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  1. superbenk

    Outdrive gear oil - difference between "marine" & other?

    As the title says, is there a difference between 80w-90 gear oil that says it's for "marine use" vs. the 80w-90 gear oil I can buy at my local auto parts store that doesn't say anything about "marine" on it? This is for the gear oil that I'll be putting in my Stringer 400 outdrive &...
  2. superbenk

    First time engine rebuild

    I'm not sure I'll have to do it, but my engine is starting to burn oil and I'm pondering the thought of possibly having to do a rebuild if the rings are shot or something (yes, I know I need to do a compression & leak-down check before I jump into a rebuild). Just curious how hard it is to...
  3. superbenk

    Grayish smoke & rough idle after sitting

    After the boat has sat long enough to cool, it exhausts grayish smoke & idles rough for a bit then runs great. In the driveway I see some sheen on the surface of the water pooled on the ground & I'm seeing black stains around the exhaust relief ports. Obviously it's burning some oil on...
  4. superbenk

    Learned how to float a trailer!

    Today I learned how to float a trailer! All you have to do is forget to remove the transom straps. As an added bonus, if you do it in front of a bunch of people having a party you can enjoy them laughing at you & taking pictures while you try to figure out why you can't float the boat easily...
  5. superbenk

    Salvage moldy cover?

    My custom cover is really moldy! I hate to throw it out because it is a custom cover. It's old & getting a little ratty in spots, but it still looks higher quality than some of the generic covers I've seen. I already scrubbed & power-washed it with bleach water, but all the mold just came...
  6. superbenk

    Carb parts from auto store?

    The choke thermostat plate on my Rochester 2GC on my OMC 140 (Stringer 400) broke at the screwdriver slot. BRP parts lists the part for $75 but I've seen a part similar to it in automotive stores for the Rochester 2G & 2GC carb for about $5. Will the auto parts store version work & fit just as...
  7. superbenk

    OMC/Century tach calibration marks

    I put an electronic points conversion kit on my boat today! VERY happy with the difference already even just in the driveway! Anyhow, I took the opportunity to fiddle with my tach as well. I confirmed on my last outing with my shop tach that the dash tach is reading a bit high as the RPMs...
  8. superbenk

    Rebuild Stringer SelecTrim motor mount?

    I think the rubber inside my SelecTrim front motor mount on my OMC 400 is shot, but it's an obsolete part now. Has anyone ever rebuilt one of these mounts and come up with a solution to replace the rubber? Are there any alternative solutions or companies that will make custom replacement...
  9. superbenk

    Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

    My points crapped out this morning and nearly ruined a planned boating day. I was able to nurse them back to help with some sand-paper, but I'm seriously considering the Pentronix electronic conversion kit so these things aren't anything I ever have to worry about again. I'm wondering what...
  10. superbenk

    OMC 400 increase pitch?

    I have an 18' 1980 Century with an OMC 140/400 Stringer. At WOT with my wife & 2 young kids (6 & 9) in the boat I run about 5000-5100 RPM according to the dash tach. GPS reads about 32-33 mph. According to my Solec manual the engine should only do 4500-4600 RPM at WOT. My current prop is a...
  11. superbenk

    Pre-ignition & slight ping at WOT on vacation

    Im on vacation with the boat & I'm getting very slight pinging and some hesitation at high RPM (over 3k). Pulled the plugs and they are stark white & clean which makes me think I'm getting pre-ignition. I didn't bring my timing light or many of my tools. What can I do to salvage the boat for...
  12. superbenk

    Fun boat concept

    "At the front of each foil is a special propeller system that pulls the craft forward. The propellers are powered by a modified gas turbine?a jet engine?housed in each foil; the air intake and exhaust ports for the engines are in the struts. As the ship moves through the water, the motion of the...
  13. superbenk

    Engine running too cool?

    Had the boat in the driveway on muffs idling & the temp went up to about 150? where it stayed. Then took it to the river & ran it. Idling at the dock waiting for the family & 5-ish miles down the river it stayed at 150?, but when we slowed to a no-wake speed entering a creek the temp...
  14. superbenk

    Cool new gadget! (I want one)

    http://buydeeper.com/index.php?route=common/home Turn your smartphone/tablet into a color fish finder. Co-worker pointed it out to me. I already have a fish-finder, but if I didn't I'd be very interested in this.
  15. superbenk

    Best short-term slip option north of Philly?

    Thinking about getting a slip for my 18' boat for a month or so this summer (July/August) on the Delaware north of Philly. What are my options? I know of only Neshaminy marina (waiting list I think) & D&S Boats in Bristol. Are there others? I live up in Bucks county, so I don't want to go...
  16. superbenk

    Cost of custom cover for old boat?

    As you can see in my sig, I have a 1980 Century 190 closed bow. I'm wondering what I should expect to pay for custom covers to be made for it. I'm thinking of both a mooring cover (snaps are already on the boat, but no cover came with it) and a storage cover. I have a canvas storage cover...
  17. superbenk

    Leaky carb gasket?

    I think I have a gasket leak where the bowl part of the carb meets the base that has the main butterfly plates. It's the gasket on the top right that joins both sections of the carb shown here: My question is, what kind of problems would a small leak present here? It seems to be a leak...
  18. superbenk

    At what point do you replace winch strap?

    Looking at my winch strap & wondering if I should replace it? I have a new strap in a drawer, but I'd rather not replace a perfectly good one:
  19. superbenk

    Square vs. rectangle axle

    I want to replace the axle & springs on my trailer. Currently I have a 2x3" 3500# axle mounted under 30" slipper springs. I was looking on Champion trailer parts & they have both 2x2" & 2x3" 3500# axles. I'm wondering what the difference is? Since I'm replacing the whole setup, I have the...
  20. superbenk

    Lipstick on a pig (manifold question)

    Just painted up my manifold & parts so it's ready to go back together. Kind of reminded me of putting lipstick on a pig :) Anyhow, I'm wondering if I should use RTV on any/all of the gasket surfaces or just put it together dry? It's just a Sierra gasket kit for an OMC 140 manifold.
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