Mercruiser Message Board Needed - A GOOD ONE

[abl1111]

Hey guys. I am looking for a message board for Mercruiser's that is as good as this site is to SC's. I know it's a tall order to fill ( if even possible ), but if you know of one, pls send me the info.

Also, tech question: My 3 yr old/new 5.7L, 350 HP, freshwater cooled Mercruiser is making a really sh*tty sound @ 1800 RPM or more, when I turn the steering wheel all the way to one side or the other, or when I lift the trim up. Sounds like a mechanical sound i.e. a bearing connecting the drive and engine ?

Anyone have a clue ? Thx

[doug7488]

Sounds like the gimble bearing. It is located in the transom bracket or "helmut" bolted to the transom on the back of the boat that the drive itself is attached to.
It could probably wait until you pull the boat out for the winter. Not to big a deal, but the drive has to be removed.

[lost2a6]

Could also be a U-joint, gimble bearings usually make a winding noise all of the time.

[abl1111]

Bringing it in tomorrow - I'll let you know what it is. Thx for the input.

[spareparts]

if you have any questions on Mercuiser, give me a shout, I've been working on them since '85, certified since '87. Currently have a "Master Certification", I can't fix them over the line, but I might be able to help you out

[abl1111]

Thank you. It turns out it was my gimbal bearing. It was only (3) yrs old with 250 hours on the whole package. It was properly lubed etc in the Spring. The mercruiser guy I bought the package from initially thought I might have put the drive on without the 'main drive seal' seated correctly thus water intrusion, but it was sealed up nice and he keeps saying that I must have used the boat with the trim up too much ( which I know is wrong too because I never ever do that ). So, is it a common thing ?

Also, where can I buy a real Mercruiser shop manual without getting my butt reamed ? I just want the engine one, the drive I won't bother with.

In your experience, what are the most important preventative maintenance things to perform ? Also, is the add'l mercruiser warranty worth it ( I have the option to buy one before March ) ?

Thx...

[doug7488]

try Ebay for the manual. If you can afford the warranty, go for it.

[gss036]

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewforum;fid=24
Check here, several forums. My buddy seems to have to chage his gimbal bearing on his Mercruiser about evey 3-4 years, so must be commom.

[ThePHNX]

Hey spareparts, from up here on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Am disappointed in Mercury Marine; their information is notable in the lack thereof (see my post under performance where the drubs refuse to publish power curves so sound engineering judgments can be made.

Anyway: have subscribed to SeLoc's online Mercruiser manuals and find them as clumsy and poor as their print version: can you give an idea of:
. the quality of Mercury's shop manuals
. """""""""""""""""""""""" Owner's manuals.
Want GOOD details for servicing both routine and complex, of a 1976 Mercruiser GM I-6 165 HP I/O.
If necessary will spend the $70.++ bucks but want something as good as an auto makers manuals or even a Haynes or Clymer would be better than SeLoc.
Thanks, HBH

[1bayouboy]

I have the merc service manuals for the Bravo and the 350MAG
MPI....they both are pretty good.....much better than SELOC in my opinion...they seem more focused. I think the SELOCs try to cover too many variants in a single book.