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    Alpha 1 gen 2 mercruiser: what should I use to lube steering cable?

    The steering cables on Alphas can bind in the steering tube, at the engine. That can be greased. The balance of the steering cable is sealed. Quicksilver makes a "Special lube 101" for steering cables. It is the best, but as long as you grease it once a year, any marine grease is fine.
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    Control box help

    Controls should identify what engines they will fit. if it don't say Alpha, find one that does. You shouldn't have an issue finding one as those type were used with Alphas for decades.
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    40 year old transom… recommendations on wood/epoxy/etc.

    Exterior (AC or BC are smooth and work well) Plywood laminated with poly resin and a piece of cloth, between plys. Coat the exterior with poly resin as well, especially the end grain.
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    Good substitute for carpet?

    Marine vinyl works pretty good. It has some texture so it is non slip. Pick a cool color....
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    Patching holes

    Fill them with marine putty, either polyester or epoxy. If you want a good job, get some colorant and tint it. Overfill the holes slightly and carefully sand it smooth.
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    Still, still stuck with no spark

    Coil grounds are clean and tight? If you have stator voltage into switchbox, and no spark out, either switchbox is bad or trigger or wiring are bad.
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    Still, still stuck with no spark

    Are you getting stator voltage at the switchbox when cranking? You might disconnect the spark killer wires (black/yellow) at the switchbox, to remove the ign key from the test. You obviously need a spike of voltage at the coils, when cranking, however, a standard multimeter is usually too slow...
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    2005 optimax beep while cranking

    Gee, an owner's manual or service manual should help you decipher the beep, as it is meant for you to know what the motor wants. Optimax's usually have water monitors in their water separators. These beep when they detect water. There are other kinds of warnings (beep patterns) as well. If...
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    2000 70hp Johnson semi start/ won’t stay running

    A lot of OMC products of that era had plastic carb bowls. Those often warp, don't seal well and cause issues. When she dies and won't start, does she have spark? Does your overheat alarm work? Does it sound?
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    1994 OMC Sunbird Cuddy 190

    When the deck of the boat is bad, the stringers and frames are suspect. You might check them, after the old deck is ripped out.
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    Possibly getting a slip - what to know before saying yes

    If saltwater, you will need antifouling paint, or she will be full of barnacles in 2 weeks or so. You may also need a barrier paint to seal the gelcoat as well. Try to estimate how much wave or wind she will take during a storm, as well as how much the water will change with normal tides...
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    Boat Cover

    1st Choice: Places like Overtons sells custom, mass produced covers for the more popular hulls. I would look there, as well as other places for similar items. 2nd Choice: universal covers fit OK, but are much cheaper than handmade ones.
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    '87 mercury outboard 115hp 6cyl

    Nah, you want SNAFU. Situation Normal, All FU. Or TU. That one is bit harder to explain, with clean language.
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    98 Johnson leaking hydraulic fluid.

    The PTT motor is either on or off. If she spins, the relays are fine. To clarify, the motor will raise up a bit on the tilt rams, but the center tilt ram won't move? is that your issue? Could be a bad trim piston seal.
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    98 Johnson leaking hydraulic fluid.

    The oring set should have nearly everything you need to rebuild the entire pump. The kit shows 22 orings, the filter and a clip, plus some other stuff..
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    1984 Mercury Blackmax 150hp questions

    You should see if the cylinder head is getting warm enough (143*F) to cause thermostats to open. If it makes your hand uncomfortable, it should be warm enough. Maybe poppit valve is sticking open? That could starve heads of water at low speed.
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    1984 Mercury Blackmax 150hp questions

    Some of those Merc V6 motors will not have a telltale, until the thermostats open. On a flusher, that may never happen. Does water get discharged thru the prop and water grates above the antiventilation plate? If so, she is pumping.
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    Altrenator bolts

    Bolts have grade markings on the heads. They look like tick marks molded into the heads. You will want to match those grades in your new bolts. Grade 8 bolts are far stronger than grade 2, and more expensive. Probably for your alternator, grade 5 is sufficient.
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    Where do I add tilt and trim fluid on a mercury 1982

    You add hydraulic fluid to the pump/reservoir in the boat. There is a round head stainless slotted screw near the top of the pump/reservoir, facing up. Check out the color of the fluid in it, as it could be 5W-30 motor oil (brown) or ATF (red). The pump/reservoir is self bleeding. The...
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    where does this plug in?

    The oil tank would have tan/black and black(ground) going to the level sensor. I suppose that plug could be for a 3 wire VRO alarm set. It would need the purple wire to make it work, along with the alarm logic. See if the tan wire goes to the cylinder head overheat sender. My '98 has Amphenol...
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