Where to start

[peanutsdad]

I have been lurking for awhile and am impressed with the amount of knowledge and know-how among the members. My question: How does one start to learn about motor repair, re-build etc?

You have a motor, a manual, do you just start taking stuff apart and learn as you go? I mean judging from some of the technical help given on this site I swear guys are dismantling and assembling carbs & lower units in their sleep.

I'd love to learn but am afraid of the results. How do you do it.....

 

[45Auto]

Re: Where to start

You have a motor and a manual. You buy the correct tools as you need them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

When you (or one of your friends) has a problem, you follow the steps in the manual until it's fixed. Or you pay some shop (where in many cases the "mechanic" knows LESS than you do, and doesn't really care about your stuff) about $100/hour to do it for you.

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: Where to start

no idea, but I'm so mechanically uninclined the first person to teach me something mechincal like boat engine repair should be treated like they were the 1st person to walk on the moon or something.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Where to start

Small engine repair class at MATC ?

Motor, manual, more time than money.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Where to start

My very honest suggestion to you is that if you are as mechanically/electrically challenged as you said you are, there are lots of things you need to do before you even pick up a service manual or tool. You need to head to the library, or go on-line and read all you can about how engines actually work. There are currently two stroke designs as well as four stroke designs (which are very much like the engine in your car). Until you understand the differences, how they work and how the fuel delivery and electrical systems function you cannot possibly repair an engine. It isn't just about taking it apart and putting it back together. That's the simple part and that's where the manual is invaluable. Knowing "what" is broken and how to determine that (diagnosis) is the key to a successful repair. When the customer once told a plumber "all you did was hit this pipe and you want $100??? -- to which the plumber said "yes -- but knowing where to hit the pipe and how hard was the difficult part (diagnosis)!"

 

[Beefer]

Re: Where to start

I used to be completely and entirely mechanically inept. Changing oil in my car was about as far as I would go. Now, if the time allows, I will do almost anything and everything myself. I don't do as much of my own work on my cars or boat anymore, simply because of the time restraints, but, when I did, here's how I was 'forced' into becoming my own mek-a-nik, and it's a bit of a story.

I came across a Corvette that was an absolute steal. It was an '85, 2 owner, bright red, etc., etc. I jumped on it. I am not a man of endless wealth by any means, and to be able to own a (running) Corvette was a head-reeling dream. So my second day driving, I pull away from a stop light, and the car goes about 20 feet, and dies. Kaput. Have it towed and a mechanic friend determines it's the fuel pump. So I call around, and the lowest I could get it down for was $750. No way did I have that kind of cash. Called around to the auto parts places, and found the fuel pump was only $139. I could afford that. Bought the pump and the repair manual, and literally, 40 minutes later, the pump was changed, and I was off and running again. I realized that if I was going to be a Corvette owner, but couldn't afford the 'Corvette Tax' on parts and repairs, I better learn to do it myself. So I did.

Since then, I've built a VW from the ground up, replaced an engine in a Cherokee, and a tranny in a Blazer, among tons of other things. Confidence.

It's the same with boats. It's a machine. Someone once told me you only have to be 2% smarter than whatever it is you are dealing with to succeed. I like to think I'm 2% smarter than a hunk of metal (wife might argue that one though).

Dig in, and go for it. If you screw it up, there is always someone out there that make it right. It'll just cost you (more). The price of education.

 

[peanutsdad]

Re: Where to start

Great advice. Thank you!!!!!

 

[MRS]

Re: Where to start

I was having a heck of a time trying to bust a nut loose on my truck cussed at it throw stuff at it still would not come off. Older friend walked up and said slow down and think, you are smarter than that bolt. I did and it did come off I always remember that when I am having trouble fixing anything....

 

[convergent]

Re: Where to start

Thanks for asking this question, because I was kind of thinking the same thing. I do have experience in the distant past with getting really into mechanical repair. I used to drag race and built my engines, fabricated a lot of things on the car. I even bought a welder and taught myself how to weld on the fly. I wasn't really afraid to dig into anything like that. I also did the motorcycle thing for a while and that also required a bit of work. These days I feel like I've accomplished something if I can change my brakes successfully. So I just bought a boat a month ago... an older one... and I would love to handle all my own maintenance and repairs. The prior owner had the aftermarket manual which I have, but there are so many things I don't know that I don't know. Like basic maintenance and such. This site is a great help. Just reading other people's problems and what the replies are has expanded my knowledge a bunch. I do wish there were a community college class or something that really oriented someone like myself to working on outboard motors. I would think this would be invaluable. I'm actually half thinking of calling the prior owner's mechanic and ask him if I can pay him to give me a "lesson" on all the routine stuff I should be doing and then save him for any big stuff I can't figure out.