Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Suggestions; Inspection - Mercury 1.7 MI Manual

MAINTENANCE
CE473

Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Suggestions

Present-day marine equipment, such as your Cummins MerCruiser Diesel power package,
are highly technical pieces of machinery. Special fuel delivery systems provide greater fuel
economies, but also are more complex for the untrained mechanic.
If you are one of those persons who likes to do-it-yourself, here are some suggestions for
you.
• Do not attempt any repairs unless you are aware of the Cautions, Warnings and
procedures required. Your safety is our concern.
• If you attempt to service the product yourself, we suggest you order the service manual
for that model. The service manual outlines the correct procedures to follow. It is written
for the trained mechanic, so there may be procedures you don't understand. Do not
attempt repairs if you do not understand the procedures.
• There are special tools and equipment that are required to perform some repairs. Do not
attempt these repairs unless you have these special tools and/or equipment. You can
cause damage to the product in excess of the cost a dealer would charge you.
• Also, if you partially disassemble an engine or drive assembly and are unable to repair it,
the dealer's mechanic must reassemble the components and test to determine the
problem. This will cost you more than taking it to the dealer immediately upon having a
problem. It may be a very simple adjustment to correct the problem.
• Do not telephone the dealer, service office or the factory to attempt for them to diagnose
a problem or to request the repair procedure. It is difficult for them to diagnose a problem
over the telephone.
Your local dealer / distributor of Cummins MerCruiser Diesel products is there to service
your power package. They have qualified factory-trained mechanics.
It is recommended you have the dealer do periodic maintenance checks on your power
package. Have them winterize it in the fall and service it before the boating season. This will
reduce the possibility of any problems occurring during your boating season when you want
trouble-free boating pleasure.
CE529

Inspection

Inspect your power package often, and at regular intervals, to help maintain its top operating
performance and correct potential problems before they occur. The entire power package
should be checked carefully, including all accessible engine parts.
Check for loose, damaged or missing parts, hoses and clamps; tighten or replace as
necessary.
Check plug leads and electrical leads for damage.
Remove and inspect the propeller. If badly nicked, bent or cracked, contact your authorized
Cummins MerCruiser Diesel dealer / distributor.
Repair nicks and corrosion damage on power package exterior finish. Contact your
authorized Cummins MerCruiser Diesel dealer / distributor.
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CMD-3967823 / 90-865237030 OCTOBER 2003
SECTION 5