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  1. JimS123

    Newbie ???s about Trolling Motors

    I've been a boater for 50 years but never had an electric. I would like to put one on my 14' fishing boat and have been doing some reading. Here are my questions: 1. Opinions - Minn Kota or Motorguide - which is better as far as reliability and service life? 2. How large a battery is...
  2. JimS123

    Leaking Rear Seals

    I have 3 boat trailers. Two singles and a tandem. Fresh water only. The singles had the dust caps replaced with Bearing Buddies when new before they even hit the water. When the tandem was 10 years old the bearings were repacked, new rear seals put in and BB installed. All 8 wheels have a...
  3. JimS123

    1999 Force 120 Power Loss and Stalling

    The motor is on a 27' Party Barge Pontoon. It was properly winterized last fall and just commissioned for the year today. It was quite hard to get started, which is not that unusual after sitting all winter. But when we took her out she seemed to have a power problem, since we could not get...
  4. JimS123

    88 Octane?

    I am running a one-owner 1984 Mercruiser 3.0 L 140 HP engine in my Stingray bowrider. The engine has run flawlessly from day one and I intend to keep it that way. I have always been meticulous about maintenance. It now has about 1200 hours. About 10 years ago I upgraded to Pertronics...
  5. JimS123

    Retractable Outboard Motor Bracket

    When I bought my boat new in 1984 I immediately equipped it with a new 9.9 Evinrude 2-stroke kicker. I used an OMC bracket (the one with the gas powered lift cylinder) and it has performed flawlesly until last year. The cylinder has lost its gas and a few of the holes in the aluminum mechanism...
  6. JimS123

    Pre-Made Boat Cover

    Looking for a new cover for my Starcraft SF14. In the past I have had only soso success with buying mail order covers. None fit too well. Anybody recommend a supplier and manufacturer?
  7. JimS123

    Signaltone Electric Trumpet Horns

    I picked up a set of horns cheep at a garage sale and they don't work. I diassembled them and the internals all look good. The seal was tight and didn't look like any water intrusion. Looking inside, I'm really not sure how they work. THere is a component in the center that looks like an...
  8. JimS123

    Mercruiser Engine Rumble

    The motor is a 1984 140 HP alpha one all original. Meticulously maintained, about 1100 hours. Always garage kept unless its in the water for the day. Yesterday on clear flat water running about 3500 rpm I noticed a "rumbling noise" that appeared to come from the engine or outdrive. It was...
  9. JimS123

    2-stroke, 4-stroke, Merc or Yami???

    Ok, time for a new boat. It WILL be an outboard, but which one? I WOULD buy an E-tec, but that's not available locally or on the boat I am looking at. The choices are: * Verado * Optimax * Yami 4-stroke I had all but made up my mind to buy a Yamaha 4-stroke. But recently I have been...
  10. JimS123

    4.3 Merc just died

    Carbureated 4.3 mercruiser alpha 1. 2007 model with about 60 hours. No problems thus far. We were running out in the lake at dusk at about 3000 rpm when the motor just died. The only thing runing at the time were the running lights. It would not restart or even turn over. The ign switch...
  11. JimS123

    Mercruiser 3L Fan belt replacement

    It's a 1984 model and the alternator belt is finally showing its age. The belt goes around the port side front motor mount. There are 2 bolts and a shim to remove and I'm guessing that the motor needs to be supported in some way. Anyone have a good photo or can desribe accurately how to...
  12. JimS123

    3-blade, 4-blade ???

    On my last few boats, whether inboard or outboard, I have always put on a 3-blade SS prop. I have always felt that I have gotten better performance in doing so. Last year my son bogught a new Stingray 210 Cuddy with a 5L Mercruiser. There is no question that the dealer installed the wrong...
  13. JimS123

    Shakespeare Wondertroll 101

    I recently picked up a like new version of the subject motor and was wondering its age. Anybody know the time period that the 101's were made?
  14. JimS123

    Chinese Mercury?

    A dealer told me that most of the Mercury outboards are now made in China. Tell me it aint so!!!
  15. JimS123

    2-Stroke Yamaha Availability

    I read somewhere that starting in 2008 Yamaha would not be importing any 2 strokes for retail sales. The only ones coming over were to be for Commercial use only. A dealer at our recent boat show said otherwise. Who's right?
  16. JimS123

    3 Liter Mercruiser Fan Belt

    How do you change the bugger? The belt goes around the front motor mount. Does the engine need to be jacked up and held in place while the mount is removed? If so, how do you realign the engine unless you have the proper tools?
  17. JimS123

    Yami 25 Hard Starting

    My 2007 25 HP 2-stroke has just passed the break-in period. It ran rough at first and smoked a lot, but now that I'm running 100:1 with new plugs and have about 16 hours on her, she runs great. My only complaint is that it takes 10-12 pulls in the morning when the engine is cold to get her to...
  18. JimS123

    Run Fuel out of Carb?

    I have been an Evinrude guy for 40 years. Just recently wanted to upgrade to a 2-stroke short shaft manual start and Yamaha was the only manufacturer that met my requirements. So, I bought a 25 HP model. I have always made it a practice to pull the fuel line and run the carb dry EVERY time I...
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