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  1. 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...
  2. 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…
  3. 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...
  4. 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...
  5. 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?
  6. Lou C

    1999 Searay 185 Knocking

  7. 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...
  8. 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...
  9. 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...
  10. 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...
  11. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Raybo Marine on Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst NY. Had it painted about 12 years ago. Still looks great
  12. 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...
  13. 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….
  14. Lou C

    Does anyone remember when car & boat engines only had.

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

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Same thing I have a roller as well. Can’t recall where I got that idea, might have thought of it myself or saw it on some forum. My local ramp is convenient but with the dock not being close to it, when launching alone you have to get creative…
  16. Lou C

    Time for my first bellow change, tips?

    Agreed, I will use only OEM for parts like that, it's not that much fun to have to re-do it because of a premature failure. My OEM Cobra bellows last at least 10 years if not longer before I see small cracks in the folds, then I change them because that's a sign the rubber is getting stiff.
  17. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Ah yes that works if you have a dock next to the ramp. Ours are separated so you have to drive the boat off the trailer then dock it.
  18. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    How have you launched & recovered boats then?
  19. Lou C

    MerCruiser update

    I look at it this way; in salt water we try to keep salt off of things by using coatings like Corrosion X, on trailer parts like fasteners and leaf springs. With regular applications this is fairly effective at reducing corrosion. To me filling the engine block with antifreeze with corrosion...
  20. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    That will work. I had the same issue so what I’ve done with my bow rider is loop a dock line from one cleat loop it around the winch stand and then tie off the other end at the other bow cleat. This will hold the boat from rolling off the trailer while you take tension off the bow strap. Then...
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