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  1. K

    Water leak into bilge

    It might be the exhaust “Y” pipe since you said water still leaks with the engine off in the water. No matter what is wrong the engine and drive needs to be removed.
  2. K

    Sometimes Forward Sometimes Reverse

    With the drive off there is a good chance that you will find some marine growth deep in the upper housing where the slider travels and also forward in the bell housing. You should be able to pull and push the with just 2 fingers. Any more then the cable needs replacing.
  3. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    There should be reverse throttle. Was the shift handle at 12 o’clock in the neutral position?
  4. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    Good catch. Did that control come from a different boat? As you can see that control is well built and does not wear out. After you clean and re grease the moving parts it will be as good as new.
  5. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    Are you sure that the throttle cable was attached to the correct hole on the carburetor throttle lever? I have seen that before.
  6. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    The shift cable has to move 1.5” For full engagement in either direction before the throttle starts to open.
  7. K

    Mercruiser 170 Starter Removal

    Yours is a forerunner of the model with the bolts coming in from the rear. You will just have to fight it out with the 2 self locking nuts to get the starter out. A thin wall 5/8”12 point box end wrench is the only thing that will do the job, unless you have a ”starter wrench” which is a...
  8. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    If the splines on the control and handle are worn and loose this is what I have done. With the black push button removed there is enough room to drill the tap size for a #8/32 allen set screw between the shaft and handle splines in 2 places about 45* apart. If the handle is corroded on the...
  9. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    That controller never wears out. The only thing to be careful of is keeping the shift handle tight on the splines. Just carefully open it up, remove all the old grease and re grease it with good quality lubricant.
  10. K

    Pistons on Ford 302 / Mercruiser 188

    The same engine that OMC used was called a 190. The 351 cam and heads bumped the extra 20hp and with a 4 barrel 225 hp.
  11. K

    Pistons on Ford 302 / Mercruiser 188

    Actually your and all automotive engines are left hand rotation when viewed from the flywheel end which is standard rotation. Quite often single engine straight drive boats are right rotation. It can really get confusing especially if the starters are rear entry, as on jet boats and straight...
  12. K

    Shift shaft linkage

    You left out the stainless steel washer that fits over the shift shaft bushing. It is probably still on the work table or under it.
  13. K

    Pistons on Ford 302 / Mercruiser 188

    By looking at the distributor cap I was able to figure the firing order. If my count is correct your engine has a standard 302 15426378 firing order. 188s 13726548. So the engine is a 170hp. Since you got the boat cheap just use it as is once you get it cleaned up.
  14. K

    1986 Mercruiser 470/170hp/3.7L Carb backfire, low vacuum, other weird issues

    Just for kicks try setting the timing a 6. It cannot hurt, try to get some good gas at a marina. Sometimes you have to experiment. Lucky for my area I still can get 92 pure gas.
  15. K

    1986 Mercruiser 470/170hp/3.7L Carb backfire, low vacuum, other weird issues

    On your # 48 post you stated that the dwell is 30. The correct dwell for your engine is 40. You need to get that corrected, as far as the timing 4* is not enough. I like to set the timing with the spark plugs out with the spark plugs on the wires and grounded, spin the engine and then set...
  16. K

    Throttle Cable Conundrum

    The 1/4” is normal. The premium cables have less of the slack.
  17. K

    Mercruiser Vacuum Gauge

    The trim gauge is operated by a hydraulic cylinder, it has 2 clear hoses and some wires going to it. If it still operates the gauge you are lucky.
  18. K

    Motor knocking. Mercruiser 3.0 alpha 1

    Do like Scott06 said about removing a spark plug wire when the noise is present, if there is any piston or rod noise and it goes away then it is time for a rebuild. The other thing that will make noise is the fuel pump if the tension spring is broken and the lever is slapping the cam lobe.
  19. K

    1995 3.0 cobra coolant system.... (and hello)

    If you remove the incoming water hose that will drain any remaining water in the pump. Leaving the hose off will let the system dry out completely. Store the drive in the down position.
  20. K

    1986 Mercruiser 470/170hp/3.7L Carb backfire, low vacuum, other weird issues

    With the spark plugs out and the coil wire grounded spin the engine and you will be able to get an accurate setting. If the dwell still moves and does not hold steady the distributor bushings or the centrifugal advance parts under the breaker plate could be worn out.
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