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  1. Captain Caveman

    Replacing Spark Plug Wires to Coils - 1957 3hp Seahorse

    This is for a 1957 Johnson Seahorse 3hp (JW-13). One of the spark plug wires is bare to the wire in a spot. I've got the flywheel off and have new wire, but am stumped about how to swap out the wire. Do you just pull the old wire out of the coil and somehow shove the new wire into place and...
  2. Captain Caveman

    1957 Johnson 3hp - Gas Tank Extra Parts?

    I just cleaned the piles of insulation and foam out of the 1957 Johnson 3hp (JW-13) motor that I picked up this summer for $25. When I turn the rope, the prop turns but it's completely drained of fluid - so she's about to get a complete rebuild of gaskets, etc. The first order of business was...
  3. Captain Caveman

    State-By-State Towing Laws

    The link in the sticky thread (above) is dead. Here is the new link to towing laws: Towing World Official Website
  4. Captain Caveman

    Jumping Starter with Deep-Cycle

    I have a starting battery and a deep-cycle in my boat. I've never worn down my own starting battery, but did help a neighbor this spring. Her boat wouldn't turn over. I ran my jumper cables from my deep cycle to her starting battery but realized that it wouldn't work. I then hooked the jumpers...
  5. Captain Caveman

    Wrong Button

    Am I the only one who clicks on the big "Reply To Thread" button after typing a long response, instead of clicking the "Post Quick Reply" button? I can't tell you how many times I've done this recently. I must be getting old, but I sure wish that both buttons weren't so close to where I type...
  6. Captain Caveman

    Lowrance X50 quit working after reset

    No matter what I did, I couldn't get the fish arches back so I did the factory reset procedure in the manual. The unit was working fine (except for not showing fish arches) prior to the reset but now doesn't work. It reset to the factory settings. I turned off the 'Simulator Mode' but as soon as...
  7. Captain Caveman

    Mirror for Single Console

    I have an Alumacraft Navigator with a single console. In Minnesota, we need to have a mirror if you are pulling a skier or tube without an observer in the boat to monitor what is going on behind your boat. I've looked online and in stores but haven't seen anything that would work well as a...
  8. Captain Caveman

    New Gas Can for '63 Johnson Seahorse 5.5hp

    I've got a 1963 5.5hp Johnson Seahorse. This spring I put a new hose on because the old one was very brittle. This worked and the motor ran, but in the process I broke a part off of the metal gas tank. It's an original tank and the intake tube that draws gas broke off. It looks like there is a...
  9. Captain Caveman

    Installing Separate Switch for Dashboard Lights?

    I just got an '08 Alumacraft Navigator. I've noticed that the glare from my dashboard lights makes it very difficult to see when boating at night. Has anyone ever installed a separate switch to control the dashboard lights? Is this a bad idea? I don't really care about my...
  10. Captain Caveman

    Engine in gear to prevent prop from spinning?

    On another forum, there is a debate going on about whether or not to shift your boat into gear when trailering. Apparently this keeps the prop from free-spinning during the drive, which some argue will heat up and wear out the bearings or ruin the outer propshaft seal (due to not being cooled by...
  11. Captain Caveman

    Fix hole in keel?

    I just got a sweet deal on an older aluminum 12ft Starcraft. I've got a money-back guarantee on the boat if it leaks. However, when I unloaded this gem in my yard, I noticed that there are dime-sized holes in both the front and back of the aluminum keel. It doesn't look like there is a hole in...
  12. Captain Caveman

    Adjust mixture knob for cold weather??

    I've got a 1979 Evinrude 35hp motor. As we're getting into the cold season here, with temps in the 20-40 degree range, should I be messing with the knob to richen the mixture? Is there a sign to watch for that would indicate that the mixture needs to be more rich, or should I adjust just based...
  13. Captain Caveman

    Trim Up or Down for best hole shot with skier?

    I'm new to owning skis (have done it many times myself) and have a 16ft aluminum boat and old 35hp motor. I can get tubes on plane but am having trouble getting skiers up. I know that the boat is too heavy and the motor too small for the application, but wanted to see if changing the trim would...
  14. Captain Caveman

    No Trim Tab?? What do you adjust on '79 Evinrude 35hp?

    I have a 1979 Evinrude 35hp motor that runs great. The only minor problem is that the boat always wants to turn to the right, which tires out my arm on the tiller! At fishing opener this year I experimented with moving the motor along the transom but that didn't seem to help. The skeg seems to...
  15. Captain Caveman

    Can't fit wrench around spark plugs! 1979 Evinrude 35hp

    I've had a great 1979 Evinrude 35hp motor for the past few years. It's top notch except for one problem. I can't get any tool that I own to fit around the spark plugs. None of my spark plug sockets fit and I can't get a regular wrench or pliers around them. The problem is that the plugs are...
  16. Captain Caveman

    Emptying the bilge - a worthy read

    I just finished reading the sticky for beginners and thought that there was one important piece missing from the article: clearing out the bilge. Most states have water infested with some sort of foreign plant or marine life (Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels, etc. up here). When I'm at the boat...
  17. Captain Caveman

    Adding gas tank to 16' Fisher

    I want to put an after market below-deck gas tank into my boat. I'm thinking about carving out some of the float foam in the rear and nestling the tank in there. Can anyone think of a reason that I shouldn't do this, beyond my boat being less bouyant if I take on water? Are there any pitfalls...
  18. Captain Caveman

    '79 Evinrude 35hp: backfires since rebuild

    During fishing opener this spring, my 1979 Evinrude 35hp overheated and blew the gasket. The shop fixed it for me and said that there was no apparent cylinder damage. I got it back and struggled to get it running. It finally started and kept running. After putting along for 1/4 mile I hit the...
  19. Captain Caveman

    '79 Evinrude 35hp - No pee stream...muffs?

    I fired up my 1979 Evinrude 35hp motor last night. It was the first run of the season. I had the hose running and the muffs on the water intake along the shaft. The motor fired up and seemed to run well. However, no pee stream came out of the back...or anywhere. I ran it about a minute to ensure...
  20. Captain Caveman

    Minnkota control panel shot? Is that right?

    My Minnkota Powerdrive 40 is about two years old. Last fall it started working intermittantly. I pulled the foot pedal apart but it was clean as a whistle, no corrosion. I just took it to a Minnkota service center. The guy tested the pedal and said that it was fine. Without even looking at the...
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