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  1. Lou C

    How to test tach for accuracy?

    Or just get a tach/dwell meter and check it against that. + from the meter goe to - on the coil and - on the meter to ground. Put the boat in the water and see what it reads. I found that my dash tach reads about 150 rpm too high using my tach/dwell.
  2. Lou C

    OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

    And hopefully your clutch dogs are not rounded off because then even if everything else is right, you may have to replace at least the FWD gear and clutch dog depending on condition. With these or any other dog clutch shifted gearbox you want to shift it fast, so no grinding and for it to go...
  3. Lou C

    Broke down out of town.

    this is why I have Boat US towing insurance including trailer break down coverage, well worth it, even though I'm fully capable of changing trailer axle myself, wouldn't want to do it with the boat on the trailer. Upgraded this one from a 3500lb axle to a 6000lb axle this past September. Got the...
  4. Lou C

    Low Compression in two cylinders and blowby

    Agreed if it’s just the heads & head gaskets it’s not a bad job & can be done with the engine in the boat in many cases. You’ll need a machine shop to evaluate the heads and re-do them if they’re salvageable or if not (cracks & corrosion) you can easily find reman heads just get the same casting...
  5. Lou C

    23-24 foot vs 26-28 foot pros and cons?

    Agreed the DP is nice for maneuvering and quicker time to plane but in a heavy boat you need torque and to me that means Chevrolet 454 power.
  6. Lou C

    Replacement long block

    If this boat is raw water cooled you want marine head gaskets even in fresh water. Do it once & right. Fel/Pro makes nice gaskets
  7. Lou C

    Volvo Penta 4.3Gl (1998 carbuerated) running hot (or is it?!?!)

    That looks like the joint venture engine used then so that’s probably not the issue you either have low raw water flow when in the water or a sticky thermostat or clogged exhaust elbows. There is a plastic fitting for the raw water intake hose in the transom mount that can crack & suck in air...
  8. Lou C

    OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

    With these not staying in gear can be a sticky/corroded transom shift cable and/or a crudded up bell crank in the pivot housing. Either way you’re pulling the drive & checking: Shift rod height Cable drag Cable adjustment
  9. Lou C

    MerCruiser 4.3L V6 milkshake oil from cracked intake manifold, how to remove milkshake oil?

    1) how did you winterize the boat? drain manually and poke all drain holes? or suck AF up the drive method? If #2 that could explain and might have more things cracked than just the intake 2) I have posted this before, that Volvo & OMC said that the drain in the front of the intake on the...
  10. Lou C

    Water in spark plugs

    I had to something similar with my leaky head gaskets, run till hot, drain all water change oil, repeat. My HGs would leak not when running but when the engine sat for a day. Just a little water. Also sprayed fogging oil like mad. Was able to save the long block & installed reman cyl heads. Old...
  11. Lou C

    23-24 foot vs 26-28 foot pros and cons?

    Bigger is usually better as far as safety but if these bigger boats are twin I/Os with poor access they are a nightmare to self maintain. I’d take a 26 with a single big block with a wide open engine bay. Twins; can you even get at the inner spark plugs or even worse the starter on the port side...
  12. Lou C

    Hard starts after sitting for a week or so

    Also as far as hard starting remember that the linkages must be clean and there is usually a vacuum operated or linkage operated choke pull off. This pulls the choke plate open just a fraction of an inch to give the carb enough air to keep running. The choke basically increases the effect of...
  13. Lou C

    OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

    That, elevated engine temp due to the impeller not spinning fast enough
  14. Lou C

    Water in spark plugs

    Agreed take off the exhaust manifolds first & test with acetone. Then go from there
  15. Lou C

    Water in spark plugs

    The one piece manifolds have pretty small outlet holes and they can clog fairly easily. Here's a set of mine after 5.5 seasons in salt water. I had 3 sets of these on my engine and replaced them every 5-7 years which is pretty typical here. I then converted this engine over to the later style...
  16. Lou C

    Water in spark plugs

    As Bondo said air pressure test the block/ heads first then remove exhaust manifolds and fill with acetone to check for leaks…. If you need new manifolds I did the 2 piece conversion with Barr aftermarket & V/P exhaust pipes & hoses. Fit perfect….
  17. Lou C

    OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

    Do a search on my user name I’ve posted how to set up the shift system on the Cobra a few times. When set up right they will not clunk into gear & will shift out of gear with 2 finger pressure….
  18. Lou C

    New valve cover gaskets and still leaking V6 4.3

    Yep I did that too. Got a couple spare 4.3 intakes in my garage in case the original rots out under the thermostat. Still solid when I checked last time I changed the stat. Salt water never forgets
  19. Lou C

    Proper Carburetor adjustment

    However on a Volvo the exhaust is still raw water cooled even with closed cooling How did the water passages in the manifolds & elbows look? If they are starting to clog time to replace.
  20. Lou C

    New valve cover gaskets and still leaking V6 4.3

    That one you linked at Summit is the right one. Not specifically marine like the pre Vortec is but I don’t think it matters like with head gaskets. I’d carefully check the torque first.
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