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  1. Rick Stephens

    Power Trim Up not working

    Also consider corroded connectors at the trim motor.
  2. Rick Stephens

    spring vapor lock?

    First priority is to chase your fuel pump wiring. There should be no power to the pump unless one of two conditions exist: 1) The starter is cranking. During cranking the starter powers the Purple/Yellow wire which goes to the fuel pump. 2) The motor has built enough oil pressure to activate...
  3. Rick Stephens

    spring vapor lock?

    This is weird. The fuel pump potentially running is a big strange. I don't see signs of any water in the exhaust. And we would, when water is present in the combustion, it will quickly burn off carbon deposits in the exhaust. They all look perfect and not cleaned off.
  4. Rick Stephens

    1997 Mercruiser 5.7l w/ 2 barrel carb & thunderbolt ignition

    I seriously doubt an ignition module. They are 'solid state' and tend to either work or fail, not be intermittent. New to you boat, as AD mentioned, needs bow to stern maintenance gone through completely. If I was to do a partial list of suggestions, something like: 1)Get a Mercruiser OEM...
  5. Rick Stephens

    spring vapor lock?

    I don't get the part where you can turn the prop with some force.... the prop should freewheel, or be locked up - not able to turn CCW when in forward gear. You cannot turn the motor over with the prop - the gearing is such that you have less power at the motor to turn it. So I don't know what...
  6. Rick Stephens

    spring vapor lock?

    Yup, pull the plugs. See what ya got. Should remove drive annually. The problem can also be a drive issue, so pulling the drive is next step.
  7. Rick Stephens

    1996 Bayliner 1952CN, won't start after winterization - new boat owner

    Agree with Chris. You are better off with just draining the motor and pulling the drive off, which drains the drive of water, than doing the flushomatic BS that cannot get AF past the now instantly cold and fully closed thermostat.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Help with vibration from 1400-3500 RPM

    Use aluminum plate for shim with holes drilled through.
  9. Rick Stephens

    3.7 to 4.3 swap

    Not much to do with lake or sea water. The problem is aluminum block and steel heads. Different expansion rates. Also the funky water pump.
  10. Rick Stephens

    1996 Bayliner 1952CN, won't start after winterization - new boat owner

    New plug wires looks like. Double check order.
  11. Rick Stephens

    1996 215 SeaRay EC engine alignment

    Thump more likely u-joints than alignment.
  12. Rick Stephens

    I Just Bought My First Boat. 1997 Sea Ray 175 3.0LX A1 G2. WHERE TO START PLEASE HELP!!

    For me, I could care less about the caps or original post. No problem. Who cares. I gave the best recommendations I could, as did the other posters. Up to you to decide what you accept from us as useful. When everyone has the same advice, and the questioner states he isn't gonna do it, never...
  13. Rick Stephens

    Boat swamped, let's see if we can get it running...

    Wow, that's ugly.
  14. Rick Stephens

    I Just Bought My First Boat. 1997 Sea Ray 175 3.0LX A1 G2. WHERE TO START PLEASE HELP!!

    Benny, the thread is fine. This thread went to transom rebuilds because the OP, in post 16, asks: All of us are stating that before anyone spends on engine and drive work that they check condition of hull. OP doesn't really want to do that, but unknown to someone who hasn't been there before...
  15. Rick Stephens

    I Just Bought My First Boat. 1997 Sea Ray 175 3.0LX A1 G2. WHERE TO START PLEASE HELP!!

    Also of note, I quite literally loved doing the job. It tickled every one of my fancies to make it better'n factory.
  16. Rick Stephens

    I Just Bought My First Boat. 1997 Sea Ray 175 3.0LX A1 G2. WHERE TO START PLEASE HELP!!

    I redid the transom on my '90 17 foot ski boat. A nothing special kind of hull that I turned into a 2 person super comfortable fishing barge. Had some flooring a partially wet transom to repair.
  17. Rick Stephens

    3.7 to 4.3 swap

    While the recommendation is to find a '96 or newer, nothing wrong with an earlier 4.3 if you find a nice one as a donor.
  18. Rick Stephens

    I Just Bought My First Boat. 1997 Sea Ray 175 3.0LX A1 G2. WHERE TO START PLEASE HELP!!

    Note, if you can break something JUMPING up and down on the drive, while it is unsupported and mostly in the down position, then it is in no condition to withstand 130 HP of torquey thrust at full throttle. This is not rocket science, it is foundational structure for safe operation. Drilling...
  19. Rick Stephens

    manifold bolts

    Once you get to studs with Chris's method, you can apply significant heat (red hot) to the stuck bolt, expanding it and breaking loose any rust. Then it will come out much easier. Note that stud sockets are much safer and cheap to purchase than grabbing with vicegrips.
  20. Rick Stephens

    Carbed 4.3 timing adjustment sanity check

    A carb rebuild with attention to float height is what fixes rich, or lean, running.
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