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  1. Rick Stephens

    New to boats and about to burn down my boat. Need some help with wiring.

    https://forums.iboats.com/threads/where-to-find-mercruier-stern-drive-and-engine-serial-numbers.608167/#post-4434269
  2. Rick Stephens

    Almost back together, but a shifter issue

    Merc engineers are one of the great mysteries of the universe. They keep you on your toes.
  3. Rick Stephens

    New to boats and about to burn down my boat. Need some help with wiring.

    So everyone knows where to start, you should post your serial number and year.
  4. Rick Stephens

    Almost back together, but a shifter issue

    Think about it this way - the prop turns clockwise to apply power forward. For the motor to apply that clockwise thrust, the prop cannot freewheel counterclockwise. So in forward gear, the prop cannot be turned counter-clockwise since it is applying power to turn the prop the other direction...
  5. Rick Stephens

    Sporadic power/throttle performancePCV oil leak

    That one doesn't look too bad. After you get it clean and determine if there is an issue, you should consider adding a canister fuel water separator before the pump. Then you never have to pull the pump one off again. If the filter on the pump is dirty, you will also be advised to put a kit in...
  6. Rick Stephens

    Sporadic power/throttle performancePCV oil leak

    Also note that the flash arrestor screen on the carburetor will clog up with oil and carbon if your motor has even a little blowby. Make sure you check it for clean.
  7. Rick Stephens

    Sporadic power/throttle performancePCV oil leak

    Those kind of things are boat manufacturer specific. Snap a couple photos and see if there's a good idea on how to access.
  8. Rick Stephens

    Almost back together, but a shifter issue

    Hey Scott, this is an Alpha 1 I am guessing. I would pull the drive back off before something breaks and bench test the brass intermediate shaft. It should face straight forward to lock up the prop CCW. And should turn almost to 9 oclock to lock up in reverse - CW. No way I would try and figure...
  9. Rick Stephens

    Sporadic power/throttle performancePCV oil leak

    Welcome to iBoats. If I am not mistaken, there is no PCV valve. That hose just a breather that leads to the flash arrestor and is open end to end. First things to look at with your problems are dump your water separator out into a clear glass container and see if anything but clean fuel...
  10. Rick Stephens

    Only runs when cranking

    Stick a voltmeter or a test light on purple. Start at the disty during all your tests. And work your way up stream until you get to the ignition switch.
  11. Rick Stephens

    5.0 Thunderbolt does it have a pcv valve or is it hollow?

    Just a breather, no valve.
  12. Rick Stephens

    Bellows installation took

    That's the ring driver for the bellows that have internal ring at the stern end.
  13. Rick Stephens

    Mercruiser, which engine model do I have (no serial number)

    Might read the ECM - @alldodge - see what version installed. Might at least give a clue.
  14. Rick Stephens

    Squeezing more from 5.0L 220hp

    When I installed a 1409 on my 4.3L with a performa intake, I also purchased the Airtex fuel pump that matched one of the original OEM pumps. This let me buy the stainless hard fuel line and pump mount bracket from Merc. Makes for a clean setup. Not sure what you will have to go through to figure...
  15. Rick Stephens

    Dean's List gets another motor

    Bob, dazzled by your finding these things. Other than the hone job, they aren't all that obvious without looking deeper. Machinist seems to make rookie mistakes, left and right. How hard is it to hone a bore by hand? My very first one, when I was sixteen, looked like a machine did it. About the...
  16. Rick Stephens

    Can I install a newer outdrive?

    If you think the problem is limited to top end, pull the top cap off the top end and look at the gears. Find out why you broke an input shaft and everyone will then know whether the problem is also in the lower end.
  17. Rick Stephens

    At wits end Runs great for 20miles then knocking then sputtering 3.0

    Compression test.
  18. Rick Stephens

    Diesel oil in Merc 3.0l?

    Diesel engine oil is very high detergent. In an older engine that has never run a high detergent oil it can be a problem. All the carbon deposits that build up over time determine many of the tolerances in older motors, especially rings, but even bearings. Adding a high detergent oil will break...
  19. Rick Stephens

    Starter Freewheeling/Stripped Flywheel?

    Me too
  20. Rick Stephens

    Starter Freewheeling/Stripped Flywheel?

    Sounds hydrolocked to me. If you are in salt water, and it has a cylinder or two full of water, it is probably too late to save it from serious rust buildup.
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