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  1. Lou C

    Mercruiser 5.7 MCM carb low idling

    The main thing with a carb overhaul is the cleaning all the jets, passages & air bleeds must be open. The float had to be adjusted to manufacturers specs and gaskets all replaced.
  2. Lou C

    5.0 OSi-JF overheating at speed

    these are only about 40 lbs but same idea, makes it a lot easier.
  3. Lou C

    PSA on Winterization Antifreeze

    https://www.westmarine.com/west-advisor/Selecting-Antifreeze.html
  4. Lou C

    PSA on Winterization Antifreeze

    Even West Marine says to use -100 for those temps! I guess the marinas are counting on the thought that the -60 gets firm but doesn’t expand. IMHO that might be ok for plastic pipe but not for a cast iron engine!
  5. Lou C

    PSA on Winterization Antifreeze

    I would love to have seen a study about whether filling cast iron engines with AF actually reduces corrosion or if it does nothing. We do spray oil pans, timing covers & leaf springs with Corrosion X or similar & that works. And Mercruiser has been recommending it for a long time in their...
  6. Lou C

    Maintenance on 20 year old VP 3.0 inboard.

    Sounds like you’ve gotten most of the critical points… The hoses don’t get stressed that much with open cooling. HT leads you can check with an ohmmeter. Get way down in the bilge & check the tin oil pan for rust; if any is starting treat with rust converter & then paint over if you can, if not...
  7. Lou C

    5.0 OSi-JF overheating at speed

    Part # 9 plastic nipple if cracked or the hose isn’t on tight that could contribute to the problem. Hose collapse? Not sure about that one. How about the water tube grommets inside the drive and/or the p/s cooler?
  8. Lou C

    OMC 4.3 Water Temp Gauge went to zero after reaching 220..

    It’s similar except OMC said to heat oil instead of water for the water temp test I guess because it won’t boil so you can get higher readings. Don’t do this on a gas stove! When you get no reading on a water temp gauge & the sending unit & gauge are good that could mean there is no water in...
  9. Lou C

    Mechanical to electric fuel pump

    The barb on the tank where the fuel line connects is where the anti siphon is usually located.
  10. Lou C

    Mercruiser 5.7 MCM carb low idling

    The stalling/surging issue and the higher than typical temps are likely to be 2 separate issues. 1) the boat is 16 years old. The age affects everything that affects reliability, the ignition system, the fuel system and the exhaust system. Even in freshwater, you can have clogged exhaust elbows...
  11. Lou C

    Mechanical to electric fuel pump

    Plus the safety cut off switch and wiring you need to have can cause trouble in a corrosion prone marine environment. Mechanical pumps have 2 less points of failure no wiring connections & no switch. Everyone thinks EFI is the ultimate but I disagree it has many more potential failure points &...
  12. Lou C

    Mechanical to electric fuel pump

    Agreed I would not replace a mechanical fuel pump with an electric for that reason; it may not solve your problem assuming the mechanical pump itself is good. The last mechanical pump I replaced was 30 years old! In fact if I can get a good reman 4.3 when the time comes I plan to stick with a...
  13. Lou C

    My AGM Batteries Singing Their Swan Song . . .

    Coincidentally that's about how long I've averaged with my Deka group 27 dual purpose flooded batteries, they consistently last about 7 years before they won't hold a charge. Minimal electronics on this boat though. Ive thought of going AGM but cost wise these are a good deal, I think the last...
  14. Lou C

    are your filters in the carb and vst clogged with a powder type substance?

    Thanks for the info, and as a general question, is it worth it to use the Racor filters (metal bowl for inboards) on the standard OMC or Merc filter heads, vs the ordinary filters? I've used the ordinary filters either Sierra and BRP, and never really has a problem even running E10 gas for the...
  15. Lou C

    OMC 4.3 Water Temp Gauge went to zero after reaching 220..

    OMC's standard thermostat is 160* in the 21 years I've owned this boat I have found that normal operating temperature is 160-175 and the 175 is only after coming off plane, the temp soon drops back to 160 220* you for sure melted the flappers, depending on how long you ran it at that temp and...
  16. Lou C

    2 stroke oil discussion

    This is in response to the closed thread about 2 stroke oils; just what I learned doing a bit of research& talking to a Toro (2 stroke snow blower) factory rep. I have 3 Echo machines & 1 Husqvarna they all get 2 stroke for air cooled engines (Echo Power Blend) the one exception is the Toro 2...
  17. Lou C

    Chap Quality Control is gone

    That’s why early US made radial tires were problematic & just about put Firestone out of business. They were not willing to invest in the tech needed to make consistently good steel radials. In the 70s the only radials I’d buy were Michelin Continental or Pirelli. It is STILL a problem with...
  18. Lou C

    99 Monterey 276 Transom Replacement

    First decide if you’re goin go to keep this boat a long time or not. Then evaluate rhe condition of the rest of the boat & the running gear before going forward with a project like that.
  19. Lou C

    OMC to Merc swap in 1996 Sundowner 195

    I pull the drive in the fall & it stays in my locked garage. Not that anyone is looking to steal a 1988 OMC Cobra lol.
  20. Lou C

    P.S.A. . . . SAE J2807 Towing capacity spec's

    Then there’s the differences in tow ratings of similar vehicles sold in the US, Europe and Australia. They seem to be rated the lowest here. For example Jeep Wranglers are rated here at 3500 lbs but 5500 lbs in Australia. I don’t see how my old 98 4.0 Grand Cherokee was rated at 5,000 lbs yet a...
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