Oh look it's another boat! 69 or 70 Starcraft Falcon

In reply to 914Driver :

Seconded.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

I'll find one at the proper length and swap it out if things get squirrelly.

In reply to 914Driver :

I was wondering if there's a more elegant solution to that. The original stuff I pulled off had a special clip, but it was attached to the spring with no way to swap over.

I spent a couple hours wrapping up loose ends in prep to drop this tub in the water Saturday afternoon.

Got a new hitch mounted to the wife's Sante Fe, lower case oil drained then filled with fresh fluid, gas tank mounted and fuel line ran, fancy transom straps bolted on, and last but not least packing all the goods to do boat stuff. I pulled the vessel down to the gas station so I could fill it up, but heard the bearing noise I forgot to address from the trailer.

Rut row.

First thing first though, I wanted to run the outboard in my driveway before heading out to make sure it's going to run as intended. It fired up immediately, but after about 30 seconds or so shut off. I couldn't seem to keep it running for some reason, so I pulled the plugs and checked the fuel filter. Plugs seemed okay, but I noticed a crack in the vacuum pipe of the pump. Drats! I could keep the beast running just fine if I squeezed fuel through the line, but now the pump is leaking. I felt a bit defeated, but figured it's better than having to try to deal with this on the water.

So. Fuel pump should be here this week along with a new fuel fitting.

In the meantime I figure that gives me an opportunity to address the bearings. One side was good, the other side needs replaced. The new bearings should be here this week.

I leave this Saturday for a much needed family vacation, so I won't be gliding through any lake water until I get back. Oh well. It's so close and the warm season is over any way. I'm ready to turn a few laps and take a break any way.

Also I noticed some oil substance leaking out the top case hole area.

Untitled by hatchethairy, on Flickr

Untitled by hatchethairy, on Flickr

Untitled by hatchethairy, on Flickr

Untitled by hatchethairy, on Flickr

Untitled by hatchethairy, on Flickr

Untitled by hatchethairy, on Flickr

Is there a hose fitting for running water through the engine while testing it in your driveway? 

In reply to Hoondavan :

Not to my knowledge. Has to be ran in a tub/trash can. You can kind of see it in the second to last pic. I used my garage trash can on top of a cribbing blocks.

Ah so you too now own a trash can with a prop hole in it :D

The black stuff is likely just crap from the exhaust. Careful reving in a bucket, its easy to water starve the water pump. 

In reply to java230 :

Yeah you can hear it go low on water almost immediately. I'll clean up the residue and keep an eye on it. I need to read up on the low speed mixture settings and probably pull the carb for a good cleaning too.

In reply to captainawesome :

Just the nature of a 2 stroke too, always a little black dribble somehwere it seems. Especially is mixed on the richer side.

Yup, the black stuff is just the unburnt two-stroke oil seeping out.  

I got an actual trash can for my motors, puts the water at closer to the boat's waterline so I don't have to worry about starvation.  For long tuning sessions you need to be careful that the water doesn't get too warm.

If you're having trouble with the idle, make sure you replace the two fiber washers on each needle.  They usually come with the kit for the motor.  They get old and dry out and start to let air past.  Its a dumb solution but OMC went with it for 20 something years at least.  I guess boat guys are used to annual carb rebuilds.

So back to the top with this one. I haven't touched the boat other than putting a decent cover on it and building a PVC structure to support the middle. This weekend we are supposed to go the lake with some friends. It has been brought to my attention the boat was expected to debut. Okay........thanks for the warning?

Well crap.

Gotta test out the new fuel pump I installed before foul weather ruined my spirits.

Keep the outboard running and idling. Like more than a 60 second timeframe without assistance.

Ground wire on trailer wiring needs attention.

Possibly install starter and wiring so I don't have to pull start. Doubtful this will happen, but I'm a dreamer.

Panic because I still don't know what the hell I'm doing.

Either way, this weekend I'd like to find out two things.

1. Can I make a boat float and run?

2. Do I want to continue to own this thing or was it just a fun project to learn on during the virus we do not speak of?

Don't forget to bring along a couple paddles, just in case it conks out in the middle of the lake.  

In reply to stuart in mn :

Got one. Probably should have got two. I'll just chuck the kids in life vests out front to pull us ashore.

In reply to Hoondavan :

Is there not a universal clamshell hose adapter that will fit?  They come in a variety of size and shapes:    

HundredDollarCar said:

In reply to Hoondavan :

Is there not a universal clamshell hose adapter that will fit?  They come in a variety of size and shapes:    

That's for more modern motors.  The older ones like this don't have a setup like that.

Forgot to update about last nights shenanigans.

The 25hp runs.

The 25hp runs without assistance.

The 25hp appears to do what it's supposed to do in both gears.

My trash can is dead.

I need a larger metal trash can.

Pull start stays until after the weekend I think.

No issues pull starting whatsoever, so the idea of rushing the starter setup makes me uneasy.

Trailer wiring is all I plan to mess with next.

A cat has been sheltering in the boat.

No stench, but hair and a couple pricks poked through the passenger seat vinyl from it's claws.

I did what I could with the cover to prevent the feline from rent free passage, but only time will tell.

captainawesome said:

The 25hp runs.

......

My trash can is dead.

I need a larger metal trash can.

There's a story here, I think.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Technically it still holds trash but it is no longer capable of being water tight on 3 of the 4 sides. 

captainawesome said:

In reply to stuart in mn :

Got one. Probably should have got two. I'll just chuck the kids in life vests out front to pull us ashore.

Having actually been in this exact situation as a kid in a life vest (decades ago) it is surprisingly ineffective at motivating a boat.

It did get someone to stop and offer us a tow line, though.

Today was the day. We touched water. Unfortunately the old bastard motor didn't want to stay running. So we spent about 10 minutes fiddling and called it a day.

It floats.

Needs remote starter and kill switch.

It was super easy to load on the trailer with just a guide line.

My confidence level with everything is still low for docking, loading, and unloading.

The wife and kids are still excited but it's time I drop this thing off to trade that motor for a freshly refurbished 40 horse. I just don't have the time to tinker with it right now so I'll let an expert take the wheel for a minute.

Hopefully I can get it hooked up and on the water again in a week or two.

That's too bad about the motor.  Generally they just need the points cleaned and set, and the carb rebuilt at most.

Make it a habit, when you do start getting on the water and at the end of the day, to unplug the fuel line and let it idle at the dock until the fuel in the carb bowl is all consumed.  Helps prevent issues later.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

I may give it a go if the guy I am working with can't get me set up quickly.

It does look good sitting in the water, hopefully next trip you get some more wind in the hair

What was it doing when it wasn't running?  Idle for a bit and then die?

Looks great!  It's going to make some serious memories.  (not that it hasn't already, I'm sure)