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  1. greg82255

    Are neutral safety switches universal?

    Hello, I am looking to purchase a set of Kiekhafer Controls on Ebay - here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130502482843&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT I emailed the seller and he said it does not come with a neutral safety switch. Are...
  2. greg82255

    Easiest way to drain oil on a 350?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula 206 Spyder with a Mercruiser 260/Alpha One, same year. After starting another thread I was told I need to drain the oil from my motor, and I am remembering what a pain it was last time because the drain bolt is on the bottom of the oil pan. Is there an easy way to...
  3. greg82255

    Water inside Exhaust Manifolds?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I was planning to replace the risers this year. After I drained the antifreeze out of the manifold, I pulled the port side riser off and found a liquid inside the manifold. It was on the inside where the exhaust gases come out. I'm not sure if it was...
  4. greg82255

    Dual Batteries... Do you need to use the same batteries?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Formula 206 with a Merc 260/Alpha One. It's currently setup with dual batteries, both of which need replacing. I was wondering is it necessary to use the same batteries or can they be different? I already have one new deep cycle marine battery but I can get a huge discount...
  5. greg82255

    Mercruiser Riser Gasket

    Hello, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 260 /Alpha One. I'm replacing the exhaust manifolds and risers and have heard that people often have problems with the manifold to riser gasket not sealing properly. I don't want to end up with water in the cylinders, so I'm wondering, is there any type of...
  6. greg82255

    Alpha One Leaking Gear Oil?

    Hello, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 260/Alpha One. I have been away at school for the last month or so, came back for the weekend and went outside to look at the boat. There's a little bit of snow around the drive, but I took a closer look and saw a lot of green-colored snow right beneath the oil...
  7. greg82255

    Merc Alpha 1 Water Pump Kit

    Hello, So I just bought this water pump repair kit for a 1986 Merc Alpha One, and I thought the seals were going to come installed. It's the Sierra equivalent of GLM Kit 12120. Does anyone have a diagram of this kit? I want to make sure I install all of the seals in the correct places. Thanks...
  8. greg82255

    3 inch vs 4 inch exhaust elbows

    1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I need to replace the manifolds and risers, and it currently has 3 inch risers on it. When running a Mercruiser center rise exhaust is there any noticeable difference in power or fuel economy when using 4 inch risers vs 3 inch risers? I've heard that there's a...
  9. greg82255

    Alpha One Water Pump

    After watching several instructional videos and reading some manuals on how to do the water pump on an Alpha One, It doesn't seem too hard, but I have one question. Once you reassemble the upper gearcase and lower unit, how does the mate between the two units seal? I've never seen anything about...
  10. greg82255

    Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

    Hello, Just bought a new boat at the end of the season. 1986 Formula 206 Spider with a Merc 260/Alpha One. The previous owner claims to have had the boat dealer serviced for its entire life, and that maintenance was done as needed, but who knows. I want to check out the gimbal bearing and...
  11. greg82255

    Water Pump Rebuild Kit

    Hello, I need to rebuild the water pump on my 1986 alpha one drive. Never done it before so I don't know which kit to buy. I don't know when it was last done so I figure that I'll replace the impeller and the housing just to be safe. It appears that there are a few different kits with...
  12. greg82255

    Water Pump Questions

    This may be a dumb question, but when people say that a water pump should be replaced/rebuilt every 2 years, is it the impeller in the outdrive, the circulating pump on the motor, or both? I just bought a 1986 Formula with a 350/Alpha One, and the guy I bought it from said it needs a new...
  13. greg82255

    What Prop is Right for My Boat?

    Hello, Just bought a new boat, a 1986 Formula 206 LS Spyder (open bow). It has the original 350 merc/alpha one package. The guy I bought it from was running what he says was the original propeller (a 14.25x21" cleaver) and the boat did about 47 (I did a water test), but I forgot to look at the...
  14. greg82255

    Eagle Trailer Bunks

    Hello, I just bought a new boat that came with an Eagle trailer, about 23' long. The boat sitting on it is a 21' Formula and weighs 3250 lbs. I took a close look at it today and it looks like a few of the bunks have rotted and are not really supporting the boat. Is this going to damage the boat...
  15. greg82255

    Y-Pipe Covers

    Hello, Just discovered which Y-pipe I have via another post. I want to add thru-hull exhaust to my boat and would rather not pull the motor to remove the Y-pipe. Are there some kind of caps that can be secured to the two top ends of the Y-pipe so water does not get into the bilge? They would...
  16. greg82255

    Merc 350 Y-Pipe

    Hello, I just bought a new boat with a 1986 Merc 350. I am thinking about doing some modifications to the exhaust and noticed that the Y-pipe isn't exactly what I expected. I have heard that from 1983-2002 the same Y-pipe was used in the merc small blocks, with oval-shaped ends. The ends on...
  17. greg82255

    Thru Hull/Diverters, Formula 206

    Hello, Just bought a 1986 Formula 206 Spider, Merc 350/Alpha One. Finally picked it up this weekend and started thinking about adding a thru hull exhaust. I read in the Formula manual that it was offered as an option for this boat, and I saw that it has two square spaces in the transom where...
  18. greg82255

    Shifter/Throttle Control Replacement

    Hello, Just bought a new boat, 1986 Formula 206 Spider with Merc 350/Alpha one. I like the boat a lot but i really don't like the stock Quicksilver shifter/throttle. I am wondering how hard it would be to switch this unit out for Gaffrig or Livorsi controls like the one in this link...
  19. greg82255

    Merc 350

    Hello, Just bought a new boat. 1986 Formula 206 Spider, original Merc 350/alpha one package. Does about 48-50 right now. Besides switching away from the old cleaver prop, I was thinking about doing some quick/easy engine upgrades to give it a little more power. Any suggestions? I was thinking...
  20. greg82255

    24' Baja w/ 350

    Hello, I am looking to purchase a 24' Baja Bowrider. The boat I am looking at is advertised as having a Merc 350/Alpha one, and the guy says it goes 55 mph.. I asked him what kind of prop he is running and the RPMs, and he said he does not know but he consistently gets it up to 55. Does this...
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