SeaRay 180 Mechanical pics needed.... Also spark plug gap?

[User Error]

Scott I assume you'll prolly be right on top of this... but I need a photo of the cap of what I believe to be the trim fluid resivior. Right over by the battery. Mine is not making a very good seal and leaking a bit out the top. The cap will not get tight. Is this a snap lid or does yours thread on and get tight? I think someone may of put a differant cap on mine and it may not be what is needed. Would love a photo of someone's that makes a good seal to see if it's the right cap.

On a second note what are you all Gapping your plugs to? I've seen .35, and .45 suggestions. I also saw an explination for this today. The lower .35 is for older 3.0's with Points, and .45 is for electronic ignition. Wonder if anyone can sum this up for me. I pulled mine out and regapped today at .45 from about .32 and it really seemed to be alot smoother on ear muffs. Trying to test run tommorow to see if it's better under load in the water if not heading out friday. Also what brand? I swear by NGK Plugs which is what was in the boat when I bought it so I went back with them. anyone tried differant brand plugs and seen a differance?

 

[Scottbenson]

:huh:Oh yeah, all over this. When I got my 180 last year it was leaking a little trim fluid too. I took three pics. There is an inner red splash guard that fits inside the cap. Is yours there like the pics. My cap also does not screw down tight, but will click kind of like an auto gas cap. In looking inside the cap threads, they are designed to be interupted in what I assume is to prevent the cap from being over tightened. I cleaned up the oil and accumulated crud off mine when I bought it and tightened the cap as much as possible and it hasn't leaked since.

Oh yeah, I gapped my plugs at .045 when I got it but don't remeber the brand I bought. I bought what was recommended by Mercruiser.

I just realized I don't know how to attach my pics of the cap. I will try to find your e-mail and send them directly to you. But....failing that, I have a yellow cap with and inner red splash gard that comes out of the top of the reservoir hole.

 

[Scottbenson]

Figured it out

 

[User Error]

Thanks, as I figured mine is incorrect... well partially. I don't have the red peice. I wonder how hard this is going to be to replace... You know now that I think about it I don't even know where a Sea Ray dealer is in this town. Hrmm... but I guess thats going to be a Merc part so any new boat dealer with Merc power should be able to get it I would assume? Is that peice plyable like soft rubber or hard to semi hard? it reminds me of a front brake master cylinder cap for most sportbikes. They have a soft rubber insert like that but it colapses (sp) so it can expand to fill the void as the brake fluid level decreases under use and heat.

The threads on that were odd to me do you tighten by twisting or simply pushing it down? it looks like snap threads to me as the are level and not on an incline.

 

[Scottbenson]

The red piece is hard plastic like the yellow cap. The yellow cap also twists on and doesn't snap. But.....you can only tighten it so hard and then it will click. You could probably use a thin large flat nylon or rubber washer too.

 

[srok1]

Scott,
The red cap you have under the yellow one is a shipping cap from the mercruiser factory and is suppost to be removed by the dealer.

 

[User Error]

Scott,
The red cap you have under the yellow one is a shipping cap from the mercruiser factory and is suppost to be removed by the dealer.

This is interesting, I guess i will have to inquire with the dealer becuase I think the added thickness of this red cap would allow my yellow cap to get good and tight where as without the red peice it seams to be very loose and allow the fluid to leak out...

Can anyone else get in on this do you have the red peice or not?