Hockeydad4-22
Cadet
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2014
- Messages
- 27
Good morning, my name is Greg and late last summer I inherited my Uncles boat. I had always admired it as it is the little brother to my Grandpas 20 foot Starcraft Cuddy that I have so many fond memories of. Well one day my uncle called out of the blue and asked me if I wanted his boat. The next weekend my son and I took a road trip to New Mexico and pulled her home to colorado. Now I should tell you all that I am brand new to boats, I have never owned one (ok, I own an inflatable pontoon I use for floating rivers and fishing but this one is the first one with a motor). However, I am pretty good with a wrench having restored a 51 f-1 pick up and resto modded a 66 mustang, 67 mustang, 74 bronco and I am working on another 71 bronco. Now I have my first floating project. The first few times we took her out she was perfect. No issues what so ever, then after the 4th trip, as I was pulling into the marina the control failed, no reverse!!! We loaded her up and took her home where I opened the control up and found one of the cams had broken. I ordered new cams and while I waited for parts, I winterized it and put her away till spring. Spring came, I brought her home from storage and rebuilt the control with new cams, lubricated everything and tok her to the lake. First thing I noticed, seems like I have a lot of play before she engages, both forward and reverse. I think this is incorrect. By a lot of play, I mean I bet it moves 1/3 of the range before anything happens. But we continue to use her. Everything works and this is my only concern at this time. Then all the sudden, she won't start. We have been on the lake all afternoon, pulling my son and his friend around on a tube and all at once... No start, no click no nothing. I fiddle with the Controll thinking neutral safety issue, nothing world. Tap the starter and solenoid a few times, still nothing. So we send teenagers for a walk to the marina to get us a tow in while wife and I relax and wait. After a while my wife turns the key and she fire right up. We bogie in and load her up. Once home I diagnose a suspect starter cable, replace it, the tilt switch and the ignition switch (tilt was intermittent fail and ignition... Well just because Full driveway test, everything runs, goes into gear both forward and reverse, bring it up yo temp using hose cuffs and all is good (still I my mind about the excessive play in the Control mind you) but off to the lake we go and launch. But at the dock... No reverse. Engine revs and even at full throttle, just a loud grinding noise, no engage of reverse. So we loaded her up again. Now I wonder, do I need to adjust cables? If so, how. Or should I open up that control again?
