Hydralic.

1. My older merc manual for those engines says 1 turn for all the engines,
inlines and v8s. 1 turn is also pretty common for most gm engines.

2. You have to take it off.

3. Socket and breaker bar on the front of the crankshaft. It is easier
with the plugs out.

Hydralic lifters almost never get out of adjustment but it won't hurt to
try. If you really have a lifter that is clacking it may be collapsed.
With the valve cover off you may be able to get a better feel for the source
of you noise. Valve train nise can be felt and changed by pushing on the
rockers while the engibe is idling. It is messy. They make clips that can
be placed on the rockets to limit the oil spray.

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..
I brought this up last year, and concerned about it again.
Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha one (130HP?). Does anyone
know if this engine has hydralic valve lifters, or adjustable?
I'm assuming that they are adjustable. Anyways, 3 questions:

1) Adjustment procedure, is it 1/2 turn, 3/4, or 1 turn
past zero lash ? Whats Mercruiser say, whats common.

2) How do you get the valve cover off with that bracket
on top? There is a big plate steel bracket on the left
that has a wing that bends in to hold throttle cable.

3) What the best way to turn the crankshaft for the
valve adjustment? Take plugs out, and just grab
the belt and man-handle it around like that ?

I'm concerned about this clacking noise that I've been
hearing since last year, ahortly after I bought it new.

Also, been hearing a "huffing" noise near the carb and
manifolds - sounds like one cylinder is "huffing" through
the carb or something. Hard to tell if its one "huff" for
each cylinder at idle, or just one cylinder out of four.
The boat runs fine. Idles well, accelerates, high speed...
There is nothing wrong with the way it runs, just wondering
about these noises (at idle) - this valve noise, and this
"huffing" type noise near the carb.


Thanks!