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  1. Lou C

    Stupid me, no oil

    Any oil is better than no oil at all…..
  2. Lou C

    Stupid me, no oil

    I still do the lawn mower oil change every season. 1987 Briggs & Stratton 3.5 hp with the pulsa jet carb (the one that sits on top of the gas tank with the 2 fuel tubes screwed into the bottom of the carb). Why'd I keep it? Because unlike modern carbs I can set the fuel mix how I want, not how...
  3. Lou C

    Stupid me, no oil

    My 4.3 had the original 1988 short block which is hard to believe being run in salt water for 20 years but it’s true. I check the oil every time I use it & have a couple qts in the boat (and Dexron ATF from when my old p/s actuator leaked a few years back) as well. Spare belts & hoses & points...
  4. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    I never used sealant on the o ring only on the gasket where the stat housing bolts to the block.
  5. Lou C

    Volvo penta 4.3 gxi rough running

    Agreed if you’re going to try to DIY with a modern boat just like modern vehicles the scanners are a necessity. Those of us with old school boat still have to depend on traditional troubleshooting methods….
  6. Lou C

    Volvo penta 4.3 gxi rough running

    Are they going to convert back to a carb?
  7. Lou C

    Cobra intermediate cable replacement

    Yes that’s how it is, I’ve never had a problem with that. Before you go thru the trouble of changing it measure the drag on the cable with a fish scale (both ends disconnected)…If it’s less than 2.5 lbs it’s good; the other thing to look at is the cable jacket where it goes into the pivot...
  8. Lou C

    Starter crapped out today, I tapped it with a hammer then it worked.

    Yep go with the PMGR starter; just make sure the bolts are the right length ones & not too long. I used an ARCO PMGR with their bolts & no problems. Cranks engine over fast and doesn’t draw down the battery as much due to the permanent magnets…
  9. Lou C

    Does anyone remember when car & boat engines only had.

    On older boats I’ll take the old tech anyday. Reasons: EFI has computers, sensors & multiple points of failure. Older boat EFI system parts are often discontinued Corrosion in terminals is a common cause of intermittent headaches I can fully clean & rebuild a Quadrajet or Holley in about 2 hrs...
  10. Lou C

    Time for my first bellow change, tips?

    Agreed for parts that will cause a big problem if they fail or are difficult to replace go OEM if you can. I found the bellows job on my Cobra very easy. Very much like a Volvo SX. I do pull the pivot housing but I disco the shift cable up on the engine so the pivot can come back without having...
  11. Lou C

    This happened today, and in the blistering heat.

    You can always build a better boat with your own 2 hands and common sense, than the cheapskates running these companies! also something to be aware of is fine thread and coarse thread when doing jobs like this, wonder if they mismatched that and cranked them on and stripped the threads?
  12. Lou C

    1999 Searay 185 Knocking

  13. Lou C

    Stumbling at Cruising Speed - OMC 5.8L

    OK I don't have your engine in my shop manual (1988) so I don't know for sure what distributor you have, but if it's like mine (Prestolite points dist) it has mechanical (centrifugal) spark advance. This unit is under the points plate and it advances the timing with RPM using fly weights, and...
  14. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Here's what I do. I dock on the starboard side so I put the loop under that side cleat, just loop it around the winch stand and tie it off on the other cleat. Take the tension off the winch strap and disconnect it, the line holds the boat. This way also the dock line is on the right side for...
  15. Lou C

    MerCruiser update

    Now my brother has a 2020 Chapparal with a Merc 4.5 200 hp with the single point drain. Owned it about 3 seasons. I have showed him how to fill it with the -100 after draining it. BUT, I am worried about this system in our salt water. Thought: Next fall, when we winterize, put a 5 gallon bucked...
  16. Lou C

    MerCruiser update

    Well there is not much. Most years the block drains will drain without being poked. Sometimes I do have to poke em though and even if they do appear to fully drain, I always poke em just to make sure. I do agree that most salt damage occurs during the season but if we can slow it down in the off...
  17. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Raybo Marine on Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst NY. Had it painted about 12 years ago. Still looks great
  18. Lou C

    MerCruiser update

    Ok one thing I forgot to mention, when I start up in spring I don’t get rusty water out the exhaust. So maybe that shows us something. When I pull off the elbows to check em this fall; I’ll see how the manifolds look. Usually 5 years in salt & elbows yes must be replaced but the manifolds if...
  19. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Mine are good. Boat sits on a rotating mooring with 2 pennant lines hooked to the cleats; it’s been out there in tropical storms with no problems. When I had the boat painted by one of the best ‘glass shops on Long Island the replaced all 4 & did a nice job….
  20. Lou C

    Does anyone remember when car & boat engines only had.

    And push button transmissions! Mopar used then till the mid 60s.
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