Search results

  1. harringtondav

    Battery discharge. ...normal?

    The battery held its charge for short periods through the summer after I started opening the battery switch after boating. But even with this switch open the 1000CCA battery would discharge w/in two weeks. I told the dealer I'd bring the battery in at end of season for a check. When I was...
  2. harringtondav

    Speedometer flooded with water

    I don't own Faria-Bede stock, but I had a good experience with them replacing my defective pitot speedo with a GPS unit. They have a good on line catalogue with various sizes, trim styles and clock faces. You may get lucky finding a size that will drop into your dash hole. If not, you'll have to...
  3. harringtondav

    Speedometer flooded with water

    Your speedo is likely a basket case. It has a sealed tube that flexes with increasing water pressure. That tube is leaking. Even if you can seal the leak the delicate clock works is likely shot. Finding a similar replacement will be a challenge. Faria-Bede has a repair service for their gages...
  4. harringtondav

    Need to add or replace some baseboard for additional heat..ANYONE DONE THIS???

    I've had only one experience with hot water heat. It was in a NJ house we rented for two years. First room from the boiler was the warmest, then they became cooler. The last room was downright cold. The house registers were plumbed in series. The supply fed and returned the registers in a...
  5. harringtondav

    Changing props

    ...repeating above: Keep your eye on the hardware. The first time I did this at a river beach I couldn't find the thrust washer. Panic. It was stuck to the removed prop. After that I carry a spare thrust washer and other hardware with my spare prop.
  6. harringtondav

    Is this a reasonable quote?

    Yep. I've used @Scott Danforth 's method of placing a wood block between the drive and the gimbal ring, and using the trim up to break it loose.
  7. harringtondav

    Is this a reasonable quote?

    The bad pivot housing smells a bit iffy. I'd ask the mechanic why. If the gasket surface was damaged during removal, I'd expect the same on the upper gear hsg. Some grinding, cleaning and JB weld...followed by sanding flush could give a good sealing surface. No structural issues with this...
  8. harringtondav

    Any lower unit experts?

    Incorrect shimming is very unlikely in a factory built unit. A prop hit with a SS prop can do this damage. It only takes one compromised gear tooth, then a chain reaction melt down follows. I've owned SS props, but only use them when the water is high and floating logs are low. I'd recommend...
  9. harringtondav

    VP 4.3 winterization simplification .... sorta

    I don't easily disregard advice from a sage expert. ...especially one who's previously put me in my place. ;) Below is my accessible tank. No spare bungs. I've been pondering a way to tap into an existing hose for a siphon port accessible in the engine bay. I can't think of one that wouldn't...
  10. harringtondav

    350 mag mpi manifold/elbow temp

    You should be able to touch the elbows. The manifolds are hotter because They're in direct contact with the exhaust gasses, and the exhaust cooling circuit pulls off the most heat there. I touched mine once, and that was enough. If your elbows aren't excessively hot you're exhaust cooling is...
  11. harringtondav

    VP 4.3 winterization simplification .... sorta

    Thanks Ted. I didn't see an extra tank tap. I'm aware of the hazard and have assembled the main supply fittings with PTFE tape and tightened just short of splitting the female thread. I'll install the main elbow with the Teflon tape tomorrow and tighten it to, or over the torque I used to...
  12. harringtondav

    Upper shift control cable Mercruiser 228

    Shifting adjustments can be like a Rubik's cube. Just when you think you have it solved, something else moves out of adjustment. I've been coaching you to focus on the upper cable since the lower cable and adjustments seemed to have worked previously. If you find console lever neutral and plate...
  13. harringtondav

    VP 4.3 winterization simplification .... sorta

    MPI and high pressure direct injection fogging does more than fog the engine's innards. It also lubes up the injectors and high pressure fuel pump to avoid corrosion. If premix into the fuel filter housing gets old I'll go back to running the fuel tank low and add enough rich premix directly to...
  14. harringtondav

    VP 4.3 winterization simplification .... sorta

    My new VP O/M states to run the engine on 50:1 premix for 15 min before winter layover. Last fall I took one look at engine access and guessed on the gas in the fuel tank and premixed a rich dose in a gas can and poured into the fuel tank. I saw and smelled 2 stroke oil, so I figured good...
  15. harringtondav

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Previous 4.3 LX's starter and steering actuator lasted 24 yrs w/o and issue. I could access the steering and maybe the starter. This engine would require a pull to get to either. In 24 yrs I'll be over 90, if I'm alive. ....someone else's problem by then.
  16. harringtondav

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    Yea. First spin off filter removal on a new engine has always been a fight. ...apparently the factory uses extra gusto. I grease the new oil filter gasket and give it maybe an extra 1/8 turn after contact, fuel filter hand tight if I can get a good grip. Fuel filter sees slight negative...
  17. harringtondav

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    Access cutout is ragged, but Regal's cover looks nice and covers well. 1) I hear you on the fuel filter thing. Past 4.3 LX I was religious....for about two yrs. Then I emptied the filter into a clear container and found clear gas. So after 25 yrs I think I changed maybe 4-5 filters. Engine ran...
  18. harringtondav

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    The cutout is factory. The access panel is behind me in the pic. Yea, O/B v I/O. When I was researching for this new boat I looked at O/B versions of each....for maintenance simplicity. Consistently higher $/hp. Also O/B versions were only offered in lower hp than the I/O versions. Closed...
  19. harringtondav

    Fuel treatment question.....

    If you treat the fuel, the carb will be full of good fuel. I've never had a problem in 26 yrs. I think keeping the gaskets and under jet seals wet would be a good thing. My boating pal removes the spin on fuel filter and runs the carb dry. ....I gave up arguing with him years ago.
  20. harringtondav

    Engine access is never easy ....but...

    The effort I went through below wouldn't be bad for an engine pull, but was a bit much for yearly maintenance. I needed to tear the boat down this far to access the fuel filter and recirculating pump impeller. Also I needed to access the fuel filter housing to change fittings to allow a 2 stroke...
Top