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    Swivel Shaft/Steering lever access hole in the gimbal ring

    Hey everyone, (alpha one, gen one) I have a question about the gimbal housing access plug, shown here in my photo. I see that it is used to better access the Swivel Shaft and Shift Lever. My question is? How come they don?t have you drill an access hole on the top too and not just the sides...
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    Major Blow By Issues

    1989 Mercruiser 3.0 Liter. Long story short, the boat was running real bad at higher RPM's, I noticed some oil in the flame arrestor, so I did a compression check and my compression was great and consistent on all 4 cylinders. So, I took it for another test drive to see if it was maybe...
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    Mercruiser tilt/trim question and my own personal rant

    Ok, 1996 Mercruiser 5.7 alpha. Typical tilt trim motor. 1. My rant. Why is a tilt trim system made so complicated with relays and such. The motor itself has 3 wires to it. 2. My question, can you just make sure that the motor is grounded and then run the other 2 wires (green and blue??)...
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    overheating question

    1985 Mercruiser 5.7 liter, alpha 1. The engine runs great, and runs right at 140 degrees, and if I'm running at cruising speed, bring it off a plane, and idle for a bit, the engine stays cool when I turn it off. But, and here is my question.. if I'm runing at cruising speed, bring if off a...
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    odd problem

    Hey Everyone, 24' bowrider with a gen 1 alpha 1, 260hp Mercruiser, 4bbl. I typically cruise around 25mph. Oddly, sometimes it takes the engine 3500 rpms to reach that speed and sometimes I get it at 3000 rpms. Same weight in the boat. Boat is trimmed the same in both situations... and same...
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    Marine Stereo systems

    Hey everyone, I've been shopping around for a marine stereo system for a while now and I wanted to get some opinions. I've found some real cheap stereos, but they are only like 25watts x 4 (100 watts). I don't care to play my stereo so loud that everyone on the water hears it, but I don't know...
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    prop diameter. Need prop advise for a 24' boat

    I can use a prop calculator to show the probable differences in performance between different pitched props. But what about diameter? How much difference is there between a 14", 14 1/2" and 15" diameter prop? My boat is 24' long and weighs about 4000 pounds unloaded (1996 Four Winns 240...
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    Tilt/trim is very slow

    Mercruiser Alpha 1, gen I (tilt trim has the plastic resovoir beneath it). It's really slow. It does raise and lower the outdrive, but doesn't do it nearly as fast as on my other boat. And it's kinda quiet too. Now, this boat is my project boat and the tilt/trim went unused for probably 5...
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    timing tab has no marks (photo attached)

    My timing tab has no marks on it. Can anyone tell me where 8 degrees BTDC is? 260hp Mercruiser V8 Alpha 1 (1985) I thought I'd read that each indentation is 2 degrees, but that would mean that my tab only goes to like 6 degrees. Or is it that every point, whether pointing in or pointing out...
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    Starting issues - what else could it be?

    5.7 liter mercruiser, alpha 1 gen 1. (1985 260hp) Remanufactured engine with less than 100 hours on it. Engine runs perfectly (when started). My problem is that the starter really drags, especially if the engine has been run and is warmed up. Engine turns freely by hand (well, I didn't have...
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    Will a clear coat help with oxidation?

    Hi Everyone, RoscottJr and I have been discussing this on another post: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=379123 My situation: I have a 1996 project boat that has oxidation/faded paint in areas where there is dark green paint. I've wet sanded it, buffed it, then waxed it, and it looks...
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    Oil coming out of prop end of outdrive

    Mercruiser Alpha One, Gen 1. The boat is stored in my garage. I was in the garage this moring and saw a few drops of oil underneath my outdrive. I'd changed my impellor a few months ago, so the 1st place I checked was at the screw hole.. and that was dry. The outdrive was down, but not...
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    Dear Abby joke

    Dear Abby, I've never written to you before, but I really need your advice. I have suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs are phone rings, but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with "the girls" a lot recently, although...
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    Odd question about winterizing

    Hey everyone, 3.0 liter Mercruiser (1991) I have an odd question about winterizing. The background on my question?Recently, I changed my impellor. I was afraid that I may have some blockage from one of the old impellor blades, so I took off the incoming water hose by the transom and I blew...
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    Trouble separating Alpha 1

    Hey everyone, I'm trying to split my Alpha 1 (gen 1) outdrive so that I can change my impellor and I'm having a hard time getting it to come apart. I've undone the allen wrench bolt, 2 nuts on the bottom, 2 nuts on the top, and the 1 nut at the front (closest to the transom by the shift shaft)...
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    How many blowers does your boat have?

    My boat has one blower. The blower hose goes from the bottom of the bilge to the blower, then to another hose that blows out of the vent. I have another working blower and some extra blower hose just sitting around my garage. Would it be wise of me to install the extra blower into my bilge...
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    marine solenoid vs auto solenoid

    Hey everyone, I really hate to start another "auto part vs marine part" thread, but I do have a question concerning the starter solenoid (the solenoid that mounts to the top of the starter). Is there a difference between the marine solenoid and auto solenoid? Here is why I ask -- I bought a...
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    Having problems getting engine aligned

    Hey everyone. I'm installing a 1985 Mercruiser 260 hp from my donor boat into my project boat and I'm having a hard time getting the engine aligned. I have the alignment tool and the most I can get it into the coupler is about 1/2". I'm thinking that if I took out the gimbal bearing and then...
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    comparing 2 different size props, 1 alum and 1 is SS

    Hi everyone, I'd like your input on 2 different sized props and comparing the performance each should give. Going on a 24' bowrider, 1996 Four Winns that weighs about 4000 pounds.. will be powered by a 5.7 mercruiser (260 hp) The test prop used by the manufacturer is an aluminum 14 1/2 x 19...
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    1996 Four Winns 240 Horizon

    Does anyone else on here have a 1996 to 1998 240 Horizon?
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