Search results

  1. Lou C

    Partsvu - are they legit and OK to buy from or?

    BTW the same is true of ereplacement for power equipment parts
  2. Lou C

    Partsvu - are they legit and OK to buy from or?

    I have bought not boat parts but outdoor power equipment from them. Legit BUT prices can be higher than actual manufacturers suggested retail; I found this with Echo, Toro & Briggs & Stratton parts. Check the actual manufacturer website first!
  3. Lou C

    Merc 260 fit in Winns 190 Horizon bay?

    Not sure about the 190 but in my 1988 Horizon the engine mounts are definitely big enough for the V8.
  4. Lou C

    Time for my first bellow change, tips?

    Not sure about the Mercs but in my experience the OMC/Volvo ones can go at least 10 years before needing replacement. I do that when the rubber starts getting stiff & you start to see small cracks forming. That’s an early warning sign that it’s time….
  5. Lou C

    Converted I/O to hydraulic steering - kicker motor next?

    I’m also interested in this…
  6. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    It was always my experience that the OEM o rings fit very snug & the stat was very tight in there. The Ford set up is a bit different than the GM (Chevrolet) set up because the mount area for the stat on the GM intake manifold is horizontal but the Ford design is vertical. Not sure if that...
  7. Lou C

    Stupid me, no oil

    Any oil is better than no oil at all…..
  8. Lou C

    Stupid me, no oil

    I still do the lawn mower oil change every season. 1987 Briggs & Stratton 3.5 hp with the pulsa jet carb (the one that sits on top of the gas tank with the 2 fuel tubes screwed into the bottom of the carb). Why'd I keep it? Because unlike modern carbs I can set the fuel mix how I want, not how...
  9. Lou C

    Stupid me, no oil

    My 4.3 had the original 1988 short block which is hard to believe being run in salt water for 20 years but it’s true. I check the oil every time I use it & have a couple qts in the boat (and Dexron ATF from when my old p/s actuator leaked a few years back) as well. Spare belts & hoses & points...
  10. Lou C

    1996 Four Winns Sundowner with 5.0 Cobra engine and drive

    I never used sealant on the o ring only on the gasket where the stat housing bolts to the block.
  11. Lou C

    Volvo penta 4.3 gxi rough running

    Agreed if you’re going to try to DIY with a modern boat just like modern vehicles the scanners are a necessity. Those of us with old school boat still have to depend on traditional troubleshooting methods….
  12. Lou C

    Volvo penta 4.3 gxi rough running

    Are they going to convert back to a carb?
  13. Lou C

    Cobra intermediate cable replacement

    Yes that’s how it is, I’ve never had a problem with that. Before you go thru the trouble of changing it measure the drag on the cable with a fish scale (both ends disconnected)…If it’s less than 2.5 lbs it’s good; the other thing to look at is the cable jacket where it goes into the pivot...
  14. Lou C

    Starter crapped out today, I tapped it with a hammer then it worked.

    Yep go with the PMGR starter; just make sure the bolts are the right length ones & not too long. I used an ARCO PMGR with their bolts & no problems. Cranks engine over fast and doesn’t draw down the battery as much due to the permanent magnets…
  15. Lou C

    Does anyone remember when car & boat engines only had.

    On older boats I’ll take the old tech anyday. Reasons: EFI has computers, sensors & multiple points of failure. Older boat EFI system parts are often discontinued Corrosion in terminals is a common cause of intermittent headaches I can fully clean & rebuild a Quadrajet or Holley in about 2 hrs...
  16. Lou C

    Time for my first bellow change, tips?

    Agreed for parts that will cause a big problem if they fail or are difficult to replace go OEM if you can. I found the bellows job on my Cobra very easy. Very much like a Volvo SX. I do pull the pivot housing but I disco the shift cable up on the engine so the pivot can come back without having...
  17. Lou C

    This happened today, and in the blistering heat.

    You can always build a better boat with your own 2 hands and common sense, than the cheapskates running these companies! also something to be aware of is fine thread and coarse thread when doing jobs like this, wonder if they mismatched that and cranked them on and stripped the threads?
  18. Lou C

    1999 Searay 185 Knocking

  19. Lou C

    Stumbling at Cruising Speed - OMC 5.8L

    OK I don't have your engine in my shop manual (1988) so I don't know for sure what distributor you have, but if it's like mine (Prestolite points dist) it has mechanical (centrifugal) spark advance. This unit is under the points plate and it advances the timing with RPM using fly weights, and...
  20. Lou C

    Add cleat to trailer?

    Here's what I do. I dock on the starboard side so I put the loop under that side cleat, just loop it around the winch stand and tie it off on the other cleat. Take the tension off the winch strap and disconnect it, the line holds the boat. This way also the dock line is on the right side for...
Top