1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well got the new gear case installed. All I have to do is adjust the cables on it, and it should be ready to go. I'm on a bit of a break from the work on the boat right now due to the weather conditions, but it should be clearing up within the next couple of days I hope. After the weather is cleared up enough to where I can take the camera out there I will get the pictures taken, and get them posted on here of the new throttle lever. Since I probably have to pull the gears out as well for the lever I will take a picture of them as well.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

The weather is finally nice enough outside to work on getting the lower gear cable situated, and I'll get pictures of that on here a little bit later. Now after I actually get to fully restoring this boat here is a couple of pictures of the steering wheels, and boat control items that I'm wanting to put in it. There is a couple steering wheels, but only the one throttle lever.

Now this throttle lever I'm not to sure on or just keep the new (used one) I got a few days ago. After I get a picture taken of that I"ll post it on there, and let me know which one to keep. With the steering wheels which one of those 2 would go better with the boat I have.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

That first steering wheel is AWESOME! Got a link to it? That second wheel I bought for my last boat. It gets the job done but it's really a pretty cheapy wheel.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

That first steering wheel is AWESOME! Got a link to it? That second wheel I bought for my last boat. It gets the job done but it's really a pretty cheapy wheel.

Here's the link for the first steering wheel. I do kind of like the first one better than the second one. I found it on iboats so it works out perfectly. lol

http://www.iboats.com/UFLEX-Lavezzi...1446498--**********.440211856--view_id.391839

Here's the same steering wheel just a little different colors on it.

http://www.iboats.com/UFLEX-Lavezzi...1446498--**********.440211856--view_id.391675

What do you think about the throttle lever though?

 

[boatflipper]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Looks like a nice project you have there!
I definitely vote for the first wheel.
However, I have the second wheel also, it came with a steering cable kit I bought, and it works just fine and it is probably a lot cheaper compared to the first one.

Keep the pics comin'! I love it!

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well took the boat out on the water today after I got the new gear case, lever, and all cables adjusted. Now sadly the boat won't stay running in the water for more than 10 seconds. If you click on the link in my signature I posted about it in the motor section for the MerCruiser. Then when I got the boat home my trim hose broke, and now since I have no trim to keep the motor up I can't move the boat till I get it fixed next week. So I'm kind of at a stand still right now. I am going to get the seats measured and get to working on building the new seats for it. Hopefully we will ahve some good news there by the end of the year. Lets hope there isn't going to be any more major problems with this boat. I will have to give it a 100% tune up and everything before I put it in the water again. At least I got the fuel filter replaced. I went to check the fuel filter to see just how dirty it was, and well guess what there wasn't a fuel filter on the motor. That could have let dirt get in the carb and everything, but I got the carb all taken care of and cleaned out. I'll get some more pictures up here as soon as I get some more work done to the boat.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well pictures are to come up on here later today. Had to get a new SD card for my camera sadly. Anyhow still having problems with the motor which I did post this information in the motor section, but wanted to mention it here as well since it is part of the restoration process for this boat.

Well here is what is on the to do list right now with the motor.

• Spark Plugs
• Spark Plug Wires
• Mercruiser Tune Up Kits
• Carburetor Gasket
• Carburetor Kit
  
• Fuel Line from Fuel Pump to Carburetor.
• Dwell Meter
• Timing Light
• Feeler Gauge

Thankfully all of these items aren't all that expensive. I'm going to download the book for this motor off the site, and give it a good read. I have a lot of knowledge on motors, but not a marine motor. I know they are the same thing as a vehicle motor to a point, but some slight differences in them. Lets see if we can get this motor running in the water correctly.

All other projects on the boat right now are put on hold since getting the motor running is very important. Like I said before I can get it to run on land with the hose hooked up to it, but it just won't run in the water. Those steps just above are the first steps to take since they are the most talked about items with the problem that I'm having right now. Plus the good part is they are also the cheapest items as well; which I really like that. So we will see how it all goes, and lets hope for the best. Now there is a couple other things that have to be put on the to do list that I will mention here.

• Outside trim hose replacement

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well got some work done to the boat finally. Here is a list of items that have been finished.

• Spark Plugs
• Outer trim line
• Carburetor rebuilt (kit)
• Timing

I took a plastic 55 gallon drum, and cut it down in size to lower the outer drive assembly in to see if the boat will stay running while in water. Yesterday when I did this test so far so good. I have to adjust the float inside the carburetor though. It started over flowing gas and also noticed after I took the top of the carburetor off the needle came off the float. I must not have seated it correctly (First time rebuilding a carburetor). I also installed a brand new FM antenna on the boat as well. The plus side is hopefully the boat will go on the water today for a little bit to see if it will work for me or not. So lets pray it does. Here's the pictures I've been meaning to put up here.

This first one is the new lever. I don't have the plastic pieces snapped over the yellow mounting plate, but I'll get it on there eventually. The wires that are in front of the speaker are the trim wires ont he lever that I still have to splice in with the original trim so then the trim will work on the lever.

Here is the cute antenna that I put on the stern.

This is the new hydrolic line for the trim. The outer line.

The last 2 pictures are the outer unit sitting in a cut down barrel for water testing purposes.

Lets hope when I go to put the boat on the water here in about a hour everything goes well for it. If not of course I'll update this with the boat not moving yet. lol HAPPY EASTER everyone.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well here's the good news. I put the boat in the water, started it up, and it ran till I shut it off. Now for the bad news. When I go to put the boat in reverse it dies, but when I go to put it in forward it keeps running and revs up without any problems. It will also move forward as well. The other problem is I need to put a new battery in her. So we will see what happens. I just need to figure out why it won't go in reverse at all. Even to revs up the motor before it kicks into reverse it will die out. Any ideas?

