two food. First there are some good affordable used ones for sale and second I'm sure they're of...
  5. ruggles

    cobra shift cable adjustment in progress I have a few quick questions

    I have adjusted the shift cable with the tools and have taken off the tools now. it is still disconnected on the engine side. 1) Do I mount the outdrive now before attaching the cable end to the engine side or do I attach it first? 2)The remote shift cable and throttle cable are still attached...
  6. ruggles

    replacement bell crank for cobra

    I'm changing legs on my 4.3 cobra and I'm purchasing the shift adjustment tools today. Firstly which is the best tool out there? I see a couple versions. Any of them better than the others? My main question though: Is it possible to buy a new bell crank? Mine has worn down flat a little and I...
  7. ruggles

    Automatic bilge pump not priming

    Hi everyone, getting the boat ready for this season and I want to deal with this pump. I bought the boat last year and I had to deal with more important mechanical issues. So here's the deal. When the bilge fills up with rain water even if the pump is permanently submerged, it buzzes but it...
  8. ruggles

    1991 4.3l omc cobra loosing coolant from somewhere

    Hi everyone. Had a pretty sucessful summer with the boat but after 2 weeks of tubing the boys etc the boat started to get hot while under load but would cool off at idle. I found my coolant level had gone down quite a bit. Must be a slow leak. Anyways there is nothing leaking externally. No...
  9. ruggles

    What is the normal operating range of 1990-91 OMC cobra 4.3L with closed cooling?

    I just had the leg off multiple times to fix my shifting problem which is fixed!!! Pretty happy about that but I noticed this weekend that when I was cruising or wot the temp on the gauge would climb to 180. Is this a normal temp? It runs excellent so no issues there. I also noticed that when I...
  10. ruggles

    New shift cable adjustment questions

    Hi just put in the new shift cable on my 1991 4.3L OMC cobra. i had to make the adjustment tools due to time constraints but they worked well. I did the engine side first on the tool and then aligned the bell crank at 90 degrees with the aluminum bell crank tool I made. was this the correct way...
  11. ruggles

    shift rod height

    Hi I am attempting to adjust the shifting on my cobra. I have limited internet here im using my phone. Is it possible to measure the rod height without seperating the upper and lower sections of the leg? Also is it possible to change the ujoints while the drive shaft is still in the leg? Thanks...
  12. ruggles

    green and black oil coming out when draining cobra drive

    Drained and Its like green goo and black. Just bought the boat this winter. Used it twice. Shifting issues so im doing the cable but yikes! I loosened the drive first before draining the leg but I don't think that should matter. I bought u joints just in case but I guess I need bellows too?
  13. ruggles

    1991 4.3l omc cobra vibration

    Hi my boat vibrates when taking off and its quite pronounced at lower rpms. I'll be dropping the drive this spring to replace the shift cable and I'd like to know how and what to check while I'm in there. I'm planning on buying the shift cable tools and the alignment tool. The background is that...
  14. ruggles

    1991 Mariah 4.3L OMC cobra prop question

    I took my prop off last weekend to have it fixed and I noticed when taking it all it was just a nut and a washer. Is this normal? Should there be a castle nut and cotter pin or something like that?
  15. ruggles

    1991 Mariah with 4.3L OMC cobra shifting issues

    Hi everyone! I have been researching my issue on this board for the past 2 weeks and I have learned a lot so thank you all for your contributions. I just bought a 1991 Mariah MX19 bowrider with the 4.3L OMC Cobra setup. It has a shifting issue. When cold it shifts fine into reverse but when I...
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