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  1. MikeDobbs

    How can I tell if my Mercruiser 3.0lx is running hot?

    Hey everyone- Trying to get my merc 3.0lx ready for the water- boat is new to me and I purchased without motor running, so I have no history of how things used to work. Started a couple times today and both times the temp gauge just kept slowly climbing while engine ran. I shut it off around...
  2. MikeDobbs

    Engine running for first time - do this look/sound right?

    Hey everyone- So this is my first power boat, and was purchased with the engine not running. Today is the first time I've had the outdrive back on since doing the bellows, shift cable, adding an inline fuel filter and new thermostat. I'd just like to know if this all looks/sounds right? Thanks!
  3. MikeDobbs

    alpha gen 2 not locking into gear

    Hey Everyone- So, I just finished a bellows rebuild and water pump service on my alpha gen 2. When reassembling the drive I was very careful to keep the little shift lever thing in the forward position (as well as the throttle and shift cable from the boat side). I held the prop to lock the...
  4. MikeDobbs

    Help with alpha gen 2 gaskets

    Hey everyone- I'm working on reinstalling my leg after a bellows job and I can't quite figure out all the gaskets. Seems like there are o-rings that don't apply, and some possibly missing? There are 3 o-rings on the drive shaft- are these supposed to be in this kit? The new ones don't look...
  5. MikeDobbs

    Alpha gen 2 shift cable installation

    Hey everyone- So I just finished up a full bellows job and everything went pretty well except one thing. There's this little plastic bushing that came with the shift kit that snaps into the hole in the transom where the cable passes through. The original was pressed in from the boat side of...
  6. MikeDobbs

    Mercruiser Junior Tech Merit Badge!

    Hey everyone- so I just got my first power boat last week and I just completed my baptism by fire (my first full bellows job). I replaced the exhaust, UJ and shift bellows, as well as the shift cable and trim limit/sender switches. Overall, the job really wasn't that bad. For my money, I'd...
  7. MikeDobbs

    Should I replace gimbal bearing? Do I need an alignment tool?

    Hi everyone- So I'm getting ready to do a full bellows job on my alpha gen2 drive. I pulled everything out today, and cleaned up the gimbal housing and mating surfaces. I'm unsure about how to handle the gimbal bearing. I was thinking of replacing it since I've got everything off already...
  8. MikeDobbs

    I don't think any gas is getting to my carb

    Hi everyone- if you've been following my saga I believe I have got the electrical sorted out, and I've moved on to starting the engine. Bolted on the newly rebuilt carb today, and she turns over, and started to catch with a little starter fluid, but never fired all the way up. (Mercruiser...
  9. MikeDobbs

    No power at harness for hot line feeding engine

    Hi Everyone, So I'm a first time boat owner working my way through an electrical glitch. The boat is an 18ft bowrider with a Mercruiser 3.0lx engine. There are 10 wires that run from the dash to the engine compartment, via one large connector near the engine (this is all pictured in the...
  10. MikeDobbs

    Should I replace the shift cable when doing bellows on my Alpha One gen II?

    Hi everyone, I'm getting ready to replace all the transom stuff on my Alpha One gen II outdrive. All 3 bellows, water hose, and bearing (if needed). Should I be replacing the shift cable while I'm in there? It's a 1998 boat, new to me, so I can't say when if ever the cable was replaced prior...
  11. MikeDobbs

    Should I paint my outdrive?

    OK, so I'm deep into doing all the required maintenance items on my new boat (new to me that is, sat in a driveway for a year or two before that). I puled the outdrive and separated the upper and lower units to inspect the water pump impeller (which I am now changing). And seeing all this stuff...
  12. MikeDobbs

    How badly have I messed up my carb?

    Mercruiser 3.0lx - Engine serial #: 0K277779 OK, so my engine doesn't run, and I'm working through diagnosing the problem. It's been sitting for two years with previous owner, and the carb was leaking gas from float bowl side when trying to start engine so I figured a rebuild would be in...
  13. MikeDobbs

    No spark and no power at ignition coil?

    Hi everyone. Troubleshooting a Mercruiser 3.0lx that won't start. Put an inline spark tester on this morning and saw no flash at the plug, or the main line from the coil to the distributor. So, I pulled the first connector from the ignition coil and tested the power (purple line) with the key...
  14. MikeDobbs

    Mercruiser 3..0lx Carb Question

    Hi everyone- I've just purchased my first power boat, powered by the Mercruiser 3.0lx motor. The motor turns over, but does not fire up currently. I am working on diagnosing the issue and have a question about the operation of the throttle. When the engine is off (before it is started) should...
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