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  1. Rick Stephens

    Time to reassemble

    If I fix it, you have to take me fishing.
  2. Rick Stephens

    Carb float level adjustment help

    Anything from float level to fuel pump to blocked carburetor passages or a bad accelerator pump can cause your issues. I'd be doing the carburetor rebuild again, and pay particular attention to float level and making sure you run every passageway. Double check the check balls and passageway for...
  3. Rick Stephens

    ANOTHER WATER IN OIL QUESTION

    I wonder if with blown head gaskets, causing air pushed into the cooling system and excessive heat failed the same portions of both heads around the exhaust valves. Other than bolting on a different set of heads or block off plates for the decks, I can't think of any tests to be sure the block...
  4. Rick Stephens

    ANOTHER WATER IN OIL QUESTION

    You do have the intake torqued down?
  5. Rick Stephens

    Leave outside with drive off?

    The gimbal bearing needs to be aimed at the coupler. THEN you can align the motor.
  6. Rick Stephens

    ENGINE NOT STARTING...KICKING MY BUT

    If you are going to keep this boat more than a week or two you might consider purchasing the manuals for it.They will surely keep you on track. One place is here: http://outdriveshop.com/mercruisermanuals.html Or you can get form dealers.
  7. Rick Stephens

    ANOTHER WATER IN OIL QUESTION

    I wonder if you can add a bit of a thin detergent and see if you can get bubbles to form. I can feel for you on the symptoms being just diverse enough to make you question the conclusions. And I don't know how to answer them without guessing. Your problem is how to prove the block isn't cracked...
  8. Rick Stephens

    ANOTHER WATER IN OIL QUESTION

    Without pressure testing there is no way to test a head or block for internal cracks. It is the risk, always, with a possible crack. Magnafluxing can only find something you can see.
  9. Rick Stephens

    ENGINE NOT STARTING...KICKING MY BUT

    Need fuel and need spark to run. No spark means you have a bad connection or a failed part. To get good answers you should probably post serial number and type of ignition.
  10. Rick Stephens

    Leave outside with drive off?

    If in doubt always replace u-joints. I leave my drive off every winter. Last winter mice ate every roll of blue paper towels in the boat, there were several. I have never seen the like. I willfigure a way to plug the hole next winter. Grinding noise - pop the top cap off and take a look inside...
  11. Rick Stephens

    2000 3.0 Mercruiser boggs down and quits just as boat begins to get up on plane

    Time to hook up a vacuum/pressure gauge and check fuel pressure and or vacuum. Probably more effective when looking for a problem to hook up the gauge between fuel pump and tank and see if you are pulling a vacuum there, which would indicate something is plugged up. If on the pressure side of...
  12. Rick Stephens

    Time to reassemble

    Have never tried. I'm doing my best these days to onshore my suppliers as much as possible.
  13. Rick Stephens

    1996 454 thunderb ign thompson wont get on plane

    If old gas is bad,, no amount of Seafoam dreamer's solution will fix it. All it takes is a little crap in the carburetor and again, no amount of mechanic in a can is gonna get the passageways back open. Only a carburetor rebuild will do that.
  14. Rick Stephens

    ANOTHER WATER IN OIL QUESTION

    Occam's razor tells me there's a crack. I can't imagine a head gasket getting water in the oil quickly while running. I suppose it's possible considering a bad valve. Higher octane fuel will handle more compression and more advance than low octane fuel. Nothing will handle lean and too much...
  15. Rick Stephens

    Time to reassemble

    The perfect seal is the same as aviation sealer from Permatex or LocTite. Good stuff to have around when working on boat stuff. Problem with using teflon tape instead is that the teflon won't keep all the water out and a little bit of corrosion there will eventually make it impossible to get...
  16. Rick Stephens

    Time to reassemble

    I din use a no glue on a Gen2 at da bell housin end.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Water in oil

    Shooting water up the exhaust ain't gonna do it.
  18. Rick Stephens

    Mercury Fuel Supply Problem OEM Hidden For Decades

    That the outboard line connector?
  19. Rick Stephens

    92' Mercruiser 7.4 Bluewaters Won't Idle

    I am always leery of rebuilt or even new carbs that are 'tuned' to a given motor. Seen all too many with issues over the years. Some thoughts for you on what to check out: Fuel system: you might consider purchasing a vacuum/fuel pressure gauge, if the one already got isn't made for both. They...
  20. Rick Stephens

    92' Mercruiser 7.4 Bluewaters Won't Idle

    Sitting three years, what is the condition of the fuel in the tank(s). What was the source for the new carburetors? How do you know they are calibrated to your motors?
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