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  1. Rick Stephens

    Leak near timing cover?

    I'd have to second that just throwing money at a boat is a quick way to just throw money. Eventually you have way more in the boat than was justified. 1400 hours is mechanically fine with a maintained motor. Figure out what is wrong and fix it. Go boating.
  2. Rick Stephens

    1986 Alpha One has leaked oil since service....

    If you are going to keep this boat longer than a couple weeks, go out and buy a service manual for it. There are a number of sources, one here as an example. You really can't replace trim senders just pulling the drive. Those require access behind the bell housing. Usually plan replacement...
  3. Rick Stephens

    Engine failure?

    When the starter goes clunk, you probably have a cylinder full of water. Pull the plugs. (echo!)
  4. Rick Stephens

    How critical of an issue!

    That’s not going to weld easily. When welded it will get tighter. Easy to damage seals with the heat. I would suggest replacement of the lower and go boating.
  5. Rick Stephens

    New 01 Bayliner 4.3 MC...have a few questions

    Batwings seem weird in a 2001. I thought they were gone in the mid 80's. How did you get the prop out of the water? I've never had that happen when I was being sane anyway. When you hear popping, that is usually a lean condition, unless the timing is way off. Running lean will burn holes in...
  6. Rick Stephens

    Merc 5.0 V8 chocolate oil

    There are a bunch of places a crack or gasket failure can introduce water. Only way I know to test is to pull and plug the water lines going to the exhaust, cap the inline and pressure test the block cooling system.
  7. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 1 Project

    Paint thinner take it right off. A new coat will melt it. So whatever works for ya. Won't hurt the new bellows at all.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Tearing down transom assembly

    Oh cool. I didn't see the zerk for the lower needle bearing. Good deal. That thing gets dry it will eat that soft aluminum pin. And yeah, drilling the upper steering pin bushing adding a zerk and a grease groove on the pin will definitely help up there. I take issue with the trend in all...
  9. Rick Stephens

    Tearing down transom assembly

    If I was as far into it as you are I'd make sure I had grease zerks and passageways to the upper and that lower needle bearing. I can't believe they have needle bearings without grease. Super easy to drill while all the way apart.
  10. Rick Stephens

    Formula 26 PC - Not seized engine! Seized outdrive?

    Of note, if you use a wrench on the crank nose bolt to turn a not seized engine you can ruin a crank by stripping the threads. It is really ill advised to use that bolt for hogging on a stuck motor.
  11. Rick Stephens

    Where is this water coming from?

    That water passage has no o-ring or seal, just the rubber dam. What does it hurt if it seeps water out? And my Mercruiser Gen 2 did it for the first week after I rebuilt the drive. Not the first one I have seen do that. I don't think anyone would pressure test an open cooling system in the...
  12. Rick Stephens

    Gimbal Housing Access Hole Aluminium Plug

    Personally I'd use the aluminum ones. Coat the threads with aviation gasket sealer that never hardens. I'd have trouble with those plastic ones, just like you.
  13. Rick Stephens

    Engine Replacement/Upgrade

    I'd also just consider upping the horsepower of your current motor some. Better intake and 4 barrel carb. Going to the 5.7 means adding at least 200 pounds that the extra horsepower is wasted pushing through the water. The 4.3 is really the perfect motor for a 17.5 foot 2100 pound runabout. You...
  14. Rick Stephens

    Engine Replacement/Upgrade

    Place to start is the engine installation drawings. That'll let you decide whether bigger motor fits. Also, might have insurance issues if the underwriter thinks the hull is not designed for the larger engine. Most hulls in the 19 foot and up range usually have multiple engine options when...
  15. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive oil drip

    Here's the relevant pages from the manual:
  16. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser 4.3 added 4qts Still below ADD mark

    Remark your stick. Put the required amount of oil in according to engine serial number - make sure you have the right oil pan as a change there can change volume requirements. Pour in your 4 or 4.5 Qts of oil and make a new mark on your stick.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive oil drip

    Chris is right.... pull the upper, reassemble the halves and pressure test. As soon as you pull the lower off any oil left in the bearing pocket where the shaft pulls out is dumped making it impossible to judge by where you see oil where you might have a leak. I would also recommend you always...
  18. Rick Stephens

    2008 3.0L AlphaOne no water to engine

    Not a fan of pulling just a lower off while leaving the upper attached to the boat. It takes just a few minutes to remove an entire drive. And making a drive fixture with a slot for the drive with a couple 2x6's is super simple. With the entire drive in the fixture, pull the upper off upward...
  19. Rick Stephens

    Where is this water coming from?

    WHOA. There is a cooling water passageway there. Has absolutely nothing to do with the oring that holds in oil and out water. If the rubber fits loose, it leaks - until one day it doesn't. They seem to stop on their own. There is no reason to do anything at all about it. Certainly not adding...
  20. Rick Stephens

    Alpha One Gen 1 Shift Shaft Seal

    A long 3/8th bolt through from the bottom, put the nut on, then a washer and use it to drive in the bushing. Easy peasy.
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