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  1. ratdude747

    Best "low effort" towable?

    Belated update: I found an Airhead Mable Tropic 3 in my local Walmart's clearance aisle for $100 the day before Thanksgiving. That ought to fit the bill... Looking forward to trying it out this coming season!
  2. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    And now that we're in the offseason, I redid it this evening! This time I used a Sierra kit. Partially to save a bit of money, partially to see if their product would work out better. There were a few differences. One is that they're using a different style safety wire lug on the cable fork...
  3. ratdude747

    Merry Christmas

    Merry Christmas everyone!
  4. ratdude747

    Who makes covers that are any good?

    News to me. Would explain a lot. What does one use for this?
  5. ratdude747

    Who makes covers that are any good?

    Ever since I acquired my 1976 Starcraft Montego (16'), one sore spot has been storage covers. I've been through two seal skin covers (the standard blue material they offer) that were excellent new but in a matter of months/over a winter developed pinholes and stopped repelling water to the...
  6. ratdude747

    1976 888 (MC-1) Trim/Tilt pump/line leak

    Noted. The bolts were loose... makes me think that's what did it in. Was hoping to not have to remove the plate (to avoid having to mess with the compression fitting while everything is flipped), but if not, it is what it is. I do have some machine shop access via work and a shop that I do...
  7. ratdude747

    1976 888 (MC-1) Trim/Tilt pump/line leak

    Some findings: I have my lines backwards in the earlier posts (braided line to transom, compression fitting nylon line to reverse valve)... But it doesn't matter: The pump bracket was only attached to the bilge shelf with the three front bolts, which allowed for easier flipping of the pump...
  8. ratdude747

    1976 888 (MC-1) Trim/Tilt pump/line leak

    Found this thread with a similar issue and what appears to be the same pump: https://forums.iboats.com/threads/mercruiser-165-4-1l-trim-pump-leaking.400742/ May just be 4 bad o rings? The high pressure line is soaked but the low pressure line is dry. Pump access isn't super great (as it's...
  9. ratdude747

    1976 888 (MC-1) Trim/Tilt pump/line leak

    If it is the pump unit, it seems that I can upgrade to a newer unit somewhat easily since I'm already on a 2-solenoid setup... just would need to bypass the reverse lockout valve. Wondering if maybe that's the way to go since the valve and pump are both wildly obsolete...
  10. ratdude747

    1976 888 (MC-1) Trim/Tilt pump/line leak

    Been fighting a hydraulic issue the last two weeks. Last weekend I found my drive I had raised the night before had fallen. Massive lagoon of oil in the bilge under the pump. Found the high pressure line was loose and was able to finagle a wrench down there to tighten it. Adding some 10W-30 and...
  11. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Sounds like I get to redo the cable job over the offseason... Yay :( Not sure what went wrong other than my setup having a 90 degree bend past the shift boot and such likely bending the rod (and possibly ripping the liner) on insertion. I did use a genuine Mercruiser cable kit... and did back...
  12. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Did some more fiddling with it. Seems the issue is a stiff lower cable. (Tried to adjust the reverse slot in reverse, and the upper cable was under a lot of compression yet the shift not slid all the way). It was stiff when first installed but it seems to have gotten worse. Shoving the cable...
  13. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Something is pooched. Couldn't obtain a usable adjustment (closest I came was popping hard out of gear when pushed). Per some fresh measurements: Helm cable has 2 15/16" travel (in spec, a lot of slop, this was measured with it pushing/pulling the lower cable to obtain the minimum travel)...
  14. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Two outings later, I have some findings: The drive doesn't shift right when trimmed up any significant amount. Seems my shift fork is loose and gravity is having an effect? My shifting went to crap like it had been during yesterday's outing... came to check it tonight and it's not locking in...
  15. ratdude747

    Best "low effort" towable?

    Had the tube out today now that I have the mechanical mess mostly fixed. She's done smoked now... ripped a lot worse. Three runs and done. That said, per a re-weight at the Dr earlier this week I'm down to 340lb (with steel toed boots and work clothes) so that helps a bit with capacity. Still...
  16. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Did some checking on the other two lower cases I have. Pulled the TN drive's impeller for laughs.. yeah, it was completly roached. Didn't take out the housing... but no wonder the guide tube was melted! Due to the case damage and stiff shifter, it's not favored for reuse. The Gary drive needs...
  17. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Spent a bit fiddling with it. I already had it at 6"... I eventually found a setting (backed off helm cable 6 turns instead of 4) that allowed for full engagement both directions and not using up all of my slot adjust (still using about 70% of it). Here's a video of my current results: I...
  18. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Redid the adjustment last night. I did have something wrong (forgot the 4 turns on the helm cable) but if anything (also using 5 7/8"), I now needed to use almost all of the slot to get reverse to solidly engage. I measured my helm cable travel at 3 1/6" on the new setting. It does very lightly...
  19. ratdude747

    MC-1 Drive Dog failure?

    Did some more checking while getting the boat covered up tonight... seems there is some light ratcheting in neutral, so maybe I don't have it right. I did use 6" on the last adjustment... maybe I should have used 5 7/8" for the initial set point. I'll mess with it this week.
  20. ratdude747

    Name or part # for MC-1 Hook Thing?

    All three MC1's I have for my 1976 (the original 1976, one that's the same age or a bit older, and one that's a later build, all 888's) have the hole. And I am very grateful for it (I've been in outdrive heck the last month, but that's my other thread's story). Probably was a pain to die cast...
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