Search results

  1. J

    What to do about rusted trailer?

    So, my trailer is really, really rusty, apparently. There was a bunch of tape and cloth around this part of the trailer (P.O.... who knows) but I recently pulled it off and found.... this. The good news, if there is any, is that the trailer "frame" seems to be okay. It's hard to see from...
  2. J

    Need cover help. Mine keeps failing and I have questions!

    Hi all, I could really use some help with boat covers. I really think I'm doing something wrong. I keep buying boat covers, but they fail every single rainstorm. If there's anywhere that the water can accumulate, it will and it drags the whole cover down with it. For a while, I was buying...
  3. J

    Is changing the shifter cable (mercruiser 165) a DIY job?

    I have a mercruiser 165 with a pre-alpha MC1 outdrive. I bought a bellows kit and it came with new bellows and stuff but also a new shift cable. Apparently, these new style shift cables have threaded ends, and I would need to drill a new hole and tap it to accept this shift cable. Is this a...
  4. J

    Is there any good way to swap the trailers on two boats without water?

    I recently discovered that my boat trailer is rusting on the tongue, to the point that I think it needs to be replaced before I tow it at all, anywhere. I was able to just grab a chunk and rip it right out, it was so rusted. I have a pretty good trailer that my donor boat is sitting on, that...
  5. J

    Trying to figure out which transom seal/bellows kit fits a Mercruiser 165/MC-1?

    hi all, just want to confirm..... took off the main bellow this morning. Checked the side that attaches to the bell housing.... didn't see a ridge. However, I did see little "dimples". That's not what you're talking about, is it? I still need the "smooth" ones? The boot has maybe 4 little...
  6. J

    Trying to figure out which transom seal/bellows kit fits a Mercruiser 165/MC-1?

    hi kenny, thanks for the info. And these are the pivot pins you're talking about? I have a clymer's "stern drive shop manual" for '64-'85 mercruisers. They have a lot of information for my engine, but not for my outdrive. I was told that I have an MC-1 outdrive, which doesn't seem to be...
  7. J

    Trying to figure out which transom seal/bellows kit fits a Mercruiser 165/MC-1?

    hi fishrdan, thanks for the info. So I took off the bottom-most bellow (not the main, large one that covers the driveshaft/gimbal bearing, it was the medium-sized one just below that main one) and didn't see a ridge on the bell housing side. So if I can see the whole inner lip (as shown in...
  8. J

    mercruiser 165 closed cooling?putting together a kit from individual components!

    Hi All, I got inspired to add freshwater cooling to my 165 by another post here on iBoats. I looked at new kits, and they are expensive. However, after reading, it looks like the huge expense on these guys is the heat exchanger. I've managed to find a few used heat exchangers on locally...
  9. J

    Please help getting drive off of bell housing! Mercruiser 165/MC-1 drive

    Hi all, I have a mercruiser 165 with a MC-1 Drive. I'm trying to do my first maintenance run?bellows, gimbal bearing, etc. I have watched some videos of how to do it, and it seems like the drive either just comes off or they do this thing where they lift it and then drop it, and the pressure...
  10. J

    Trying to figure out which transom seal/bellows kit fits a Mercruiser 165/MC-1?

    Thanks for all the info. A few things: One, I actually found this serial tag, but the actual number is, of course, totally obscured. Looks like it was melted off.... the black isn't just dirt, it will NOT come off. No idea what is it... anyone know? I looked for the metal tag that is...
  11. J

    Trying to figure out which transom seal/bellows kit fits a Mercruiser 165/MC-1?

    Hi all, I have a Mercruiser 165... can't find the serial number, so I don't know exactly what year it is. I believe that this is the serial number: which I'm reading as 3850817 According to the charts, this puts it as a 1970-1978 Mercruiser GM 165. It's a GM165, so this seems...
  12. J

    Mercruiser 165 leaking... possibly out of outdrive?

    whelp, mystery solved, probably. Just went down to inspect the bellows... didn't expect much because they seemed to be in great shape—looked pretty new, PO said they were pretty new, and they felt good when I felt around. But, upon closer inspection... looked way on the underside and...
  13. J

    Mercruiser 165 leaking... possibly out of outdrive?

    here are some of the outdrive where it meets the transom
  14. J

    Mercruiser 165 leaking... possibly out of outdrive?

    Hi all, I have a new-to-me Mercruiser 165. I've had it out the last few days trying to test things out, etc. Just been backing it into the water on the trailer to check everything! This morning, same deal. Had it backed into the water when I noticed that the bilge was filling up. I...
  15. J

    really stupid question.... got my first i/o and can't figure out how to start it!

    hey.... this is emberassing, but... I've always been an outboard guy, but i recently bought an i/o (1970 starcraft islander with a mercruiser 165 and a MC1 outdrive). The previous owner showed me how to start it, and I was pretty sure he just put the key in, turned on the battery, and turned...
  16. J

    Looking for information on Mercruiser 165 with MC1 outdrive

    Hi, I recently found out (thanks to iBoats) that I have a mercruiser 165 with a MC1 outdrive. I don't know anything about these motors, and was hoping for general information. In particular, I'm wondering: 1) are these reliable? I hear that mercruisers are great motors, but I usually hear...
  17. J

    what motor do I have?

    Hi all, Recently got a new boat (1970 starcraft islander) and I now realize that I have no idea what motor/outdrive is in it. Any help or information would be very much appreciated! Resources, pros/cons, things to do, look out for, etc. thanks!!
  18. J

    Looking for ideas on what to do with doghouse (for fishing!)

    Hi all, Just bought my first ever i/o boat (starcraft!). No photos yet, picking it up later this week. But this also means I'm going to have my first doghouse.... and fisherpeople with ideas on how to utilize that space, the flat surface on top of the doghouse? I've seen people put bait...
  19. J

    first i/o... what do I need to check before the first time in the water?

    Hi all! I just bought (well, in the process of buying.... pick it up next week!) my first boat with an i/o powerplant (1970 starcraft islander). Would like to take it in the lake and just test drive it, get the hang of the controls, etc. However, as this is my first i/o, I have some...
  20. J

    what is the minimum HP I would need to power a 21 foot aluminum boat?

    I am thinking about buying a 21 foot starcraft chieftain, but it doesn't have an outboard and I don't know that I want to drop thousands on a new outboard. I spend most of my time in a bay where they chop only gets to like 1 foot max. I usually use a 17ft lone star riviera with a 20hp and...
Top