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    installing new fuel tank, how best to support

    New belly tank going in under deck. The original tank simply rested on the V-shaped floor joist and then was surrounded by foam. But the tank actually was only supported on the few tiny spots that the tank touched that V shaped joist. There was much ware on the original tank at those points. I'd...
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    replacing fuel tank vent hose

    I seem to remember reading somewhere that a loop should be put into the vent hose when being replaced. I did a search but couldn't find it. Is this correct, and if so, why? Thanks
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    aluminum gas tank repair

    I pulled the belly tank out of our 1984 ski boat today. I had already planned on replacing the filler hose and vent hose. Since I had the deck up to access the hose connections on the tank, I decided to pull the tank out for inspection. What I found are a few spots, mostly on the bottom, that...
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    MCM260 5.7L rust on spark plug

    While changing my spark plugs this weekend I noticed that I have rust on my no.5 plug. Not a lot of rust, but rust none the less. What does this mean?
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    alpha 1 outdrive has wrong gear ratio

    5.7L 260HP V8 engine with what I believe is an Alpha 1 gen 1 outdrive. I can't find a serial number on it anywhere. I just confimed it has a 2.0 gear ratio. One full turn of the engine produces 1/2 turn at the prop. According to mercstuff.com, I should have a 1.5 ratio. I need to know how to...
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    metal fuz on drain and vent plug magnets

    I drained the oil from my Alpha 1 outdrive today. I noticed that the vent and drain plug magnets looked fuzzy with metal. The oil had two seasons on it. Should I be alarmed by this, or is this normal? I have no idea how old the gear set is. It's a 1984 model boat but I don't know if the outdrive...
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    change thru hull exhaust to thru prop

    I guess I'm getting old or something. I used to think the sound of my 5.7L thru hull exhaust on our I/O ski boat was cool. Now it's starting to annoy me. It's really loud if you are skiing behind the boat. I've also got young kids that ski and tube and I have concerns about hearing damage. I...
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    considerable amount of steam in exhaust

    I have a 1984 5.7L 260HP Mercruiser with thru hull exhaust. I know some steam is normal but even on a hot day I see lots of steam in my exhaust while towing or cruising. Are there some exhaust components or something that I should pull and inspect? I just need to know if I should be looking for...
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    fuel tank repair

    I've got a 1984 ski boat. Always used in fresh water. I plan to replace the original fuel filler hose and vent hose this fall. I've noticed they are cracking. I sometimes smell a fuel type smell, although I never see fuel in the bilge. I'm considering pulling the fuel tank out of the floor and...
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    why are marine t-stats temps so low?

    I'm just wondering why marine thermostat tempuratures are so much lower than their automotive counterparts. Anyone know why?
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    best way to care for binders?

    My ski and wake board binders are beginning to shows some cracks and fade. I was thinking of putting Armor All on them to give them some protection. Any suggestions?
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    Keel roller replacement, how to?

    I have an 18" long, 4" wide roller that is splitting really bad on my trailer. It looks like the internal metal sleeve is rusting and expanding which causes the rubber to split. I'm going to order a new roller but I'm not sure how to remove the existing one, and what all I will need for the new...
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    exhaust steam

    1984 MCM260, through hull exhaust. Raw water cooling. Never run in salt water, fresh water only. I get a fair amount of steam from the exhaust regardless of engine speed or load. The boat runs great, and I'm not "looking" for trouble, but I've read that exhaust failure is a leading cause of...
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    manifold vacuum

    5.7L MCM260, I'm only pulling about 10 ~ 12 inches of vacuum at the port in the top of the manifold. The manual says 18~20 is normal. I have leak tested with Propane and WD40 and can't find anything. I also checked that the manifold bolts are torqued at 30lbs. Any suggestions on what to look...
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    fogging VS starving the engine?

    I've always fogged the engine until it stalls for winter layup. However, this leaves unburned fuel in the carb. Would it be better to first starve the engine of fuel, then fog it while cranking the enigne?
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    MIE and R model designations

    My manual refferences MIE and R model engines. What is the difference between these and the standard MCM engines?
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    exhaust shutter part number

    I have a 1984 MCM260 with 3" through hull exhaust. The shutters look pretty ragged, probably original. The manual shows the assembly and gives a replacement procedure, but doesn't give a part number. A quick iboats parts search reveals several to choose from. How do I know which one I need?
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    fuel filter/water separator replacment

    How often should these be changed? I put between 30 to 50 hours a season on our ski boat, so annually seems a bit unnecessary I would think. I just wonder how many hours of operation one of these is typically good for.
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    Timing Chain?

    1984 5.7L mcm260, while watching the distributor rotor and moving the main crank pulley with a rachet in both directions, it appears that I have 6 degrees of "slack" in the system. Is the probable cause a streatched timing chain? I need some advice.
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    5.7L mercruiser 260 valve lash adjustment

    Has almost 900 hours on it. No obvious problems but I assume the valve lash needs to be adjusted by now. First, is that a reasonable assumption? Secondly, what does adjusting the valve lash actually do for the engine in terms of performance? Thanks.
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