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  1. Lou C

    Quit My Job . . .

    Teds Mercruiser Repair & Marine Interiors I can see it now!
  2. Lou C

    Happiest Day of Ownership !!!

    Ah the bottom paint is a job I gladly pay for even on a small boat like ours. I do paint the out drive but that’s it….
  3. Lou C

    4.3 over heating at low rpm Help

    When checking your temps with an IR temp gun you’ll find different parts of the ‘stat housing read very differently. On my OMC/Volvo design the top and sides read cooler than actual temp, I find that the location that reads most accurate is the intake manifold right under the stat housing...
  4. Lou C

    A Unique problem I have never seen

    Someone watching too many You Tube vids on winterizing.
  5. Lou C

    "Premium" vs "high performance" lube

    I’ve used the Merc High Performance on my Cobra because the OMC gear lube was hard to find locally. Been using it 15+ years with excellent results.
  6. Lou C

    No ground in fuel pump relay socket Volvo Penta 4.3 GXI

    That looks like the throttle body injection system used by GM where there are 2 fuel injectors like a 2 bbl carb. A stopgap system between carbs & port fuel injection.
  7. Lou C

    Ford 302 spark plugs

    When I pull the carb off for a rebuild always tape a piece of cardboard over the gasket on the intake!
  8. Lou C

    Ford 302 spark plugs

    Arrgh every mechanic's nightmare!
  9. Lou C

    2004 Merc TKS intermittently missing, running rich, running on.

    The Mercruiser 4.3s did seem to have a run on (dieseling) issue because I recall seeing a TSB to correct or at least reduce this problem, I don't recall if it was specific to the 2bbl or 4bbl carb though. Interestingly I have never had this problem with my OMC 4.3 4bbl Quadrajet carb version...
  10. Lou C

    4.3lx flywheel replacement

    Here's a pic of the starter and bolts, see the knurled section, that keeps it from getting loose. Notice how big the old direct drive starter was. They weighed like about 20 lbs, not easy to install holding it up under the engine with one hand and getting the bolts started with the other hand...
  11. Lou C

    4.3lx flywheel replacement

    I don’t know that there is a published spec per se but here’s what I’d do, use only the ones that come with the new starter or carefully measure the height of the starter mount area. Then thread the bolts into the block and measure the length from the block to the part of the bolt head that...
  12. Lou C

    4.3lx flywheel replacement

    Check the transom mount/exhaust Y pipe for leaks/corrosion, steering pin/arm and power steering actuator for leaks/bad seals & leaky hydraulic lines. When installing a new starter make sure the bolts are the right length; if they are too long & bottom out before clamping the starter ti the block...
  13. Lou C

    How to launch stern drive safely?

    Yes if it’s a stringer you must do as Scott says but if you have a Cobra (uses a gimble & trim system just like a Mercruiser), you back in till the stern is floating put the drive down about half way and then you can back off the trailer. With the drive half way down you can run in about 2.3-3...
  14. Lou C

    Will dealers still deal on new boats?

    By the time I get my boat in the water gas at the gas dock will be approaching $6.00 a gallon. That’s $264 to fill the tank, of a 20’ boat. That’s gotta affect sales!
  15. Lou C

    E15 and no REC gas

    I’ve run the boat (4.3 4bbl Quadrajet), 4 four stroke small engines and 5 two stroke engines and all have been run acceptably well on E10. However what annoys me is there really isn’t a choice. And there is really no benefit to the consumer of E10. None, at all.
  16. Lou C

    E15 and no REC gas

    There are 3 yes 3 gas stations on all 110 miles of Long Island that sell non ethanol gas.
  17. Lou C

    Might be buying an ‘88 Barretta Success 200

    That is actually a pretty common problem because the boat companies don't take the time to seal the raw wood with resin. If they took an hr longer to seal the opening and the 6 mounting holes, as well as the garboard drain fitting, the transom would last much longer. That and the owner not...
  18. Lou C

    Best boat trailer lights

    this brand is very good: https://tecniqinc.com/trailer/ I put a set on in 2015 and have not had to touch them since. Just make sure your connections are good.
  19. Lou C

    Will dealers still deal on new boats?

    I think if gas prices continue to rise as expected and there is no change in energy policy as expected I bet that the boating market will really start to slow down, despite the ramp up in it during the pandemic. When it's over 200 bucks to fill a 40 gallon tank on a small boat it will really...
  20. Lou C

    Might be buying an ‘88 Barretta Success 200

    boat looks good, the things I'd be concerned with are the condition of the deck under that carpet (I hate carpet in open boats, tossed mine in the trash when I re-did the deck on mine 15 years ago) and the quality of the job on the transom. Both should be checked out as much as you can looking...
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