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  1. Fiat4Fun

    Mercruiser Thunderbolt replacement module?

    So, as I am looking on eBay for a "spare" Thunderbolt module for my 1986 260hp (350) Mercuruiser, I started to think that maybe a new one is available? I was thinking of a spare, only because my boat is old, with over 800 hrs on it, and I never had any issue with the ignition system. But when I...
  2. Fiat4Fun

    Stepping on the outdrive to get into boat?

    Had a interesting conversation yesterday. What is your thoughts about swimmers and skiers stepping onto of the upper drive on a alpha one to get onto the swim platform? Can this damage the drive, cause a leak on the transom, or any other ill effects? I have a 1986 Chris Craft with a 260 Alpha...
  3. Fiat4Fun

    Testing for leaks?

    Greetings, I have an old 1986 Chris Craft Scorpion that has about 700 hours on it, with a 260 mercruiser and alpha one. At the end of the season last year, when the boat was getting the it's winter service, my mechanic noticed a bit of water under the middle of the boat. He thought maybe the...
  4. Fiat4Fun

    Ignition maintenance suggestions?

    Finally got the silly rotor off my distributor shaft on my 1986 260HP V* Mercruiser with a slide hammer.... crazy tight. Is there any maintenance that should be done to the electronic contact area? It looks like a big ball of copper?? Also, was going to change the spark plugs. What plugs are...
  5. Fiat4Fun

    Mercruiser 5.7 Distributor Cap and Rotor?

    Howdy, I have 1986 Mercruiser 5.7 260HP in my boat. Was checking the distributor cap, and it looks well used. I checked, last got one in 2010, about 160 hours ago. Wondering how often you should replace cap and rotor? Should I use OEM Quicksilver parts? I have been keeping things pretty original...
  6. Fiat4Fun

    Old boat? Replacement or backup ignition system- Thunderbolt IV? Alternator?

    Howdy, So, had an interesting last outing on Sunday. Went to our normal lake, and we were at the other end of the lake, and the boat died! No cell service, no boat traffic, and we were sitting dead in the water. Turned out fine, it was a short on a gauge that caused the main fuse to blow...
  7. Fiat4Fun

    Pre-season check over- Do you check torque on Transom bolts? power steering cooler?

    Howdy, Getting the boat already to put in the water for the first time this year, finally! Going through hoses, mounts and checking for tightness of everything. Should I check the transom gimbal housing and make sure they are torqued to factory specs? Factory manual says 23 ft lbs. I also was...
  8. Fiat4Fun

    Add a Battery kit????

    I have a 1986 Chris Craft that has two batteries, with the old school Perko switch. I want to move the switch, so I was thinking of adding one of those blue seas "add a battery" kit, that isolates the two batteries and uses a relay for charing the batteries. The old school Perko switch requires...
  9. Fiat4Fun

    Fuel for the winter?

    Howdy, I have my 1986 CC with a Mercruiser Alpha One Gen One winterized every year. My mechanic puts in stabilizer for the fuel, and I have always filled the tank, all 60 gallons, with the thought that no water will get in if it's full. My mechanic thinks it's a waste, and the old fuel sitting...
  10. Fiat4Fun

    Battery and Bilge pump question????

    Howdy, I have a 1986 Mercruiser 5.7, and I noticed that my batteries are draining when I don't turn the switch to off. Everything is turned off, so I was thinking that the alternator may have a bad diode. Is there a easy check for that while the alternator is in the boat? I hate to pull it out...
  11. Fiat4Fun

    Temp change?

    Howdy, I have a 1986 260HP 5.7 with a alpha one. Put a new factory drive on earlier in the year, and the boat has been doing fine. The boat has always kept a low temp reading, like 150-160. Last night I noticed that the temp gauge got up to 180. I also noticed that the two bypass hoses that go...
  12. Fiat4Fun

    Riser rubber pipes on a 260HP Mercruiser? When to replace?

    Howdy, I have a 1986 Mercruiser with 260 HP V8, and the motor still has the original rubber riser pipes. There is a rubber pipe that comes off the riser, to a right angle metal pipe, and then another rubber boot that goes to the exhaust pipe "Y". Both sets are held in place with a pair of...
  13. Fiat4Fun

    Drain plug leaking? Old pipes? Water in the bilge….

    Howdy, I have a old 1986 Chris Craft, and looking for where the water is coming in. So, I filled the bilge with water, put the plug in and turn of the bilge pump. I saw a drip around the outer area of the drain plug. Not sure if water is getting there? Also, the rubber for risers to exhaust are...
  14. Fiat4Fun

    Need a new out drive................. a couple of questions.............

    So, in one of my previous posts, I mentioned some nasty sound then I stopped the motor. This on my 260HP 1986 Alpha One Gen One drive. After pulling the outdrive, I found metal pieces in the upper gear housing, and I can't turn my drive shaft. The interesting thing is, before I pulled my drive...
  15. Fiat4Fun

    Bad noise, then no drive ;-(

    Howdy, Took the boat out for the fourth time this season, and was having a great day, Running all over the place, full throttle, cruising, slow, everything was fine. About five hours in, as we were pulling the kids on a four man "couch" for about 20minutes, we heard a bad sound come from the...
  16. Fiat4Fun

    Vacuum vs Pressure? Alpha One G1

    Howdy, Working on my 1986 Mercrusier Alpha One , Gen 1. Had my lower end replaced under warranty, and my mechanic checked both the upper and lower. When we checked the lower, we were able to get 15lbs of pressure, and 15" vacuum. But the upper got the 15lbs of pressure, but would only go to 9"...
  17. Fiat4Fun

    Lower Unit under warranty?

    Howdy, Last fall during my end of season winterization, I noticed metal dust in my outdrive, and had it looked at by a Mercruiser shop. We determined that their were some issues with the lower unit. Sent the lower unit back to Sierra, which my insurance company replaced back in 2010 when I hit a...
  18. Fiat4Fun

    To do a OEM or aftermarket replacement drive? That is the question???.

    Greetings all, I hope you are having a great Christmas season! It's cold here, and the boat has been winterized, but thinking of what I should do?. Here is a quick background?.. I have a 1986 Chris Craft 210 Scorpion, with a 260 HP Alpha One. It had the original drive, and three seasons ago...
  19. Fiat4Fun

    Looks like my lower end is done.......

    Howdy, I have a 1986 Mercruiser Alpha One, which I had a Sierra lower end put on in September of 2010. I had hit a rock and had a insurance claim, which they paid for a new "rebuild" unit. I have changed the oil in the drive every year at the end of the season, and this year, I had a issue...
  20. Fiat4Fun

    Upper drive shaft leaking?

    Howdy, Just took my 1986 Chris Craft with a Alpha One into get winterized. They pressure tested the drive, and was low. Removed the drive, and found a small bit of oil in the bellows. It appears the seal where the drive shaft comes out may be leaking a bit. He also notice the oil was dirty (...
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