1988 SeaRay Seville Bow Rider 20...This is my third boat and its new to me although a classic boat with no info...new to this site as well, looking for the owners manual that might exist out there. I need a suggestion on a good Mercruiser manual for engine, it needs new belts, probably plugs, wires, fuel pump, owner states runs but at times will bog down for a minute but then regain power...its a 4 cylinder 3.0L I/O (my first I/O!) just started researching, is SELOC a good manual, ebay seems to have some pricey manuals from Mercury, any suggestions with these questions? Thanks for your help in advance!
Advice on service manual/engine bogging down
- Thread starter jcundiff
- Start date
Ididntdoit
Well-Known Member
Seloc is to boats like Chiltons is/was to cars - a lot of info, but often covers too many models and doesn't really dive into diagnostics.....the mercruiser service manuals specific to the motor are far more $$$ but way better too. Tuning it up may not require a manual - use google and youtube - plugs cap and rotor should be straight forward as should rebuilding the carb and replacing the fuel filters - when you do the plugs, do a compression test as well (leakdown is even better) to get a baseline of the engines health
Little Ducky
Well-Known Member
- Jun 5, 2017
- 2,654
- Boat Info
- 1998 290 Sundancer
- Engines
- Twin EFI 5.0L w/Alphas
Kohler 4kW
I've been lucky to find service manuals online.
Post up your engines serial number and I'll start looking.
Post up your engines serial number and I'll start looking.
DaytonaJohn
Member
- May 17, 2019
- 33
- Boat Info
- Boatless
- Engines
- 3.0L Mercruiser Alpha One
I'm about 2 weeks ahead of you brother ! My new- used 2003 176 SRX had no paperwork except a title and trailer registration. the test ride was slower than normal. The dealer took it in on a trade in and said they changed the propeller. He was a useless mouthpiece falling behind the excuse " I'm not a mechanic ". The propeller was the wrong DIAMETER making the engine bog. Using information shared on this site, I just bought a new propeller that was the same as when it left the factory. I will put it on tomorrow.
I contacted Sea Ray and told them I couldn't read the engine number on the spark arrester because the ink had worn off. I added that after contacting Mercury to order manuals, they needed my serial numbers for the engine, drive housing, and drive. Sea Ray will email you the numbers from the build sheet. Mercury used those and sent me the books I needed for parts and service. They were over $200 and worth every penny. Today I installed my lower unit after installing a water pump impeller and added the new gear case oil. I was told that is a $400 job so I'm ahead already !
I try to do museum quality restorations of my Mercury vintage outboards. I am VERY familiar with Mercury parts books and it's marginal Service Manual printed in 1965. It is far better than Seloc in my opinion. My books that arrived from Mercury are for the 3.0L Alpha ONE 4 cylinder engine and the Alpha ONE Gen II sterndrive Mercruiser.
My trim gauge on the dash board had been disconnected so these books will help me figure out how to fix that gauge of replace the electrical components on the gimble. It doesn't take long for do-it-yourself repairs to pay for the books ! This is my first non-outboard boat. I hope to get the boat in the water in another day or so.
I contacted Sea Ray and told them I couldn't read the engine number on the spark arrester because the ink had worn off. I added that after contacting Mercury to order manuals, they needed my serial numbers for the engine, drive housing, and drive. Sea Ray will email you the numbers from the build sheet. Mercury used those and sent me the books I needed for parts and service. They were over $200 and worth every penny. Today I installed my lower unit after installing a water pump impeller and added the new gear case oil. I was told that is a $400 job so I'm ahead already !
I try to do museum quality restorations of my Mercury vintage outboards. I am VERY familiar with Mercury parts books and it's marginal Service Manual printed in 1965. It is far better than Seloc in my opinion. My books that arrived from Mercury are for the 3.0L Alpha ONE 4 cylinder engine and the Alpha ONE Gen II sterndrive Mercruiser.
My trim gauge on the dash board had been disconnected so these books will help me figure out how to fix that gauge of replace the electrical components on the gimble. It doesn't take long for do-it-yourself repairs to pay for the books ! This is my first non-outboard boat. I hope to get the boat in the water in another day or so.
