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    Suzuki DF6 doesn't idle well and falls off when put in gear

    I have a suzuki df6. I believe it's a 2008, but regardless it has the newer carb with the square shaped float bowl. I'm having some troubles. It doesn't idle well. It'll start and idle ok in neutral, but as soon as I shift and put a load on it it usually dies. If I keep the throttle higher and...
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    High compression readings

    1988 5.7 Merc. My shop manual specs the compression at 150 (or 155 I forget), but I tested it today and got numbers ranging from 165 - 175. That's higher than I expected. I'm not complaining, but is this normal?
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    Fuel Filter inlet and outlet ports

    In section 5A-4 in my mercruiser #9 service manual there is a diagram that says only opposite side inlet and outlet ports on the water seperating fuel filter should be used. Over the winter I installed a flo scan and I had to re-route the plumbing and I used the inlet and outlet ports on the...
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    cyclical surging at idle

    engine: 5.7 L 1988 Mercruiser alpha 1 open cooled with Q-Jet. problem: At idle, especially when not warmed up the engine tends to surge in and out. It's done this for a number of years and it's never idled well until warm, but this years it's much more noticeable and to a lesser extent even...
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    identifying timing marks - photo

    engine is a 1988 5.7L mercruiser I'm trying to find the proper timing mark to check the timing. I believe I'm looking for 8 deg advance, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I can't make out any numbers. From this photo can someone tell me which mark I should be using?
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    How does damaged prop cause overheat?

    I was out today and noticed my engine overheating steadily whenever I was running above 3500 rpms. This is a new problem that just started today. Ignoring for now all of the more likely scenarios, is it reasonably that this coul be caused by cavitation from a damaged prop? I hit one of the...
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    How does damaged prop cause overheat?

    I was out today and noticed my engine overheating steadily whenever I was running above 3500 rpms. This is a new problem that just started today. Ignoring for now all of the more likely scenarios, is it reasonably that this coul be caused by cavitation from a damaged prop? I hit one of the...
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    What plugs do I need

    I have my serial number and manual down at the boat. Wondering if someone could save me a trip. Looking to get new NGK plugs for my 1988 5.7L v8 mercruiser alpha 1. Can anyone tell me which ones I want and what the gap should be? ...or do I really need the serial number? Much appreciated
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    carb installation - how to?

    I will soon need to replace a 4bbl rochester quadra jet on a 1988 5.7L mercruiser. I am curious what my options are and how tricky of a job this is - the complexity of these carberators intimidate me. If I were to trade in for a rebuilt of the same type of carb, is it as simple as bolting on the...
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    how does voltage effect oil pressure gauge

    I have 1988 merc 5.7 L. Can anyone tell me how the oil pressure gauge on the dash works? Would decreased voltage cause the gauge to display higher or lower oil pressure? Last season I'd get 40 - 60 psi depending upon rpms. This season its 60 -80, but with the engine off it reads 20psi so I'm...
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    request for photo of water inlet hose position

    Is anyone is able to post a photo of an installed alpha 1 (gen 1 if there's a difference) water inlet hose that goes from the gimbal housing to the transom? I've been struggling with a kinked hose and think I've finally got the length right, but I'm still fearing that it may still be bent just...
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    rapidly overheating at wot

    5.7 merc. alpha 1 raw water cooled. New manifolds + riser + circ pump & impeller within last year. Runs steady at 140 deg at any other rpm other than extreme WOT. My tach seems to be reading about 4800, maybe 4900 at the time it begins to overheat. Don't run this fast too often, but it...
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    tilt and trim won't stay down!?

    1988 alpha 1. I was underway at 25+ knots and I noticed that my outdrive would slowly creep up. I kept having to pull the trim switch back on the throttle handle to keep it down. My understanding is that the forward thrust of the prop would want to keep the outdrive down, and that the...
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    how to locate whining sound?

    There is a whine that seems to be coming from the pulley system on the forward part of my engine. I only really hear it at idle but I suspect thats due to reduced engine noise. It's not the sound of a slipping belt - I don't think. It really sounds more like a corroded bearing of some sort...
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    whining pulley

    I replaced the cirulation pump on my 1988 5.7L mercruiser at the end of last season. I did not fix the engine hatch cover that caused rain water to leak on the front of the engine which cause the problem in the first place. Now I already have a squeak or whine coming from my belts and I am...
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    Do I need a new slave solenoid?

    1988 5.7 merc alpha 1.<br /><br />Turn the key and... only a click from the slave solenoid. Starter is good, and I can crank the engine by jumping the two terminals on top of the slave solenoid. I did the tests outlined in DonS's troubleshooting post and I thought I determined that there was a...
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    tulliped Valve

    Can someone explain to me what a tuliped valve is and what are likely circumstances that would cause this to occur?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />nat
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    Thunderbolt IV cap and rotor

    When it's dark and damp I can see arching across my distributor cap and any substantial amount of water dripping through the engine hatch will cause my engine to miss. I'm assuming that it's probably time to replace my cap and rotor right? I think it's been a good 18 years. It's a thunderbolt IV...
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    One Question about overheating

    1988 5.7 merc w/ alpha 1. Raw Water. 140 deg thermostat. New water impeller in outdrive over winter. New exhaust system and water pump last season.<br /><br />Idling on the muffs my engine overheats. When the engine is running, I get a steady strong flow from the exhaust relief ports. The...
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    removing graphics and residue.

    I have a 24' 1988 starfire entertainer.<br /><br />It's a very well built boat, but it has some really ugly 1980's looking graphics on the cabinhouse. The graphics seem to be applied in two parts- one with the graphics, and the other a sort of plastic overlay to protect them. I used a headgun...
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