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  1. Rick Stephens

    Oil Change question

    I read this whole thing hoping for a good oil thread battle. I am thoroughly disappointed.
  2. Rick Stephens

    Alpha one gen1 water coming from lower shift shaft.

    Non-issue
  3. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 Upper Seal Issue?

    What he said. You can see just enough of the upper gear case output shaft to spray soapy water on it - usually. I had to dunk a drive in a water trough to find a leak once, so I won't disparage anything that makes me look like Sherlock Holmes.
  4. Rick Stephens

    Alpha one gen1 water coming from lower shift shaft.

    On an Alpha 1 drive there's nothing there to stop exhaust/water mix from blowing out around the intermediate shift shaft. Should not matter at all.
  5. Rick Stephens

    Cooling engine - direct water hookup

    Ooop, I missed the Bravo 3 part. Shame on me.
  6. Rick Stephens

    Cooling engine - direct water hookup

    . You can also just attach your garden host directly to the 'in' line going to the thermostat housing.
  7. Rick Stephens

    4.3 LX Gen+ Alpha leaking water/oil mixture

    If the bellows had water in it then the u-joints are toast.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Top speed?

    When I was running a 17 foot with the 3.0L motor I ran a 15 pitch 4 blade Solas wheel. That gave me more jump out of the hole when pulling skiers and boards. Just had to watch the top end that I didn't over-rev.
  9. Rick Stephens

    A1G2 decisions. Rebuild or replace?

    I would note that water in the lower doesn't necessarily mean the lower is toast. What does kill lowers is metal particles washed down from the upper. An upper that ate itself will almost inevitably take the gear and bearing surfaces in the lower with it.
  10. Rick Stephens

    '09 5.0 TKS (Carb) not running

    First is check if you have power going to the pressure switch when the key is on. Then jump it there. If it runs, then your new pressure switch ain't so good. The outside lug on your starter solenoid should be powered when cranking. If it isn't, then you have no primer circuit. In that case...
  11. Rick Stephens

    Slight hesitation off idle 5.7

    A slight hesitation in the transition between idle and main jets is something plugged in a transition port. The recommended 1 1/4 turn is a starting point. You then tune to best mix and reset idle speed. This will have only very minor effect on performance over 1000 RPMs.
  12. Rick Stephens

    NEW TO BOATING, NEED HELP!!

    Also, don't rev an unloaded motor. It tells you nothing useful and can end up breaking things.
  13. Rick Stephens

    NEW TO BOATING, NEED HELP!!

    Carburetor.
  14. Rick Stephens

    1998 Mercruiser 3.0l high idle

    Spray carb cleaner around the base of the carburetor, see if the RPMs change. May need to recheck things internally on the carb if that doesn't get it. Double check float level! What carb kit did you use? Sometimes the chinesium kits have funky needle valves.
  15. Rick Stephens

    1998 Mercruiser 3.0l high idle

    Read dubs post again. Disconnect the throttle cable and then tell us how your adjustments fix or don't fix the idle issue.
  16. Rick Stephens

    1990 MeriCrusier 3.0

    Did any 1990 Merc have points?
  17. Rick Stephens

    Oil leak help

    Get the motor really clean and find the source. Or, if up high, easiest may be to replace the valve cover and lifter gallery gaskets. Not a big job.
  18. Rick Stephens

    Best piston for gen 2 4.3 mercuiser

    KISS is always in play with a marine motor. Find a machine shop you trust and work with them to get a simple basic motor configuration. An experienced motor machinist is your greatest asset.
  19. Rick Stephens

    Torque Process for upper bearing assy Apha1 Gen 2

    I used the dreaded plastic dead blow. Suppose I should have said that.
  20. Rick Stephens

    oil pressure switch hookup

    Learn something every day - (or you're dead)
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