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well took the boat to the boat shop to let them finish the work on the motor. The carburetor is completely show, and I have to replace it. The gimbal (don't know how to spell it) is also going bad. The switch back on the transom is also shot. It's completely busted and will have to be completely replaced. Basically this boat has now turned into a full restoration project since it most more than likely won't be going on the water this year with the expensive problems it's having. Lets hope I can put it on the water at least twice this year. Next week going to be ordering the new carburetor for it. The switch has already been ordered by the boat shop. Will let everyone know what happens in 2 weeks when I do get the boat back from the shop. Hopefully it's not as bad as I'm thinking it is.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Okay I have a little more to add to what is going to be done with the boat while it is at the shop. I'm having it set up with dual batteries, and going to install a charger on it as well. The carburetor is going to be a Mallory instead of the Rochester that is currently installed on it at this point in time. I actually found someone that is selling his crashed boat part out. I called and asked about the carburetor and he told me he would sell it to me no problems. The best part is he actually has the same engine I have in my boat. Only difference is his is for a 1970, and mine is a 1971, but they work together. The blower is bad so that is also going to have to be changed. It will be set up with a new bilge pump. The one currently in it is completely caked with motor oil. It was like that when I bought the boat. The navigation light will also be replaced with a LED style navigation light. The stern light will maybe be replaced with the LED style just depends on the money figures at that point in time. The carburetor will be installed and adjusted at the boat shop along with the switch that is on the transom. Everything else I will be installing myself.

After reading through Arch's thread on here, and looking at the pictures of the restoration on his trailer; it gave me some great ideas on restoring my trailer. I have a tandem axle, but I'm thinking about using single axle fenders on the 2 axles and kind of give it a different look in the end. Still trying to decide on what color to paint the trailer. The boat will stay white even after I repaint it, but it will have colors in the graphics that I put on it. I'm still thinking just go with a straight metallic black paint job. It's pretty standard on trailers anyhow. Just add a little extra to it. Maybe splash some extra colors some where.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well all the parts have been ordered, and below is a picture of the carb that I ordered. Not that bad of a price. $281 plus s/h it came out to 300.67 total.

Here's the link to the page for information on it.

http://www.iboats.com/Mallory-Carbu...1446498--**********.495171491--view_id.365493

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well here are the updates on my boat.

• Carburetor ordered (arrival time April 28, 2010)
• Shift Interrupter switch busted, and shop can't find one for it. They said they aren't made anymore and they will have to wire around it.
• Blower replaced
• Bilge pump replaced

Right now we are just waiting on the new carburetor to arrive at my house so IO can take it over to the shop and it get put on. I have ordered some of the wood to start rebuilding the seats in the boat. I think I'm going to work on rebuilding the motor cover first since that will be the easiest to take care of. Like I said in replies before I'm going to redesign it to give it a little bit of a different look. As I start the rebuild I will be posting pictures of it on here, and we will see how it all goes. I have not ordered the vinyl for the inter jsut yet, because I'm unsure of what color to make the inside of the boat. I'm thinking probably go with white/blue vinyl, but I'm currently undecided about that right now. The exterior color is going to stay white, and if anyone has any ideas please let me know of some ideas. Will update again when repairs are done, and hopefully the next time it is put in the water she will move without any problems.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well the great news is I got the new carburetor in the mail today. I took 4 pictures of it just to show each side of it. It was taken to the boat shop, and once they get it all put together the boat will be put bck on the water. It should be I hope Monday. We shall see.

Anyhow here are the 4 pictures I took of it.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well the good news is that I get to pick the boat up from the boat shop tomorrow. Sadly there is a 40% chance of rain, but after I pick up the boat I'm still going to put her in the water. I'll take a picture of her sitting at the dock just before I go out for a small cruise. I'll try to take a picture of the boat while I'm out in the water with her, but it won't really be that good of a picture.

There was a few other small problems that they found with the motor, and they were pointed out to me before they did the repairs. The copper tube that goes from the auto choke sensor to the top of the block was busted right at the block. They went ahead and changed the valve cover gasket, plug wires at my request, and I can't remember what the other two items were.

The plus side is after I get her home I will be able to start measuring the inside to get the dimensions for the seats, floor, and a few other parts as well. I'm first going to build a cuddy hole for a stereo that will be installed in a month or so. Will update the boat after I put it on the water to let everyone know how well it ran or if it is still having problems. I'll also put a couple pictures of the new carb that was installed o the boat as well.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Good luck on your test run!

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well took the boat out on the water today, and I had a blast with it. Sadly the water pump in the drive unit went bad on me, and I have to replace it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well I guess there's some good news. However I can't believe with all the work you've had done you didn't do the pump!!

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well the plus side is the water pump is a simple fix. I have one from my other drive unit thankfully, and after I take my son to school I'm going to get to work on it. I do have a 2 pictures from when I put it on the water yesterday. They aren't all that great cause I was trying to do the pictures while driving. As soon as I get them on photobucket I'll get them put up here.

 

[NetMatrix]

Re: 1971 Tom Sawyer (The newest to the family)

Well the boat went back to the boat shop today. They are going to have to get the lower unit slid back on for me. For some reason it wouldn't go back on the upper unit. Plus one of the seals in the upper unit broke so they are going to have to order the new seal and get it slid in there. Trust me I really wish I knew how to work on the motor's and the drive assembly, but I don't. There comes a time when it just needs to be done by someone that knows what they are doing. I should have it back tomorrow or Saturday plenty of time to go out and play on Sunday.