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    4000ft Above Sea Level Carb Settings 4.3 Merc

    The mercruiser factory manual for your engine has a jetting chart for your carb/altitude. This is of course a starting point and does require teardown and installation of different jets but ime the charts are pretty spot on for naturally aspirated carbureted engines
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    2004 4.3L Merc Alpha Starts But Stalls Out

    If it's fuel related you should first inspect/replace the fuel filter(s). Then a fuel pump pressure and vacuum test is in order along with a carburetor operation inspection/verification. As stated the tachometer issue can be very much related to an ignition system issue. Disconnecting the tach...
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    How to keep exhaust bellows from coming off

    This is a new install? If so, clean both flanges on the gimbal and bell housings. Remove any bellows adhesive from the bellows. Install bellows dry, (no adhesive/lube). Only way I've found to keep the exhaust bellows from slipping off, ymmv If bellows are used, install new with instructions...
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    VP 5.7 Gi-J three or 4 sparks only

    Kinda curious you mention some pretty technical data and advanced troubleshooting steps with diagnostic equipment but make no mention of replacing the cap/rotor, plugs, wires, etc... I think first you need to ensure you have a solid ground connection for all harness/battery connections. Once I...
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    Volvo penta 5.0l wont run with water

    This is the general (wise) concensus, yes This, again leads one to think fuel supply is a focus point concerning your issue. You can put anything you like in your fuel tank and our opinion, other than adding fresh, good fuel is moot. The above recommendations concerning fuel supply/filters is...
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    Changed plugs now no start

    9.5 volts is more than a bit low, it's a lot low. Charge the battery overnight then load test it the next day Running while cranking then dying is an indication of possibly operator presence/lanyard switch off. Most carbureted Volvos of your vintage have an ignition bypass wire to aid the...
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    Thunderbolt IV issue?

    We have, hence the info/direction. There is not one magic source for the solution to why your boat runs the way it does. We are here to give you insight/direction to solve the problem yourself based on info you provide. You can inform us with as much or little info as you like but you won't get...
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    Volvo Penta AQ DP 290 outdrive. Loosing "Forward" gear

    I don't know a whole lot about the aq style drives, only been in one deep and that was many years ago and don't recall exactly the spacer you are referring to. In any case what I do know about these drives is as long as they are set up correctly and you can keep gear lube in them they are...
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    How long should a new engine be run before the first oil change?

    Standard practice is 10-25 hours with break in oil for a naturally aspirated standard build sbc. Different motors and build specs could mean shorter times. If in doubt, change it earlier/more often
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    Thunderbolt IV issue?

    Have done any recent tune up work? Plugs, wires, cap/rotor, check contents of/change fuel filters, etc...? It possible but not likely the ignition module is faulty. First guess would be an issue with the igniton sensor in the distributor. Been a lot of discussion about those lately here. Would...
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    Bravo 3 stuck in reverse

    Would hope the shop that recently replaced the shift cable would have adjusted it. Bravo lower shift cables are fairly easy to set up properly with the right tools, much easier than an alpha
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    Stalls on acceleration under load

    What about cap/rotor? Check/set timing, idle and idle air mixture? Fuel filter(s) inspected for contents and changed?
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    Bravo 3 stuck in reverse

    Removing just the top cover, and even the rear won't give you a full picture of the entire shifting system. Drive needs to come off first in order to properly troubleshoot the issue. If the shop recently did a shift cable and you are now experiencing shifting issues you should demand expedited...
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    Pic of Milkshake spew all over my engine. Help please

    Only thing that comes to mind is how the cooling system is plumbed, i.e. different sea water pumps, hose routing, etc... I will say 4.3L alpha merc gen 2s drain a lot of water out the drive after running. More so than other engines/brands to the point you can hear the gurgling/siphon of cooling...
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    Mercruiser Manual has a error in torque V6 Vortec

    Would think this was caught by mercury and new pages to be glued over the top of incorrect info had been sent to dealers with suspect manuals. Appears the one dodge has was updated with correction(s)
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    Pic of Milkshake spew all over my engine. Help please

    FWIW I've never seen a mercruiser 4.3L intake manifold crack from freeze damage. Drain plug overlooked or not. I have seen more than one Volvo suffer from this. I ran an experiment once and long story short is mercs will drain enough water through the block drains without removing the plug and...
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    Bravo 3 stuck in reverse

    Possible the lower shift cable is broken and won't shift the drive out of reverse. Possible the shift linkage arm between the cable and shift shaft is broken/failed. Possible the cone clutch is stuck in the reverse gear cup.....lots of possibilities. Time to pull the drive and inspect. How...
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    Slow trim down plus sticks at halfway

    True, but they do fail time to time. I'd take the motor off, remove the end cap and clean the brushes/commutator. Might get a little more life out of it
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    5.0 Mercruiser Problems

    Those wires are most likely for a mercathode controller. They would connect on studs along with a fused constant 12 volt lead and the capped orange and brown wires would connect to a harness for the unit mounted under the gimbal housing. Apparently your engine does not have a mercathode system...
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    Merc 3.0 spits sputters dies when going into neutral

    If you're achieving full forward and reverse and are sure the adjustment is correct you can start to look at first the shift interrupt switch and associated parts. Mainly the switch itself, the v notch and v spring assy. Verify it is engaging only when shifting from gear (either) into neutral...
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