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  1. Lou C

    1990 Chris-Craft Concept 4.3 OMC Cobra PLEASE HELP

    Cobra doesn’t have the fuse on the starter solenoid like Merc but there are 2 large 50 amp fuses in a rubber fuse holder near the big cannon plug. The rubber fuse holder is snapped into the back of the shift linkage bracket. If your gauges go on & your trim works but accessories don’t something...
  2. Lou C

    Tips On Replacing Starter

    I like to get parts from a local marine supplier he is very knowledgeable and knows which brands the mechanics like and which ones they don’t. He also gives regular customers a discount! And also knows other professionals that boat owners need like upholstery or fiberglass.
  3. Lou C

    OMC Cobra won’t shift out of gear

    Yep you start with the drive off and first set the shift rod height. Then you use those 2 tools to set up the transom shift cable. Then install the drive & check the adjustment of the remote control cable. The idea is to get equal throw & full engagement on both sides of neutral. You need a...
  4. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 MPI Q's

    Yep, for some reason (I think it is because of the large size of the old Delco starters) mine has a right angle fitting on the side with the starter, this one I really had to dig at to get it to flow one year, since then it has been fine. I would like to change it but I don't think fooling with...
  5. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 MPI Q's

    All you have to do is disconnect the J shaped hose at the stat housing & fill it with AF till it spurts out of the stat housing. No need to remove stat housing at all.
  6. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 MPI Q's

    What it takes to keep those block drains clear is a set of picks with different angles that enables you to dig out rust & sand that accumulates in the cooling passages at the bottom of the block. This is why I feel all cast iron inboards should be closed cooled: because of how cast iron...
  7. Lou C

    Mercruiser 4.3 MPI Q's

    I have a relative that has a 2020 Merc 4.5 V6 with this system, it is used in salt water. What I told him was this, when it's still new and actually drains, you should measure how much drains so you can tell when it's starting to clog. Start with the plug in, let it drain in the bilge, then put...
  8. Lou C

    Head Gasket replacement on a 1989 4.3L 262 mercruiser V6

    Fel Pro makes a nice head gasket set for the 4.3 with Marine head gaskets & intake gaskets, it also comes with new valve cover gaskets & one for the distributor. 11 year old thread!!!
  9. Lou C

    New Z-Drive which anodes default installed

    Isn’t “Z drive” Euro-English for outdrive? Anyway I have used zinc anodes on my Cobra drive moored in salt water for years. They are deteriorate at the end of the season (6 months) but not even 50%, more like 20%. The only problems I have had are the aluminum eyelets on the end of the trim Ram...
  10. Lou C

    Ethanol free gas for Mercruiser

    The only exceptions to my draining the 4 stroke carbs: Generator I start once a month & run it & put a load in it with my wife’s hairdryer to make sure it makes power Briggs & Stratton lawn mower with the old school pulsa Jet carb that sits on top of the gas tank; these will rust internally if...
  11. Lou C

    Boat age vs financing.

    Yep I’m a Cobra guy and I have had excellent service from it in what’s probably the difficult for I/Os which is salt water use & moorage. 22 years & minimal repairs. I just rebuilt both trim cylinders & replaced the trim Ram rods due to corrosion. Each rebuild kit was $55 and the Ram Rods I got...
  12. Lou C

    Ethanol free gas for Mercruiser

    Im in agreement with the above posts. Besides the boat & our vehicles I maintain 9 different small engines: 5 two strokes 4 four strokes All have been run on E10 gas with stabilizer. I’ve had to clean out a few carbs but since I installed fuel shut offs on the 4 strokes with bowl carbs & drain...
  13. Lou C

    Power Steering Actuator Part

    There is a Volvo online parts catalog that is part of this site I think. You plug in your engine model # and then look for individual sections.
  14. Lou C

    Ethanol free gas for Mercruiser

    If you're concerned or just curious, you can get an ethanol test kit to make sure the fuel you are using doesn't have more than 10%.
  15. Lou C

    Alternator Overcharging

    You need to get a Merc wiring schematic for your engine and find out where the S (sense, which reads system voltage) terminal on the alternator connects to the harness. If that connection is corroded or loose, the alt won't properly sense battery voltage and it will tend to overcharge. If it is...
  16. Lou C

    Power Steering Actuator Part

    ah you have my sympathy, my bolts didn't have locktite, in fact I coated them with OMC triple guard grease, just in case I have to do that hateful job again. can't say about the reversed fittings, have you looked at Volvo parts diagrams for your engine model #? might be one way to tell....
  17. Lou C

    Ethanol free gas for Mercruiser

    I use what we can get here in NY which is E10, but I use at least 89 octane and at gas docks they sell only 93. Have not had a lot of problems with it over the years in the boat but I do use stabilizer. The E10 is more of a problem in small engines and on those I drain the carb bowls at the end...
  18. Lou C

    Engine Flushing - When Boat is in the water

    I’ve had a boat on salt water mooring for close to 20 years and it’s never been flushed during the season. Flushing would help but it’s just not practical. I have replaced the exhaust every 5-7 seasons and I’m not sure that flushing would change that much. The other thing with raw water cooled...
  19. Lou C

    saltwater 5.0 weak points

    I would evaluate what you have depending on budget. I’ve had the experience of running a raw water cooled cast iron GM marine engine for 15+ years in salt & what you’ll see is the exhaust is the first place to suffer corrosion. Beyond that the intakes can rust through under the stat housing, and...
  20. Lou C

    Gear Oil In My Bilge

    Your drive could be sucking in water when it cools which will force gear lube out at the weakest part of the system, which may be the hose to the lube monitor bottle. Also you need to use a mirror or inspection camera to find out where the water leak is coming from, it could be from the elbow to...
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