Recent content by Strecker25

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    5.7 TBI random stall

    waving my white flag on this one, help please! 1998 5.7L EFI, ~800 hours. 180-190 psi all cylinders New distrubutor, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, coil new iac new fuel pump new shift interrupter single fuel tank both motors draw off the same - starboard motor is fine. No codes (rinda codemate)...
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    1998 5.7 EFI Timing procedure

    Hi guys, new distributor in our motors so they need to be set to 8* BTDC in base mode per the manual. I jumped A and B to lock advance and put the throttle up to 1600 or so. My question, there appears to only be one mark on the timing cover. Would that be 0 or 8* ? The video below shows it in...
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    Twin Alpha Steering tight - diagnosing

    I have twin Alpha I Gen II's coupled to 5.7EFI's with power assist steering. Steering has become very tight, and I need some help diagnosing it. I thought for sure it would be the cable, but at btdoc's recommendation on another forum I pulled the clevis pin so the cable was free of the drive...
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    1980 9.8 Ignition testing

    Hi all, having some issues with a 1980 9.8 idling poorly/misfiring at lower RPM's/stalling I need to get a spark plug tester to verify, but I get a very weak, intermittent spark on the one cylinder. It does not follow coils. With the plugs pulled and grounded if I pull the starter one plug...
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    AlphaI Gen II Steering pin / Gimbal Bolts

    Hi all, so I've read the many threads about the U bolt and how it holds the steering pin/swivel shaft in place. I was looking at our transom assemblies this weekend and wanted to check the torque on the bolts. Both my drives look like they have bolts with nuts on the back side instead of a U...
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    1980? Merc 9.8

    Hi all, picked up a new Merc 9.8 tonight for a decent price. SN:5542911 Engine fires up ok in the bucket but has a high idle set, I backed the screw off for idle and at slow idle it sputters and stalls. Started looking at a few things and when testing spark I noticed discrepancy between the...
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    Need more prop!

    Hey guys, tried going from 3 to 4 blade this year and bouncing off the limiter at WOT so it seems like we need more prop. OEM on our boat is 14x19 SS Vengeance. They were a little dinged but performed OK, just had a high minimum cruise/planing speed. 1) Performance issue you are trying to...
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    Slight alignment change in yard

    Hi all, have twin 5.7efi/alpha gen 2's in a 290 sundancer. I remove drives and check alignment every year. The alignment bar on the starboard slide goes in smooth with the satisfying clunk against the back of the coupler. The port side also goes in with 3 fingers and very little pressure, but...
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    Quick hub question

    Hi guys, hope this is an easy one. I'm trading out our tired 14x19x3 SS Vengeance props for a new set of 14.5x18x4 black diamond aluminum (I know, but I can't afford new SS right now). This is on a 1998 Searay 290 Sundancer with T5.7EFI/Alpha GenII drives Is it fair to assume the hub kit...
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    Alpha Gen II upper reseal

    So I've got a slow leak ( 5 psi over 12 hours, from 10 to 5) in the upper of our alpha one gen 2 where the lower driveshaft enters the upper housing. At first I thought it was just normal pressure drop over the 12 hours but if I put the drive upside down, pressurize it, and spray water on the...
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    Oil samples - elevated sodium

    I received our annual oil samples from our mains back today. We boat in fresh water on lake ontario, and these are RWC engines. We are seeing elevated sodium ( 103ppm port and 106ppm stbd) The only place I can think this would come from would be the AF used in winter layup. All risers and...
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    Alpha I gen II pressure test - Shift Shaft Seal

    Short backstory...I have twin AlphaIGenII's on a 290 sundancer. OEM uppers, SEI lowers. We blew the lower gear set out the side of the drive on our stbd side. SEI replaced it under warranty, all seemed well.. We put 10 hours on the new lower and I would notice a very small drop in gear lube...
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    Pressure test Alpha lower only

    What have you guys found the best way to seal the oil passage in order to pressure test the lower of an alpha Gen II? An SEI lower blew up and the new one is showing up today, My mechanic and I are just dropping the lower in the parking lot at the marina to save some time and haul out costs...
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    Blown up Alpha

    Just thought I'd share this carnage...unfortunately we blew one of our SEI lowers out last week. Under warranty, so we'll be getting a replacement soon. We think it threw the pinion gear right into the housing.
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    5.7EFI / Alpha I Gen II - Coupler or prop hub?

    Hi, we just went on a 150 mile trip and on the way back I suddenly started to get what I first thought was just ventilating the prop on one motor. The RPMs would increase a bit and if I pulled the throttle back on that motor it would then rev up and push just fine. A little later it happened and...
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