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  1. guy48065

    How important is L-R balance?

    My little 18-footer has 2 batteries on the driver's (R) side. Since I dock on that side I moved the 6-gal fuel tank to that side and now I'm questioning if I've gone too far in stacking the weight on the right side. There's really nothing else I can move to the left to compensate.
  2. guy48065

    How can I set a price on an older outboard?

    I'm not getting any bites on an old pontoon so I'm considering selling the motor, then selling the rest for scrap. Might do better than my asking price that way anyhow. Problem is I can't get a handle on the value of a good-running 1980 Mariner 40-E. Craigslist and Ebay are all over the map and...
  3. guy48065

    VRO oil tank Q

    Parts diagram shows a nipple on top of the tank as "oil return". On mine there's nothing connected--just open to atmosphere. Something missing, or normal? The diagram doesn't show a connection either but it doesn't seem right to be left open.
  4. guy48065

    Pontoon boat OB wiring harnesses coiled up in motor pod

    I have an 18' pontoon with a 2000 Johnson 40HP (J40PLSSM). It's a pretty short run from the OB to the helm and there's several feet of harness just coiled up in the motor pod. Is this normal setup? Are these harnesses "one size fits all"? Previous owner chopped the harness inside the console...
  5. guy48065

    303 vs Vinylex

    (Vinylex is made by Lexol, the leather dressing guys) Anyone who has used BOTH--do you have a preference? I have used both in the past for different things, but never at the same time or on the same item. I used to have a 69 Firebird convertible with white vinyl interior and a white vinyl top...
  6. guy48065

    I need tips to deal with constant moisture

    Coming from an old pontoon with no furniture and no cover like was simple. Now I have a newer pontoon with a full set of furniture on plywood bases and it never dries out inside. I'm sure the cover breathes since it's a baggy loose fitting "universal" cover. I thinkn when the boat was...
  7. guy48065

    Temp. fix for tilt switch

    My tilt & trim switch on the remote handle (Evinrude, Johnson 96-up) is intermittent in the "up" direction. Replacements are no longer available so I took it apart to try to fix it. I was surprised to find that it isn't broke, solder is good, no loose or broke wires, no corrosion, no pitted...
  8. guy48065

    Covers--mooring vs transport vs storage...help?

    I was just looking at a bunch of eBay ads for pontoon covers and very few described the type/purpose of the one they were selling. On top of that I'm not real sure what is the intended purpose of the 3 types. The used 18' '96 Sweetwater I bought came with a very poor-fitting cover & is a PITA to...
  9. guy48065

    Aaargh! What should I do with the ratchet strap tails?

    I'm tired of finding the long tail end of a ratchet strap has untied and is dragging on the highway. What's the best trick to secure the end?
  10. guy48065

    How does the killswitch work on a cdi ignition? ?

    My 2000 Johnson 40hp (J40PLSSM) will start & run whether the lanyard is attached or not, and according to the manual that's normal. So how DOES the kill circuit work? Will the o/b run exactly the same with/without the lanyard? I just bought this boat and the PO ran it all the time with the...
  11. guy48065

    Johnson "deadman" switch

    I just bought a 96 pontoon boat with a 2000 Johnson 40 and the common side-mount remote. The one with the kill switch clip that surrounds the key. Since the engine can be operated with the kill switch clip in place or off--what exactly is it supposed to do? (I thought all kill switches worked...
  12. guy48065

    Exactly WHAT fails when the tilt & trim switch quits?

    Apparently I have a lot of company with a T&T switch that only works in one direction. Mine is an OMC surface-mount remote control (96-05). Lots of Youtube videos on replacing the switch or handle. In one the guy had bought an entire new handle because the switch is no longer made (!!) and...
  13. guy48065

    2000 Johnson 40 (J40PLSSM) steering

    I just noticed my steering link is bent and it's coming into contact with the platform--esp. when tilted. When I look up the replacement I get 173699 Steering Link Kit. and 174244 Steering Link Assy. They look the same to me so what's the difference?
  14. guy48065

    2000 Johnson 40 "owners manual" needed

    Today I brought home a 1996 Sweetwater pontoon with a 2000 Johnson J40PLSSM. It's different from my previous 1980 Mariner in several ways and I think a manual would be better than asking a bunch of noob questions. Why can't I find one online? Every search takes me to service manuals--didn't...
  15. guy48065

    What's the correct fuel connector pn?

    I've come home twice with an engine-side connector that doesn't fit. Package labeling is a joke. I have a 1980 Mariner 40E, so it's a Yamaha--but I have no clue WHAT model Yamaha, of course. The attached picture shows my existing components. What part number is the engine connector, to fit...
  16. guy48065

    is marine oil good enough for other 2- cycle use?

    While fiddling around with a garage-sale chainsaw I downloaded and read the old manual. In it I was surprised to read the caution NOT to use BIA marine oil/gas mix in the saw because it doesn't have the necessary additives for an air-cooled engine. I've never seen a warning like this and have...
  17. guy48065

    1980 Mariner outboard (Yamaha) 40hp sparkplug type needed

    I have a multi-function display I'm adding to my old pontoon and it has the option of adding a cylinder head temperature sensor that is sandwiched under the plug. I can't find my outboard in any of the tables at Champion or NGK and I'm 200 miles from the boat. Little help, please? The sensors...
  18. guy48065

    3-strand twisted vs braided nylon for strength & looks

    I suck at weaving a tidy eye splice with twisted rope. Is a long buried splice using braided just as strong?
  19. guy48065

    Are bungee dock lines trusty?

    Trusty enough to for extended unsupervised use? Because I remove & stack my dock sections for the winter I don't have cleats installed. I slip the eyes of the dock lines over the dock posts to secure my pontoon. This is the beginning of my 2nd season with this old boat but I think this method...
  20. guy48065

    Any tips on scratch-building a console?

    Re: Any tips on scratch-building a console? Oh well. I was hoping for something a little more "creative" here. For example--I was looking at some spendy aluminum steering consoles and realized how they resemble a barbeque grill so now I've got my eye out for a used smallish 2-burner stainless...
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