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    Serial number ??

    I removed my circa 1988 Alpha One outdrive just recently and would like to buy some parts to freshen it up. I can't find a serial number on the unit itself and all the retailers ask for the serial number. Can anyone tell me where to find serial number? I have paper that says serial # is...
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    Tow vehicle help

    OK, I have a 3500lbs (dry weight) boat that I need to drop in the water in the spring and remove in the fall, I travel about a 4 mile distance from house to lake on quiet country roads. Here's the question, I would like to buy a second hand vehicle capable of the job. I would like it to be...
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    Milk white fluid by transom

    I have a 1988 350 magnum engine with a alpha one outdrive and splashed the boat this weekend. Had a faint click/clack sound and opened the engine cover and saw about one inch above where the driveshaft goes thru the transom on a piece of metal which looks like part of the transom mount two drops...
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    Lower Unit washer

    Are the washers the same for fill and vent? talking about an Alpha one, here. looked in service manual 6 and did not see p/n#'s, anyone know? Thanks
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    350 vs 350 magnum

    I have a 350 magnum and it is listed as 270 hp, 10 more than a regular 350, the specs for both engines are the same including compression, i'm having a debate with a friend about the difference between engines, some say pistons, others say cranks, 2 bolt or 4 bolt main. anybody know for sure? thanks
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    Lower unit oil

    I was just at one of the big box stores and they wanted 10 bucks a quart for Quicksilver High performance gear lube. Sounds a bit expensive, is that about right? is there a non high performance? any other substitutes available? Thanks
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    Reading Serial numbers

    My 1988 Merc 350 mag has a sticker on it that says "Stern Drive Unit Serial # & gear ratio OC381550", can that tell me what generation drive I have and what my gear ratio is? A Neighbor mentioned to me that my drive may have been updated because in 88 the trim hydraulic hoses were rubber and...
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    Overheat question

    I have a 350 mag with alpha one drive, when cruising at low RPM for extended periods the temp starts to rise, as soon as we get underway the temps are fine and stay constant. Is it wise to try changing out the tstat initially just because it's simplest and see what happens? If so, any specific...
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    lower unit oil

    On a Merc alpha 1 gen 1, what lower unit oil is acceptable? Does it have to be marine specific? Thanks
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    Previously drilled transom holes

    I will be adding a depth sounder with transom mounted transducer to my boat. There are already some old holes that have been sealed, possibly with 5200 but not sure, can that stuff be drilled or will it act kinda rubbery like silicone? Can I put the electric wire thru the hole with speedo pitot...
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    NE1 done "application for a boat HIN" in NYS

    Just wondering if anyone has done the whole process and if this will work for an old 1971 boat with no paperwork. Thanks
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    Hybrid trim questions-Bennett/Insta-trim

    On a newly purchased (used ) boat i have a insta-trim system installed, also on the boat is a bennett auto trim tab switch, black box(gyro?) and a panel for the connectors, apparently at one time the bennett system was installed then returned to insta-trim for a reason unknown to me. I was...
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    one more bilge pump question

    I have a double battery system with a perko switch, should the bilge pump be connected directly to battery or can I have it connected ti pos "1" for e.g. on the battery switch? Thanks
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    ignition coil ??

    Someone gave me a 1983 OMC sea drive v-4 motor, it appears in good shape except one of the coil towers is broken off, I have the broken piece and it fits in place very nice, it has a 3/8" fine wire sticking out of it, if i insert that wire back into the hole it came out of and use some JB weld...
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    Some more impeller questions

    I want to go over my boat before the season, it's a new boat to me. I feel confident to remove the outdrive and replace impeller on the bench and have some questions. 1) How do i know the difference between alpha 1 generations? it is on a 1988 boat with a 350 merc magnum engine. 2) Can I buy a...
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    Century Mustang 195 parts

    I'm gonna be getting rid of the above boat, it's a 1980's era with a merc 4 cylinder i/o, think they were called 470, if anyone needs parts let me know quickly and i'll see whats left. In NY area.
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    Grease questions

    OK, I have foreign cars, a harley, tractor equipment and now a mercruiser engine, everybody says to use their specific type grease, how many grease guns or tubes can a guy have??? Is there any one grease that can meet all the different types of requirements? I suppose it needs High RPM, high...
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    Seat hardware, look at pics, please.

    I need to replace these seat sliders on my 88 Cobalt, they are no longer available thru Cobalt, does anyone recognize these items? possibly available thru another retail dealer? Thanks
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    WOT adjustment

    I have a 1988 350 merc mag engine 260 hp with a 4 barrel carb, last year it was not reaching WOT I thought it was propeller but after removing boat from water I niced when i shifted the throttle to full the butterfly stayed closed. What should i be looking for and any tips on adjustment.Thnaks
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    throttle cable lubrication

    I have read about the throttle cables needing lubrication, I have a merc Quicksilver unit monted next to dash, I removed the trim cover from the top and I can see some linkage and some white grease has been applied, I could do that easy enough, but I thought the cables themselves had to be...
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