Search results

  1. NHGuy

    Cobra drives

    Do Cobras use similar gear ratios to Mercruiser? Reason I ask is my brother got a used boat (no trailer) with a chewed prop and we are trying to guess what pitch to get til we have the prop off the boat for a look. It's a 1988 4 Winns Sundowner 205 with a 4.3 engine. I believe it's the 205 HP...
  2. NHGuy

    Exhaust cooling system

    My boat is 22 years old, but I have only had it for 2 years. It allegedly spent it's life in fresh water, but you know how stories go. How do I determine how much to trust my exhaust manifolds and risers? I don't want to be the guy with water in the combustion chambers. How do the saltwater...
  3. NHGuy

    criticize me...or join in!

    I think I have gotten obsessive. A little background. I'm a married dad with a job that keeps me out of the house from 6AM to 7 PM. I'm enjoying my 2nd year owning a 22 year old 19' Baja bowrider. I keep it behind my dad's house because he has slips on my favorite lake and is gracious enough...
  4. NHGuy

    What tool to adjust Rochester Mix

    What tool to adjust Rochester 4 bbl Mix jets. They don't have a typical shape. They have 2 opposed flat sides that are a little longer than the other 2 slightly curved sides and they are sort of rectangular. I can turn the port adjuster with a pair of bent mini needle nose pliers but found...
  5. NHGuy

    alpha 1 drive extension

    I saw an ad for a Donzi this spring, it had an extension of around 5 or 6" between the bellhousing and the Alpha drive. I forget what it is called and wanted to ask about it. Looks like a way to get the propeller some smooth water on a fast boat. It uses a similar concept to the setback plates...
  6. NHGuy

    Water in power trim fluid

    1988 Alpha 1, I'm getting a milkshake in the trim fluid. What's the best way to check? I have read the ram rebuild process, it looks like a job I can handle, but I want to make sure I know where the water is coming in first.
  7. NHGuy

    Prop Slip

    What is considered acceptable slip for a boat such as mine? 21 degree deadrise, 2700 lbs, 19' 6" LWL, 5.7 litre 260 hp Mercruiser with 1.47 gear Alpha One drive. I'm turning a once repaired 19" Michigan wheel aluminum 3 blade Vortex. I'm trying to find a GPS to borrow so I will know actual...
  8. NHGuy

    Michigan Vortex Vs Match

    Michigan Wheel makes 2 21 pitch 3 blade aluminum props for my drive. One is a Vortex which I believe requires a hub. I have a 19" Vortex so I believe my hub will work. They also show a Michigan Match in 21". Can anyone tell me what difference to expect if I get one or the other?
  9. NHGuy

    Rochester 4 bbl adjustment

    I have a 1988/89 5.7 Mercruiser MCM with 4 barrel Rochester. I was looking at doing the mix adjustment but waited because the starboard adjuster is a weird reach. In fact the adjustment screws are both a weird metal tab. Do I just use pliers or something?
  10. NHGuy

    Hooray

    I work too much. I finally got to run the boat today, no incident. I'm on my 2nd year of ownership with my Baja. Last year I bought the boat from a guy who buys & sells recreational vehicles such as boats, 4 wheelers etc. He said he did all the maintenance but I had to redo things to be...
  11. NHGuy

    88 5.7 Mercruiser Spark plug change

    I am in my 2nd year with this boat and hadn't changed my plugs yet. So I got up early today and went out to the yard thinking I'd pull a plug & look at them. I had bought a set of plugs but I was going to see how the old ones looked first. To my surprise I could not get a plug socket on the 3...
  12. NHGuy

    Can't hang my Alpha 1

    I had my bell housing off for a new shift shaft bushing & seal. Now I'm ready to reinstall my drive. It's an Alpha 1 gen 1. Same recently replaced gimbal bearing etc. I greased my drive spline, checked alignment with a proper tool and went to slide it on, but the darn thing misses every...
  13. NHGuy

    Pitch change

    I am just getting my boat's state of tune optimized and it looks like I need another inch or 2 of pitch. Is there any chance a prop shop can add cup or pitch to a banged up aluminum 3 blade 19" pitch Michigan Wheel prop? I know, ask. But is it even worth my breath to ask?
  14. NHGuy

    drive squeak

    I chickened out on installing my new u-joints and took my drive to a car & truck drivetrain shop to have them installed. I'm now a little concerned that it may have been a bad choice. When I turn the drive shaft at the yoke I hear a rubber squeak like a dry seal. I turned the same piece...
  15. NHGuy

    front motor mount adjustment

    I have put in a new gimbal bearing etc and am starting to align my engine. For the life of me I don't see a logical way to adjust my front mount height. The mounts have a large threaded rod vertically through them with a 1 1/16 nut and washer on top. There appears to be height adjustment...
  16. NHGuy

    Did I fudge up my drive?

    Got the ol' boat cleaned up & launched for the first run today and heard a bearing noise while in forward & reverse or while trimmed up so I limped her back to the trailer & came home. I did some reading and figured I will just do the u-joints and gimbal bearing while I have it open. Stop me if...
  17. NHGuy

    3M 5200 cure time

    I used some Fast Cure 5200 yesterday for my transponder mount holes. The holes had been drilled too low by my boats previous owner. So I drilled oversize new holes about double the size needed, redrilled the bad holes to the same diameter, and filled all 4 with the 5200. The temperature went...
  18. NHGuy

    Weird Gauges, Ghost In The Machine

    Hey, not that every weird gauge issue will yield the same result. But here is what happened to mine. My boat is an 89 Baja Sunsport 196, it is powered by a 5.7 litre Mercruiser with Alpha 1 sterndrive. When I went to un-winterize this spring I found that when I turned on any electric dash...
  19. NHGuy

    What are these things?

    Sorry, no picture, but here is my question. I have been under the dash of my boat this afternoon trying to chase down what I believe to be a ground fault. When I turn on the navigation lights I only get bow light, and when I turn on my anchor light it does come on. Plus, and this is the...
  20. NHGuy

    resistance wire

    What is the function of the resistance wire in the ignition system of my Mercruiser? I assume it fuses some function. Do resistance wires wear, or get tired?
Top