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  1. ScottinAZ

    Alpha one gen.one shift cable bellows repair kit

    short answer..... NO. Get factory. ONLY reason for buying one would be if you arent sure the running gear is any good to limit how much you sink into a possibly no good engine/drive..... I did just that, and just got done replacing the Chinesium crap with OEM after said Chinesium died an early...
  2. ScottinAZ

    Circulating Water Pump Weep Holes?

    differences in manufacturing.... under normal circumstances that area is dry. when the seal fails, and the weep hole starts doing its crying thing, it doesnt matter where on the pump it is, it will start doing its designed job.
  3. ScottinAZ

    Replacing U-joints Alpha one gen 1

    ok, I consulted the factory manual for my drive, (1980 MC-1) SM#4, pages 3A-14-3A-15. the book just states to use a universal joint remover/installation tool mounted in a vice. They do not elaborate on the type, so I ASSUME they are using a standard commercial c-clamp style tool. They do not...
  4. ScottinAZ

    454 Piston problem

    that 29 grams relates to just a hair over an ounce. your 12 gram difference is less than half an ounce. From the factory, frankly I am surprised they kept it that close. They dont balance every motor as it goes out the door, close is good enough for them. Really the only folks that DO worry...
  5. ScottinAZ

    Prop Question

    slightly off topic, but sadly, no. Shop class is mostly a thing of the past. they are now teaching "E-Sports" AKA video games, and "coding" so you can make said video games. The things that actually get us around and make the world work, AKA mechanical things are not taught anymore.... No love...
  6. ScottinAZ

    Cool youtube channel

    Yeah, Eric is entertaining. Seeing the common failure modes over time, and some of the inherent design flaws in some of the engines is telling (WET TIMING BELTS ANYONE...) I know several types of engine that if they were in a vehicle I was looking at, I would pass just based on the information...
  7. ScottinAZ

    1989 Four Winns Carrara Mercruiser Alpha 1 Bellows/Gimble Replacment

    Im going to echo AllDodge here.... Doing the bellows is not a terribly hard job to do, but you DO need a bit of skill, and one or two specialized tools. Removing the drive is a heavy proposition, and getting the clamps off the bellows can be tricky, depending on how the bands are clocked giving...
  8. ScottinAZ

    Pre-Alpha drive won't go into reverse.

    the cutoff switch, which is on the left in the pic being activated is typical for a bad shift cable. the inner wears enough to jam up, that friction, and the loss of motion is what is causing you to lose reverse. Yours just seems to have picked the time to show itself right after the other work.
  9. ScottinAZ

    Pre-Alpha drive won't go into reverse.

    I found mine for fairly cheap on eBay, I think it was under 10 bucks shipped.
  10. ScottinAZ

    Pre-Alpha drive won't go into reverse.

    I had the same issue with the shift cable. Get the tap. Rethread the hole for the newer style cable and all will be right with the world.
  11. ScottinAZ

    Engine support while towing.

    in this instance I see the braces as added insurance. My drive will stay up without the braces almost indefinitely, however, the one time they would drop would inevitably be when dragging it down the road.... for what they cost, its cheaper than a ruined trip and a FUBAR drive (I dont have...
  12. ScottinAZ

    High compression in 1 cylinder - 7.4 carb

    a marine cam is usually what would be referred to as a "truck" or an "RV" cam. A bit spicier than a regular cam, but not one with overlap, or you can suck water into the engine through the exhaust from reversion. Others here, such as Scott Danforth can elaborate a bit more on this point, but...
  13. ScottinAZ

    Engine support while towing.

    I wouldnt think so. An outboard is a LOT of weight that can produce a lot of movement on perhaps the most critical part of the boats support. Transom savers are named such for a reason. Are they perfect.... no. Can they potentially cause more harm than good..... Maybe..... are they better than...
  14. ScottinAZ

    HELP: Rusted bolts on leaf springs

    thats what it sounded like to me as well.... not uncommon on older cars for the same thing to happen. The nut comes off, but the shank of the bolt is a permanent part of the bushing due to rust. You can try greasing the bolt, but its not always effective, and you end up cutting the bolts out and...
  15. ScottinAZ

    Engine support while towing.

    when I had an outboard, I used a transom saver. I just didnt like the idea of the heavy motor being able to move around even a little bit, and transferring those loads (even an old Evinrude 115 isnt light) to the transom. Now that I have an IO, I just put a block on the trim rams to keep the...
  16. ScottinAZ

    Mercruiser 898 cooling issue

    thats what I was going to say. The hose doesnt provide as much water usually as the lake does, and if there is any "out of level" condition one side will run warmer. 170-180 on a hose would not concern me, but I also would not run it for a LONG time, as the exhaust is running warmer and less...
  17. ScottinAZ

    High compression in 1 cylinder - 7.4 carb

    if thats the case, I would just source them locally if it were me. Rock Auto has good prices on the parts, but you eat it up in shipping..... unless you have a sizeable order, and even then sometimes its not worth it. Same with the lifters, and possibly the cam, depending on spec and availability.
  18. ScottinAZ

    High compression in 1 cylinder - 7.4 carb

    True, I wasnt thinking that you need marine intake gaskets.... most any NAPA should have a set of gaskets for a Chevy Rat motor..... marine not so much though
  19. ScottinAZ

    High compression in 1 cylinder - 7.4 carb

    you will need new gaskets..... Honestly, I wouldnt worry about purchasing gaskets until you find out the full scope of work. if you need a cam, you are a lot deeper in the parts bin than just intake gaskets.
  20. ScottinAZ

    1988 Bayliner Restore or Replace

    yep, its getting on towards the end of the season in many areas, and those "marginal" boats are gonna be showing up on Craigslist for $300-$800. get one with a janky hull, and a good engine, strip it for any parts you need, and take the rest to the dump. Sell the trailer to help offset the...
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