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  1. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive Alignment

  2. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive Alignment

    The alignment being off is a warning. Next step is coupler melting, which put you afoot. Have to pull the motor to replace the coupler. So it is a good idea to check alignment annually, and if the alignmet is changing, check the condition of the transom and stringers by drilling test holes and...
  3. Rick Stephens

    Can I replace an alpha 1 gen I with an alpha 1 gen II?

    Tools cost more than the drive new. So yeah. Check out SEI. Used to carry them at iBoats, I think they discontinued.
  4. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive Alignment

    Usual answer is the transom or stringers are water logged and soft allowing the motor to sag. Other components can be the issue, such as rear mounts failing or loose hardware. But most common is the boat is getting soft.
  5. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive Alignment

    Need a new mechanic..... you don't hit the drive hard enough.... Last time I installed a new gimbal bearing, I also was installing a different motor altogether, going from an inline to a V6. Meant everything was from scratch. To align the gimbal, I aimed it best I could, looking through the...
  6. Rick Stephens

    Shift Interrupter problems

    Not usually. Doing so before tearing it down to replace the lower cable seems prudent.
  7. Rick Stephens

    Volvo to Mercruiser

    Slant 6 is a big hunk of iron....
  8. Rick Stephens

    Shift Interrupter problems

    Replace the lower shift cable. Grub is spot on.
  9. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser alpha one small amount of water in shift cable housing

    Merc makes a tool specifically to drive the bushing in. You can do the same thing with a longish 3/8th inch bolt, with a nut and washer. Insert bolt through bottom bushing, add nut, top that with a washer to protect bushing. Set bushing on threads and drive up into housing.
  10. Rick Stephens

    1990 Mercruiser 5.7/v8 rusted exhaust manifold bolt

    A lot of heat on the head. Let it cool completely - the heat expands the bolt to break loose the corrosion, the cooling lets it shrink back. Then use a socket designed to remove damaged bolts. Anyone who welded up a manifold like that did other lazy or hairbrained stuff. Make sure you go...
  11. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser alpha one small amount of water in shift cable housing

    The new replacement kits from Merc or Sierra are bigger and come with the bushing. The seals are larger and hang down in the exhaust passageway. They last longer that way. That is the only way to go as they last for years. Drive the whole bushing, up or down, to get it out. Then I use a long...
  12. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser alpha one small amount of water in shift cable housing

    It's either the gasket, the shift shaft seals or the water passage o-ring. Check em all. Replace em all.
  13. Rick Stephens

    357 mag bravo 4v long block replacement

    Perfect timing before hauling.
  14. Rick Stephens

    357 mag bravo 4v long block replacement

    Personally, I'd want to know exactly why it has those problems before replacing the block.
  15. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive Alignment

    Engine Alignment How To's: https://forums.iboats.com/threads/engine-alignment-how-tos.432996/
  16. Rick Stephens

    Outdrive Alignment

    Once you have aimed the gimbal - and it shouldn't become misaimed when you pull the drive - the gimbal is no longer a factor. From then on it is adjustment to engine up and down or transom and stringer rot that allows the motor to move around.
  17. Rick Stephens

    Alpha one Gen 2 u-joints

    Bearings have to be separated a little bit before redoing the rolling torque. Either with a bearing splitter, or you can use a plastic deadblow hammer and give the shaft a solid tap to make a small gap before reassembling. Inspect visually the bearings and races. Any marring or pattered shiny...
  18. Rick Stephens

    1992 Mercruiser 4.3L 262 CID Pre-Vortex Back Fires

    Exactly. Not sure how many years I thought it was turning the push rod until you feel contact. You can get far too tight and never know it using that method.
  19. Rick Stephens

    Rusty film/staining on input shaft and inner ring of gimbal bearing

    Is under water, if you don't coat bare steel parts like those with 2-4C you are going to see rust build up just from the presence of water everywhere. Even humidity left on those parts during the last assembly.
  20. Rick Stephens

    White streaks in motor oil.

    Might just be condensation. Can also be a failing exhaust gasket or a rusted through manifold that is starting to drop water into exhaust.
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