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    Fuel pump problem

    Gee, one would think checking the fuses would proceed changing the starter.
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    Boat Radio/Stereo Help

    Some stereos will not work at all with the yellow wire disconnected. The fix is to connect the red and yellow wires to the switched battery power.
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    Fuel pump problem

    You mean Optimax, right? On those Optimax's, he pump only runs for a few seconds normally, so that is probably not your problem. Does the starter crank the motor? If not the neutral safety switch may be bad, or the control may not be in neutral. Hold the key in the crank position and wiggle...
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    Interior floor options?

    Carpet is not waterproof. Water will get under it or go thru it, depending on which kind you get. If you plan to have snap in carpet, and leave it in most of the time, get a porous backing so it will dry out between uses. Snap in carpet is pretty convenient. Marine vinyl is waterproof and...
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    Boat Radio/Stereo Help

    Db, there are auto bilge pumps that do not have float switches. They work quite well. Rain does sink boats. Ask any marina owner. So do you want a sunken boat with fully charged batteries, or a floating boat with discharged batteries? If a 1" or greater hole is punctured thru the hull...
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    1986 Mercury 115 tilt trim venting

    Run the trim all the way up and let her sit 10 min. Now refill and run her down and let her sit 10min. Repeat as necessary.
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    Boat Radio/Stereo Help

    DB, there is an exception to your statement. An automatic bilge pump, if you keep the boat in the water, should be directly connected to a battery, bypassing the off switch.
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    Bad voltage to starter

    If you use carb cleaner on a starter windings, there is a very good chance the solvents in the carb cleaner will dissolve the varnish on the winding wires, ruining the starter by causing may shorted windings.
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    Stringer contour question

    Workworking stores and the Home Despot carry profile gauges. They have many thin rods (think 8d finish nails), in a row, in a friction holder. You press the gauge into the area you are trying to profile and the steel rods slide to match the contour. Then trace onto the stringers.
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    Boat Radio/Stereo Help

    You can connect the red and yellow wires together and turn power off at the accessory switch to save the battery. The stereo will loose all radio station data, but a lot of stereos have an automatic radio station finding function.
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    Mercury 80hp 800 1970s LU oil type

    Any Marine gear oil for mechanical shift motors. It will be a 80W-90 or an 85W-90 oil. It should be available at wallyworld or most automotive stores. Buy 2 quarts and a pump, to make it easy to fill the gearcase, from the bottom hole. It will take 25 oz. When the oil oozes out the top...
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    Steering choice and control help

    You will need to buy side mount controls for Yamaha, as different OEMS have different style controllers. Universal controls (if for Yamaha) are acceptable. They should be available wildly. Try to get the OEM control number from a Yamaha catalog and search the internet on that.
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    1986 Mercury 115 tilt trim help needed

    An '86 115HP Merc looks to have a standard PTT unit, like the kind used for a long time afterward. Those have lower pins for the trim cylinder to swivel on. The pins have drilled passages for hydraulic fluid to go from outer trim cylinder to inner tilt cylinder. The casting can get worn and...
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    2011 Optimax 150 snapped driveshaft

    A new gearcase from SEI will have a new driveshaft. Does the end of the driveshaft look to be defectively cast/forged? Not sure how a Merc driveshaft can snap that way, if gears are in good shape. Johnson 90HP motors did tend to break driveshafts, for some reason.
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    Cooling hose for Black Max

    That hose looks to be for the telltale. The OEM price is outrageous. Simply grab a piece of cheap 24" fuel line of the correct diameter. It should be $6-8 or so at a wallyworld.
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    How old is your outboard?

    OEMs are generally required to produce parts for motors for 20 years. After that they make a business decision on how long to provide parts. Popular motors usually have aftermarket parts available, for a very long time, especially for the normal replacement items like fuel, ignition and...
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    Steering when steering left it goes right can anyone help

    Did you replace the steering cable? Is it rack and pinon steering or Rotary steering? In R&P steering the Rack (cable) needs to sit on top of the pinon, or she will steer backwards. On Rotary steering the steering cable can be put in the wrong hole of the steering head, causing backward steering.
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    Burnt wires

    Some of the OEM VRs on Mercs have a clear potting. You can look thru and see burn marks on the printed circuit boards. If you see burn marks, it is time for a new VR. They are avail from Sierra and others, and easy to install.
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    Help my old gal won't start

    Did you "Those motors ground the switchbox to kill the spark. Disconnect the black/yellow at the switchbox and see if speak returns. If so, suspect the wiring is grounded somewhere or the ign switch is bad."
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    Help my old gal won't start

    Those motors ground the switchbox to kill the spark. Disconnect the black/yellow at the switchbox and see if speak returns. If so, suspect the wiring is grounded somewhere or the ign switch is bad. If the motor had a kill lanyard, check that as well. I would expect it has a switch on the...
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