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  1. Rick Stephens

    Oil Pressure Switch for Fuel Pump - Strange Happenings

    I added a relay switch to my wiring to improve oil pressure switch longevity. As wired from Mercruiser, the oil pressure switch sustains the load to the fuel pump. It is just enough power to introduce arcing carbon to the contacts in the switch. By using an inexpensive relay you can take the...
  2. Rick Stephens

    Oil Pressure Switch for Fuel Pump - Strange Happenings

    The oil pressure switch is a (legally required) safety device. At some point, someone had an issue that made them wonder if the switch was the problem and they bypassed it. Apparently you still have that issue. Returning the wires to proper location on the switch did not *fix* whatever was...
  3. Rick Stephens

    Maintenance intervals

    Money
  4. Rick Stephens

    noise coming from gimbal/coupler area after taking on water

    You also didn't run them inside a blender.
  5. Rick Stephens

    4.3lx intake manifold question

    I don't see the intake doing enough to matter. Definitely cheaper to swap prop to tune things to perfection. Might consider a little faster prop and venting it to get the hole shot.
  6. Rick Stephens

    Clanking/rattling sound after prop change

    Not to mention droplets of metal welded right to them.
  7. Rick Stephens

    noise coming from gimbal/coupler area after taking on water

    Water in bellows equals dead u-joints.
  8. Rick Stephens

    4.3lx intake manifold question

    Never see a big speed difference. You might gain a couple seconds on hole shot. Takes more torque to increase boat performance - mild - correction - VERY mild horsepower changes will not have much effect.
  9. Rick Stephens

    Where to attach vacuum gauge to 3.0L?

    Switching to a new thread kind of discombobulates everyone. When talking valves, seats and seals and sometimes timing, vacuum gauge can tell a lot. Just post what you see.
  10. Rick Stephens

    4.3 L exhaust 90 degree drain cracked in manifold

    I would posit that the only thing more expensive than a cheap fixerupper boat is a cheap fixerupper airplane.
  11. Rick Stephens

    Where to attach vacuum gauge to 3.0L?

    I believe the bow side plug on top of the manifold.
  12. Rick Stephens

    Maintenance intervals

    I was responding to the post before yours. Your post wasn't there , for whatever reason, when I wrote mine. I suppose I should have quoted the previous post so as to make sure you weren't offended. You and I happen to be in total agreement.
  13. Rick Stephens

    Maintenance intervals

    I would disagree that shift cables don't wear out. They are THE wear item on an outdrive, regardless of maintenance. Replacing the lower shift cable is an essential item. The inner cable is under spring tension every time you shift out of gear on the water. This wears a slot into the outer...
  14. Rick Stephens

    1989 Alpha 1 , Merc cruiser 3 litre engine

  15. Rick Stephens

    1992 Trophy not advancing spark

    Only need to run that for 3, 4 seconds. Just long enough to see whether the light comes close to the TDC mark.
  16. Rick Stephens

    4.3 TKS bogs and won't rev past 3600

    Don't feel too bad, carb re-rebuilds are pretty common. Use a HIGH quality rebuild kit - avoid Sierra and other chinesium kits. Run all the passageways. Remove the jets, check balls and venturi and clean all of the now available passageways. Double and triple check float height.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Minor shudders at idle

  18. Rick Stephens

    Minor shudders at idle

    Vac gauge will tell you condition of valve train and whether you have an adjustment problem.
  19. Rick Stephens

    Minor shudders at idle

    I'd do a compression test and a hook up a vacuum gauge. Tells a bunch about condition of the motor that you cannot see.
  20. Rick Stephens

    Engine Replacement Compatibility

    Yeah, but he wanted to.
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