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    connecting tach/ determining RPM

    The tach likely runs off stator pulses. They do this because every HP motor has the same number of stator pulses at a given RPM, so a universal outboard tach may be used. I would have thought the timing light tach would have worked. The automotive tach's are probably hit and miss. That is...
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    Drilling vent holes in a prop

    There was a template that showed exactly where to drill the holes. I would think that a drill press and a jig to hold the prop in the right position would work fine. However, the holes are to let the exhaust ventilate a bit and help the prop slip more when first accelerating. This helps the...
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    Found some rocks with my prop...

    Gee, I have found that TP Hustler props in aluminum have real good performance. Aluminum props usually destruct when you hit something, saving the propshaft. That can be a good idea, depending on the conditions. For example, I had a 18foot sterndrive that I often ran in a shallow creek...
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    Portable Gas Tank Location

    Gee, batteries, outboards and portable fuel tanks have been side by side for decades. Open boats with outboards do not have an issue there. Obviously, inboard and sterndrive boats need a blower for the fuel tanks, but not the batteries.
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    Sticking weather seals

    I put a thin line of caulk to glue the seals to the cover. It is not perfect, but pretty good. Clean the mating surfaces with a solvent, before adding caulk.
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    New study on tow boat environmental impact

    So you are blaming wakeboard boats for washing the soil out of the rocks, but not waves, wind, rain and snow, ice etc? No sure I agree.
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    Mercury Throttle and Shift - Neutral Safety switch problems?

    saaf, you should start your own thread in the Mercruiser forum. You should also describe your controls, as a lot of them have the keyswitch on the dashboard, and that makes the neutral interlock switch very easy to test.
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    Best rust loosening material

    Gee, most of the time the 5/16" ubolts on my trailers just broke, when I tried to remove them. They were galvanized and looked rust free, but they broke, just the same. The larger ubolts usually came undone w/o breaking. make sure you have a source for replacements, just in case.
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    Need advice 96 Merc

    I would rebuild the waterpump, and test the thermostats and poppit valve, test it and see how much power she has. If acceptable, run with it. To repair it is not a lot more complicated than fixing a small engine, since it is 2 cycle. You will likely need to bore out the #3 cylinder and get a...
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    1979 80HP Mercury

    The motor must crank with the choke button pushed and held, or she will not choke. You should only need to choke the motor once a day, when first starting. Of course, if she doesn't want to restart, a bit of choke (1-2 sec) when cranking can help start 'em.
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    Had a heck of a day

    Gee, I had to tear down my inline 6 Merc and rebuild it. I still didn't know what was wrong with the ignition on the runabout. I was glad to get back to work, at least for a while. I was a manager, and although the boats did not obey me, some of my staff did.
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    1979 80HP Mercury

    Vents on portable tanks need to be open when using the motor. If the vent is closed, you will starve the motor of fuel and possibly cause a vacuum in the fuel tank. Fuel will not empty back into fuel tank unless there is a vacuum in the tank. it will never empty the carbs back into the tank...
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    Tilt/Trim Problems

    The big nut on the tilt tube has nothing to do with the PTT system. Grease the tilt tube. Usually there are zerk fittings for this. My '98 Johnny has two of them, as it is split in the middle. Usually to fill the PTT system, tilt the motor up all the way, with the boat level. Now wait a few...
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    Had a heck of a day

    That stinks. However, a lot of times, if you boat a lot, stuff like that happens. Some years ago, I had a runabout with an intermittent ignition. I had already been towed in by all my neighbors (before tow boats had been invented). I asked wifey to stand by with the speedboat, to tow me in...
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    1979 80HP Mercury

    You should not need any choke when restarting the motor. Those motors are real hard to flood, but maybe you have done it with the excess choke.
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    Anyone know what this female plug on the radio head unit is for?

    Antenna for the tuner?
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    2000 Merc 135 carb help requested

    I presume your idle mixture is adjustable? Merc carbs usually do not have accelerator pumps, and as such the idle mixture need to be a bit richer. So, richen it 1/8 turn on a single carb throat (top carb first) and see if she accelerates better. If so, repeat with the other throat, and...
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    1996 115hp can't get starter to engage

    Is it spinning in the correct direction? If the magnets are installed upside down, the starter can spin in the wrong direction.
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    New study on tow boat environmental impact

    Gee, I think it is crap. Waves churn up the bottom during storms as well as on normal days. You heard about all those boats flipping or sinking in Lake Tahoe, when the wind blew up unexpectedly. Was the bottom of the lake unaffected? For several years, along the Island beach portion of the...
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    Let's talk skill...

    One thing to remember is that different boats often handle differently, even if they look similar. So get some practice with the boat, to make docking easier.
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