Flush the engine...might be a stuck or dirty valve. What type of oil are you
using? It may be too thick...

Jim Rojas

"FOP NO98" wrote in message
...
Fired up my four-year old Jasper remaned 5.7 Mercruiser (carb ) today.
Now
have a metal on metal-(ting ting ting) sound coming from what seems to be
the
timing gear cover. Seems to dissapate when the engine warms up. Motor has
about 130 hours on it. Put new water pump on it two weeks ago. Any help
would
be appreciated!