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  1. Rick Stephens

    Transom question

    A whatever. First time doing it will cause words that make your kids giggle. Not really hard if you have the manual in front of you.
  2. Rick Stephens

    3.7 to 4.3 swap

    Fun project. I went from a 3.0L to a 4.3L. Same scale as you going from your 3.7 to a 5.7L. I'd go the 5.7 in a heartbeat. 2 barrel carb and nothing fancy and your boat jumps out of the water and is as fuel efficient as a 5.7 can get. Find a donor boat.
  3. Rick Stephens

    Carbed 4.3 timing adjustment sanity check

    Other cause for dieseling is overly rich. Deposits in the cylinder and on the piston stay hot and lit up.
  4. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 knocking noise

    A coupler is a rubber filled steel cone with a plate and bolts holding it to flywheel. What's to make noise with nothing attached? I guess possible it is cracked through one of the ears, but even then, when nothing attached?
  5. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 knocking noise

    That part should be fine, no difference at the back end. Only takes one long bolt though. Take a piece of broomstick, hold against your ear and touch different parts of the motor. El cheapo mechanics stethoscope.
  6. Rick Stephens

    Alpha One Stalls in Reverse only when giving gas

    You can and should pull the lower cable off the linkage and shift it by hand. Anything but butter silky smooth and you need to replace the cable.
  7. Rick Stephens

    Slight hesitation off idle 5.7

    Backfire = lean. Quick way to burn a hole in a piston. Go through the carburetor.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 knocking noise

    Sure sounds to me like a bolt head or similar hitting the flywheel, or something like that..
  9. Rick Stephens

    Alpha one manual

    Which should get the seller a big fine, if anyone cares.
  10. Rick Stephens

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

    A little WD40 and good to go
  11. Rick Stephens

    Impeller issue on Alpha 1 Gen2?

    A poor impeller and not enough water flow.
  12. Rick Stephens

    Impeller issue on Alpha 1 Gen2?

    Personally, I'd replace the impeller. Too much money under the hood to risk it.
  13. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser Alpha One Gen II Maintenance Items

    I agree with your losing oil is reason to pressure test. As long as you are at it, try your test at 5 pounds instead of only 15 - and turn the shafts during said test to see if you find a problem. At 15 pounds we are forcing the in facing seal lips tighter against the shafts than they normally...
  14. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser Alpha One Gen II Maintenance Items

    Just a reminder that pulling the drive, changing the oil, greasing and inspecting u-joints and gimbal as well as bellows is standard annual maintenance. Also add removing the prop and greasing the shaft splines. A couple that aren't annual is the impeller, which with an OEM one can last for a...
  15. Rick Stephens

    Pressing bearing off of pinion gear

    Don't waste your time. Creeping up on 5 in pounds will not be doable with a gauge made to work up to 150.
  16. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 gen 2 5.7L overheating

    I'm feeling pretty weak here.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Pressing bearing off of pinion gear

    This one from Precision Instruments is the one I used. It has gone up a bit in price since I bought one in 2016, everything has. Is a superior tool.
  18. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 gen 2 5.7L overheating

    Probably should inspect it, in the least.
  19. Rick Stephens

    Alpha 1 gen 2 5.7L overheating

    Running a Merc outdrive in a bucket of water usually doesn't work out well. The pump needs to be fully submerged, and that is tough to do. Those pumps can not pull water, they have an open vent air bleed port to prime them - meaning they prime by submersion. Mostly they get burned up when...
  20. Rick Stephens

    165 L6 Bushings need replacement?

    Beautiful rebuild!
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