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    1976 Merc 20hp power loss, high fuel consumption, one plug clean one black

    Check the fuel pump diaphram for a leak. A leak there can foul the lower spark plug. Are there droplets on the lower spark plug? Dropets signify water getting into the cylinder, likely via a bad crankshaft seal.
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    steering cable stuck

    You can buy a mount made to hold the steering cable, at the steering OEM's web site. They were used for motors that do not have a tilt tube, like the 60's Johnnyrudes. The mount will bolt to the splashwell and support the steering cable and steering rod. it will also be rust resistant.
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    Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha One problem - loses power

    You might check the antisiphon valve in the fuel pickup tube and the fuel tank vent. Om my SeaRay, the fuel pickup tube had a filter (not just a screen), which became partially clogged. It limited the RPM of the engine, until I cleaned it.
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    Water

    Not normal. Remove cowling and run engine to see where it is coming from. Possible it is malfunctioning poppit valve. Could also be something simple like telltale hose fell off.
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    1979 Mercury 70 EL Thunderbolt Kill Switch Install

    Yes you need a switch that closes when tripped. That looks to be the correct switch, however, I would hope they would explicitly tell you it's function.
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    Can you spray paint a prop?

    This thread has piqued my interest in painting the speedboat prop an interesting color. So far it is has been black. Grey and white are not what I am looking for. Gold, Chartreuse maybe.
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    Can you spray paint a prop?

    Gee, My paranoid thoughts are that prop companies intentionally do a bad job painting props, so the paint falls off if you use them. That way they can skirt issues with prop performance. My paint always stays on, unless you hit bottom.
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    Painted Metal Flake Boot Stripe Repair

    I had thought most metalflake was paint. It was base coat, flakes and topcoat. Of course, my knowledge is 40 years old.
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    1990 Mercury Black Max 175 2 stroke carb - trim pump is dead - need advice before proceeding

    The trim pump motor can be removed from the engine, after removing the PTT bolts and starboard side transom bracket. Usually it takes an Allen wrench to loosen the screws holding the PTT motor. The outboard motor can be trimmed down for this. Alternatively, you can remove the six bolts that...
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    1979 Mercury 70 EL Thunderbolt Kill Switch Install

    It does not need to be very thick. 16 or 18ga probably works fine.
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    Can you spray paint a prop?

    Gee, sand the prop, spray it with a self etching primer and then rattlecan enamel, of your favorite color. It will stay on the prop until you hit something.
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    Carburetor clean versus carburetor rebuild

    Gee, that thread is ugly. The Mercury floats of the 70's and likely earlier were dissolved by the alcohol in today's gasoline. They must be replaced. Mercury carb parts were made to be replaced, on a regular basis. If you want to pull down the carbs on a large OB and clean them and install...
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    Carburetor clean versus carburetor rebuild

    Good for you, however, did you ever consider how much fuel costs, if it is leaking from the carb, because of a faulty inlet needle or float? A drip a minute will waste gallons over the course of a day. Carb gaskets for an inline 6 Merc carb are $4US/carb. Gaskets, inlet needles, seats and...
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    Carburetor clean versus carburetor rebuild

    Most marine carbs need to be periodically torn down cleaned, and rebuilt. The rebuilding parts are gaskets, which are real cheap and floats and inlet needles and seats which are pretty cheap. You need to make the aluminum passages and brass parts are nice and clean, when you do it...
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    1979 Mercury 70 EL Thunderbolt Kill Switch Install

    First you need to see if it is ADI ignition or battery powered CDI. I expect it will be ADI, but you need to look. If you have 3 or 4 coils, it is ADI. A single coil and distributor is battery powered CDI. The rest of these instructions are for ADI ignitions. I can advise on battery powered...
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    Bilge pump/ blower needed

    Gee, I never heard of one of those. Can you post a picture?
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    Mariner 40ELO 6E9-451908 blows fuse after starting

    Gee, disconnect the stator wires from the rectifier and then disconnect the red wire from the rectifier. If the fuse still blows, that is not the issue (obviously). Now check the accessory wire (usually purple), and trace it to each gauge and anything else it connects to, looking for melted...
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    Mariner 40ELO 6E9-451908 blows fuse after starting

    Look for a short on one of the ign accessories, connected to the ign keyswitch. When you turn the key to start, the ign accessories wire has no voltage on it. When you release the ign key to the run position, power is put on the ign accessory wire. If it has a short, it will blow the fuse...
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    ENGINE SURGING

    Pump the primer bulb and see if the surging stops. If so, rebuild the fuel pump, clean the fuel filters, make sure the tank vent is clear.
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    Spark plug

    That is just some corrosion on the spark plug shell. You can spray the plug shell and the engine block with some corrosion guard to slow it down. Changing spark plugs once every few years is really all you need to do.
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