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  1. Lou C

    OMC COBRA 5.8 EFI and ESA

    Exactly. A too high oil level could be bad seals causing the drive to pull in water, but has nothing to do with shifting problems.
  2. Lou C

    Suggestions on LongBlock Supplier

    I would also see if any automotive machine shops local to you will do a marine build. This saves in shipping if you can just rent a U-Haul to pick it up & have a face to face contact
  3. Lou C

    Removing OD Out Drive - It is Stuck

    This is a common issue to all I/O drive systems, and it is why many people will spend extra money on 4 stroke outboards. On their latest drives I think that Volvo Penta had the option of a water sensor inside the bellows to alert you to water there, a great idea if it works right. The only way...
  4. Lou C

    Is there a way to check for a leak between Transom and OD?

    Leaks from the gasket between the drive and the pivot housing won't put water in the bellows. It will let water in the recess where the shifter bell crank moves, but not in the bellows, they are separate. The Sierra gasket for that is OK, what I do is coat the gasket on both sides with OMC...
  5. Lou C

    Removing OD Out Drive - It is Stuck

    Usually the D/S bellows cracks from age. Inspect yearly & replace as soon as you see small cracks in the rubber. On the shift cable boot, on the OMC Cobra that bellows is inside the boat, so leaks are very uncommon.
  6. Lou C

    4.3 Wet to Dry-Joint Conversion.

    I think once the sealing surfaces get narrowed down it’s time to change em.
  7. Lou C

    4.3 Wet to Dry-Joint Conversion.

    When you say you saw some pitting on the exhaust, do you mean the sealing surfaces? If so that might be the problem, when new they should be free of pits and well machined. Here's an old pic of mine from when I installed them 7 years ago.
  8. Lou C

    Removing OD Out Drive - It is Stuck

    Congrats you got er done!
  9. Lou C

    4.3 Wet to Dry-Joint Conversion.

    I recall reading about this because I thought of converting my OMC over to the Merc dry joint style. I have had the OMC/Volvo style wet joints on it for 7 years and no leaks so far (also Barr aftermarket). Reading up on it, for a Merc that came with wet joint originally, there is a kit to allow...
  10. Lou C

    End of season maintenance checks…

    The other thing on my Maintenace list is to scope the elbows/manifolds, to see what the insides look like after 5 seasons here in salt water. Now that I have one of those fancy borescope cameras, I can do stuff like that without having to break the seal and take everything apart. I also pull...
  11. Lou C

    End of season maintenance checks…

    Since I did my top end overhaul back in 2017 I’ve been doing oil analyses and compression tests just to see if there are problems developing. Oil analyses have improved over time and this years compression test was the same as last years, 160-165 in all 6 cyls. I think it’s a good habit because...
  12. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 7.4 GL Slight Water in Oil

    If you're in freshwater especially I'd use a 160 stat if that is a concern. I use one in salt water and haven't had a problem with calcium build up in the cooling system. I actually tried a 140 stat and the engine took forever to warm up and I had some condensation not in the engine but in the...
  13. Lou C

    Removing OD Out Drive - It is Stuck

    are you sure the gearshift is in neutral?
  14. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 7.4 GL Slight Water in Oil

    https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-Teslong-Industrial-Articulated-Inspect-5FT/dp/B0CJY5C9QX?ref_=ast_sto_dp This is the one I use… https://forums.iboats.com/threads/a-real-useful-tool%E2%80%A6.775690/
  15. Lou C

    Removing OD Out Drive - It is Stuck

    Mine was always removed so it never got stuck & always greased the D/S splines. Depending on how big you are you might be able to get down near the bell housing behind the engine & you can feel where the driveshaft comes out. Spray penetrating oil in that area as much as you can. Did the bilge...
  16. Lou C

    What oil should I use?

    I have used both the Merc/Quicksilver conventional 25/40 and the syn blend 25/50. Did oil analyses on both and found they both hold their viscosity well. The syn blend 25/50 has more zinc (1240 or so) than the conventional (940 or so). However, keep in mind that if your engine has a roller...
  17. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 7.4 GL Slight Water in Oil

    I'm going to be scoping my elbows/manifolds in a few days to see how the joints look on the inside, they've been in use now for 5 seasons, I got one of those fancy endoscope cameras and used it to scope the water intake area on the outdrive where I have had barnacles growing in the past. These...
  18. Lou C

    Power Trim Stopped Working?

    1) is this boat powered by Merc or OMC? Many Four Winns boats came with OMC power. Ah saw your answer, OMC. 2) it’s not unusual for the wires inside the remote control to break; this is why doing the electrical checks is important. 3) if it’s an OMC Cobra boat like mine the older ones had large...
  19. Lou C

    Bravo 3 steering cable stuck in housing

    Yep there’s def some kind of leak there. I like Evinrude Triple Guard for sliding surfaces it sticks like crazy. As close to waterproof as you can get. A close 2nd and good for wheel bearings, gimble bearings & ujoints is Lucas Marine grease, this is a blue calcium sulfonate grease that’s a step...
  20. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 7.4 GL Slight Water in Oil

    And is your engine running at normal temp based on the thermostat rating? A stat that does not close all the way can cause the engine to run too cool and it won’t run hot enough to burn off condensation.
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