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  1. Lou C

    Twin Merc. 6.2 Mags with Bravo 3 - EMCT Temperature Overheat Fault - Port side Manifolds (Only)

    Interesting read on owning a modern stern drive or inboard. As far as removing cats what is the legal liability for this? The biggest problem we have is that people running the EPA are not elected and there are no cost benefit analyses being done to justify forcing the manufacturers to install...
  2. Lou C

    Boat swamped, let's see if we can get it running...

    All's well that ends well as they used to say! Mine didn't get swamped but the day that the small hose behind the engine popped off the P/S cooler, it filled the bilge with salt water and sprayed it all over the place. So I changed the starter, alternator and reterminated all the starter wiring...
  3. Lou C

    in reference to that closed thread on bellows replacement....

    https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-much-should-bellows-change-cost-central-ca.697082/ Price wise and what needs doing, it depends.... if you are replacing the bellows to avoid a failure, it hasn't leaked yet, why then replace the gimble bearing? Mine was last replaced in 2005, the bellows was...
  4. Lou C

    2016 Mercruiser 6.2 ECT - long beep every few minutes???

    That's very common here on Long Island where that boat came from. Constant humidity all winter long, everything is damp, attracts and holds dust and dirt, and that's how it gets that way. Any boat stored outside, even if covered will have this. It is a constant battle. I think I'm seeing a fair...
  5. Lou C

    New valve cover gaskets and still leaking V6 4.3

    Have you determined if it’s coming from the intake or valve cover gaskets. Believe it or not I’ve never had a leak from either on mine but the valve covers (tin not plastic) and intake gaskets are different on the older pre Vortec models. I’m wondering if the sealing surface of the plastic ones...
  6. Lou C

    2008 4.3 ltr. TKS diesels when turning off

    https://f01.justanswer.com/oldnewenglandmarine/3f890363-a520-451c-8769-5e7086a12959_Engine_Dieseling_or_Running_on.pdf Here it is
  7. Lou C

    2008 4.3 ltr. TKS diesels when turning off

    You might be able to find it, there was a Mercruiser TSB on this problem, can't recall what they advised to get it to stop, but I do know I never had this problem with my '88 OMC 4.3 with the Quadrajet carb in all the years I owned it. Might be unique to the carb Merc was using at the time. In...
  8. Lou C

    Low Compression in two cylinders and blowby

    HGs can blow in different ways, on mine I had a water leak into 2 cyls, not enough to hydrolock but enough to cause rough running due to water + corroded valve stems but the compression test results were close to normal. The important thing is to act on it quickly, get the water out and change...
  9. Lou C

    How to test tach for accuracy?

    Or just get a tach/dwell meter and check it against that. + from the meter goe to - on the coil and - on the meter to ground. Put the boat in the water and see what it reads. I found that my dash tach reads about 150 rpm too high using my tach/dwell.
  10. Lou C

    OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

    And hopefully your clutch dogs are not rounded off because then even if everything else is right, you may have to replace at least the FWD gear and clutch dog depending on condition. With these or any other dog clutch shifted gearbox you want to shift it fast, so no grinding and for it to go...
  11. Lou C

    Broke down out of town.

    this is why I have Boat US towing insurance including trailer break down coverage, well worth it, even though I'm fully capable of changing trailer axle myself, wouldn't want to do it with the boat on the trailer. Upgraded this one from a 3500lb axle to a 6000lb axle this past September. Got the...
  12. Lou C

    Low Compression in two cylinders and blowby

    Agreed if it’s just the heads & head gaskets it’s not a bad job & can be done with the engine in the boat in many cases. You’ll need a machine shop to evaluate the heads and re-do them if they’re salvageable or if not (cracks & corrosion) you can easily find reman heads just get the same casting...
  13. Lou C

    23-24 foot vs 26-28 foot pros and cons?

    Agreed the DP is nice for maneuvering and quicker time to plane but in a heavy boat you need torque and to me that means Chevrolet 454 power.
  14. Lou C

    Replacement long block

    If this boat is raw water cooled you want marine head gaskets even in fresh water. Do it once & right. Fel/Pro makes nice gaskets
  15. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 4.3Gl (1998 carbuerated) running hot (or is it?!?!)

    That looks like the joint venture engine used then so that’s probably not the issue you either have low raw water flow when in the water or a sticky thermostat or clogged exhaust elbows. There is a plastic fitting for the raw water intake hose in the transom mount that can crack & suck in air...
  16. Lou C

    OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

    With these not staying in gear can be a sticky/corroded transom shift cable and/or a crudded up bell crank in the pivot housing. Either way you’re pulling the drive & checking: Shift rod height Cable drag Cable adjustment
  17. Lou C

    MerCruiser 4.3L V6 milkshake oil from cracked intake manifold, how to remove milkshake oil?

    1) how did you winterize the boat? drain manually and poke all drain holes? or suck AF up the drive method? If #2 that could explain and might have more things cracked than just the intake 2) I have posted this before, that Volvo & OMC said that the drain in the front of the intake on the...
  18. Lou C

    Water in spark plugs

    I had to something similar with my leaky head gaskets, run till hot, drain all water change oil, repeat. My HGs would leak not when running but when the engine sat for a day. Just a little water. Also sprayed fogging oil like mad. Was able to save the long block & installed reman cyl heads. Old...
  19. Lou C

    23-24 foot vs 26-28 foot pros and cons?

    Bigger is usually better as far as safety but if these bigger boats are twin I/Os with poor access they are a nightmare to self maintain. I’d take a 26 with a single big block with a wide open engine bay. Twins; can you even get at the inner spark plugs or even worse the starter on the port side...
  20. Lou C

    Hard starts after sitting for a week or so

    Also as far as hard starting remember that the linkages must be clean and there is usually a vacuum operated or linkage operated choke pull off. This pulls the choke plate open just a fraction of an inch to give the carb enough air to keep running. The choke basically increases the effect of...
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