www.iFourWinns.com

I just wanted to thank Bill Kearney for turning me on to this group. I have been lurking for a few weeks and have learned a bunch. My brother and I just bought a 358, traded in our old 288 (which I loved).

We are having as much fun working on the boats as we have driving them. We try to do all of our own maintenance. We are at our 20 hour mark on the new boat, time for the service. I notice with the V drive 6.2 Mercs they don't really want you to do that yourself. I asked my local marina why and the service tech said that most people overfill the transmission. I can't see this as a probleml, is there something else on that service that could be tricky?

We also have an issue with excessive vibration at 4,300 rpm and higher but it isn't there 100% of the time. I can really feel it while sitting in the aft seat but don't really notice it in the drivers seat. Anyone else experience this with v drive 6.2 mercs?

Thanks,

Chad Keller, St. Louis

Chad,

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you here!

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Brett DiMichele

Ditto, Welcome aboard. I'm jealous of the 358. The wife really loved that model at the last boat show.

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

Welcome aboard Chad! My wife's name is Keller, from Buffalo, NY... small worlds eh?

I have the 6.0L Crusader engines and ZF v-drives. I could see how someone might overfill the trans.

About that vibration, the local ZF guy showed me a trick. He said watch the engine and the stuffing box. If it's vibrating up on the engine and NOT the prop shaft stuffing box then it's probably a bent prop. If it's the stuffing box and NOT the engine then it's probably the shaft itself. So pop the hatch and eye-up the engine, presumably while someone else is running the throttles, of course.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Welcome aboard.

Sorry, Can't help with v-drive vibrations. Every v-drive seems to get them. Part of the reason I prefer stern drives....

Love our 348V, but like with all boats, it pays to have resources like this board.

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2004 Sea Ray 420DB
Formerly: 2005 348 Vista