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    Trim cylinders only retracting halfway

    Good evening, shame on me I just started getting my boat ready for the season. I store the boat in my driveway and due to the angle of the boat on the trailer I keep the drive trimmed up about halfway to keep the skag off the pavement. When I was inspecting my bellows I noticed I could trim...
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    Mercruiser 165 IL 6 Winterization

    Alright boys and girls, I’m back to annoy the seasoned pros with my noobtacular inquiries. I’m opting to save $100 and winterize myself for the frigid tundra that is set to befall Cleveland. I drained both the block and manifold, but didn’t pull the plug from the riser. Wondering as long as I...
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    Backfiring Mercruiser 165 IL 6

    Been a while since I hung out here!! I was out on majestic Lake Erie today with my trusty 1974 Caravelle, with a Mercruiser 165 IL 6. It’s been about 3 months since I had the boat out last, engine hadn’t run at all. At the ramp it was very hard to start which was expected as I’m assuming my...
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    Perch spots near CLE

    Good Morning! Looking for advice on perch locations near Cleveland. I launch primarily out of Edgewater near downtown and dont really have easy access to the islands out west. For Walleye I know I can hang around Gold Coast or the crib but not sure where to find perch. Any suggestions? Keep...
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    MC1 Shift Cable Pre Alpha

    Good Evening and Happy Easter. I went to install my new shift cable inner core today and after inserting it all the way into the jacket it seems like the inner core is too long. When I put the plastic mounting end on and tightened the set screw I was several inches from being able to get the...
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    Gimbal Ring Install

    MC-1 drive, 1974 Mercruiser I/L 6. Gimbal ring broke and I'm installing a new one and trying with all my might to put the new ring onto the gimbal housing without removing the bell housing/bellows. My problem, I'm trying to get the steering pin that goes through the top of the gimbal ring to...
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    Trim Switch

    1974 Mercruiser I/L 6 with "pre-alpha" drive. Ive heard the drive referred to professionally as R, MR, and Pre Alpha so I dont know exactly what the outdrive is called other than it was manufactured in 1974 and its not an Alpha. That said I removed my gimbal ring today and noticed the cable...
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    Shifting Trouble Mercruiser 165

    Good evening!!!! 1974 Mercruiser IL6 with pre alpha drive (MC1?). Took my family out on the lake for the first time this afternoon and boy was it an experience! That said I had some trouble shifting gears (I already cant get reverse). Interesting thing was up to 2000 rpm and 10mph or so it...
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    Lower Shift Cable Replacement

    Good Morning! Working on a 1974 Mercruiser 165 set up, believe it to be an MC-1 drive. Can't get reverse to engage via pulling the lower shift cable out by hand. I measured the brass adjustment barrel at 5 7/8" from center to center on the barrel and mounting hole. Forward no problem...
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    Backup Outboard

    I have a 1974 Caravelle Chimera IV, 18' with a 165hp inline 6 Mercruiser. Weighs probably 3k lbs loaded up. I repowered the engine but since its old I'm not thrilled about taking the family in open water, Lake Erie, with it. I'm considering installing a small outboard, 6-9hp as a backup that...
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    Bow Lifting

    Good morning! I restored a 1974 Caravelle CIV 19B, Mercruiser 165 I/L6, had her on the lake on Friday morning and noticed when engaging throttle the bow would rise considerably. Didn't get on plane because the engine stalled when throttling above 2000 rpm, so never got above 10-15mph (loose...
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    Fuel System Troubleshooting

    Posting my experience here to hopefully help someone out as I almost tore my carb apart for a rebuild unnecessarily. This is a 1974 Mercruiser 165 I/L 6. After fixing a cooling issue my boat suddenly wouldn't start, it had been starting just fine after I finished repowering her so I was at a...
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    Retrieving

    Good Morning! 18' 1974 Caravelle CIV 19B on a dual axle trailer. I'm a pure rookie here, just got my first launch/retrieve under my belt last week and while it was successful, it was quite demoralizing and I looked like a moron at the ramp. The problem: When properly on the trailer, the bow...
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    Oxidation

    1974 Caravelle CIV 19B, heavy oxidation with a nice red color underneath. I'm looking to buff her back to her former glory (my neighbors will hate it less in the driveway) but everything I'm finding on materials includes like 10 different potions, multiple polishing attachments, 5 sand papers...
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    Exhaust

    Good Morning! Had my 1974 Mercruiser 165 running on muffs yesterday and noticed decent water flow coming from my prop but very little solid water coming from the exhaust holes on the gimbal ring, when I put my hand up to it I was getting sprayed with fine mist that pretty quickly wet my hand...
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    Gear/Shift Trouble

    1974 Mercruiser 165, removed outdrive (pre-alpha as some say) for bellows change and separated lower unit for water pump change. Put it all back together, had no crazy trouble getting the upper back into the engine but now that it’s all together the shifting is WAY out of whack. I pretty much...
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    Alternator Wiring

    1974 Mercruiser 165 Inline 6. Original alternator only has two ports: positive and negative... new alternator listed as an aftermarket specific to this model has a purple and a separate red wire with odd connectors coming from it. Nowhere to attach those and they are too short to reach across...
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    1974 Mercruiser 165 Carb Options

    Forgive me, as Im sure someone will point me to where this has already been discussed. I'm restoring a 1974 Caravelle 18' with a Mercruiser 165 Inline 6. The carb appears to be original and the boat sat for about 20 years so I'm considering replacing the carb just to be safe. my question - what...
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