Muffs??

[swick]

I am going to see a bass boat with a (1977 I believe) Johnson 115 hp this evening. Seller said everything runs fine, no problems, used in fresh water, and we can put muffs on it.

What should I be hearing or not hearing with muffs? Never used them before, don't know much about them.

Thanks.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: Muffs??

if anything its better to test run the boat on open water

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Muffs??

Muffs allow the motor to be run/cooled with a garden hose.

 

[Miroash]

Re: Muffs??

I am going to see a bass boat with a (1977 I believe) Johnson 115 hp this evening. Seller said everything runs fine, no problems, used in fresh water, and we can put muffs on it.

What should I be hearing or not hearing with muffs? Never used them before, don't know much about them.

Thanks.

The muffs are ok for an initial inspection, but I would insist on a "Sea Trial". That will tell you how the motor does under load, and it will also let you know much much more about the boat itself that you could never find out with the muffs on in somebodys driveway. I have seen many many threads on here where the first thing the person says is

Seller said everything runs fine, no problems.

you dont want to get home or on the water and find something you could have found if you took it out on the water. if the seller is telling the truth he will not have an issue with a sea trial.

 

[LiLGrady17]

Re: Muffs??

Best advise, already given===> Definitely sea trial the boat.

My engine ran fine on the muffs, only to OH on first outing this season..
(No WP tell-tales on pre 1980 Ev/Johnsons)

 

[swick]

Re: Muffs??

yeah I would have to agree with a water test. Especially because he was quick to say test it on muffs instead of in the water, and once in the water he was reluctant to let me drive it. Definately was trying to hide things and ignored obvious damage. Muffs are probably best used to flush outboard right?

 

[Miroash]

Re: Muffs??

Muffs are probably best used to flush outboard right?

That is the only reason I have them and the only time I use them. Most of the time I dont even use them I take my boat to a local fresh water ramp and back down and run the motor to flush while still on trailer.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Muffs??

sea trial

 

[sho3boater]

Re: Muffs??

Muffs only tell you it runs and that is about it. They can even force water in and later you find the water pump is bad but on the pressure hose it worked great. They can tell you if the engine leaks water in the boat, mostly with an I/O of course. They tell you nothing about the LU/outdrive or performance under load, or the steering, etc. I always run the boat on them in the spring to make sure everything is good to go before the lake, and if I have a boat in storage I get it out and run it on them.

 

[crawfordml05]

Re: Muffs??

Muffs are nice if you are just going to do some small repairs in the driveway, but if you are going to by it. take it out on the water. what happened to me is that i went and bought my boat from a guy and that is all that i did was to put muffs on it, and sure, it ran great in his driveway. but as soon as i handed over the check and took it to the lake and opened it up, it dies. that is that last time that i will make that mistake. although i still think i got a hell of a deal on the boat and i have only put about 400$ back into it to get it running like a champ. sum of story, if you are going to buy a used boat from someone, take it out on the lake and run it wot. i will never buy a used boat again without doing that. hopefully i will never have to buy a used boat again!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Muffs??

That is the only reason I have them and the only time I use them. Most of the time I dont even use them I take my boat to a local fresh water ramp and back down and run the motor to flush while still on trailer.

Dang- wish i had that kind of time
BTW- This is after you run in saltwater----right?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Muffs??

Running the boat under a load is much preferable to running it on the muffs. About the only thing that running on a hose will tell you, is that the motor runs.

It won't reveal one or more inoperative cylinders, unless you are very good at hearing the difference in sound that the motor will make. Most of the time, it also won't tell you if its pumping water on its own. Clutch dog condition can also be hidden, because without pressure against the prop, it will shift into forward and reverse and spin the prop, seemingly just fine.

Depending on the amount of money being asked for the boat, I would even recommend a trip to a reliable mechanic, if you are otherwise satisfied and seriously considering the purchase. A motor can seem to run well in the water too, but have a problem that is obvious to someone who knows what they are looking for. A couple of hundred bucks in shop time for a "once over" by the mechanic, could save you thousands in repair bills, on a boat that you might not have bought with such info.

As the saying goes, "buyer beware!"

 

[swick]

Re: Muffs??

Rock solid advice.

 

[swick]

Re: Muffs??

What about putting the prop in a garbage pail full of water? Isn't that better than using muffs? Would it tell you more?

 

[leeschaumberg]

Re: Muffs??

Hello

It's fun to read this board and see how little people know about boating.
Muffs are called that because of the way they look. But I've not seen anybody wear them (yet). The water pump impeller is rubber. When run dry they wear like pencil erasers. Just one start dry and your water pump can be history. Never ever start dry! When people do they keep the mechanics busy at the marinas. The marinas have to make money you know!
Flushing sea water out is also a good use.
So what do you want to do , take the motor off or hook up a hose?
Thanks

 

[swick]

Re: Muffs??

....

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Muffs??

What about putting the prop in a garbage pail full of water? Isn't that better than using muffs? Would it tell you more?

A tank large enough to run the motor in gear with significant power applied, will tell you most of what a run in the lake will, but a barrel won't. In a barrel, if you try to run the motor in gear and advance the throttle, you will just blow most of the water out of it very quickly. With a very small engine, you might get away with constantly refilling with a hose, but that's not going to work with a 115.

As far as the mechanic goes, obviously its not worth the money if you are buying a $300 motor, but if you are spending considerably more, it may be. At most shops, $200 will buy you at least a couple of hours of diagnostic time. Considering how much a trained, factory certified mechanic can tell about an outboard in two hours, that is money well invested. They will do a compression check, tank test with a test wheel, look for signs of damage and/or overheating, etc. When they are finished, they will give you a list of things that need to be done to the motor ..... AKA, a list of bargaining items for the purchase.

Its unfortuante that some poeple try to pass their problems off on others, at a price that is not fair for the value of what is being received, but some do. They make the honest folks look bad too and they make buyers careful. You might have a very nice buy, but assume that you don't until you satisfy yourself otherwise.