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  1. sidechoke67

    Cheap oil drain hand pumps ?

    If you are draining oil from the dipstick, how important is it to buy a higher-end hand pump? I see pumps at K-Mart and Walmart for $10, and I've seen, what looks like the same thing, on-line and at local marine stores for $50. If I am only using it for draining from the dipstick, anyone know...
  2. sidechoke67

    Homemade oil draining idea

    I am getting close to winterizing my boat myself for the first time. My boats manual says to drain the oil with a pump through the dipstick, but I have this other idea...tell me if this sounds viable... I have decent access to the bilge, and the oil pan's drain plug. It seems like it wouldn't...
  3. sidechoke67

    What pushes starter pinion gear out?

    I had read in a few places on this forum that inertia drives out the pinion gear, but I just watched a video on youtube, and saw a diagram on wikipedia that shows a mechanical arm driving the pinion gear out when the solenoid is drawn in. I have a starter that spins but doesn't engage the...
  4. sidechoke67

    Replace a starter battery just 'cause it's old?

    Would you replace your boat's starter batter just because it is old? I have a 2001 boat that I bought used last year. The starting battery that came with it has "Copyright 1998" printed the label. It seems to be holding a charge fine, but my brother keeps bugging me to change it so I know...
  5. sidechoke67

    Bendex wasn't engaging flywheel - "fixed" - but for how long?

    I have a new (July 09) Sierra starter in my Volvo 3.0 L whose bendex wasn't engaging the fly wheel this week. So, I pulled the starter, and sprayed the shaft with WD-40, gently pryed the bendex forward a couple of times, and put the starter back in. I also cleaned all the connections -...
  6. sidechoke67

    Help with starting problem

    I put a new starter in my boat in July. It has been starting fine all summer - tonight it started up several times. At the end of the night though, I turned the key and just got a high speed whirring noise.....sounds to me like the starter is turning (really fast), but not engaging the fly...
  7. sidechoke67

    Help with shark ID, Fire Island, NY

    Someone caught a shark in a marina on Fire Island, NY. This was in the Great South Bay - which has several inlets to the Atlantic Ocean. I never saw or heard of a shark in this marina before. Some people are saying sand shark, and others seem to think it is too big to be a sand shark. Can...
  8. sidechoke67

    What to do with old starter motor

    I had a starter that was kind of flakey - working sometimes and not others. I went through Don's check list when it wasn't starting, and that indicated that the problem is the starter itself - the circuit test lights came on when testing the solenoid while turning the key but the engine still...
  9. sidechoke67

    tapping solenoid 'fixed' problem - now what?

    I posted yesterday about not being able to start my boat this past weekend. Had a weak attempt to turn over, then some clicks, then it worked for a few starts, and finally nothing. So, I went through Don's diagnostic guide here: Troubleshooting your engines starting system...
  10. sidechoke67

    Help w/ starting problem please

    I a bad->good->worse problem with my ignition system this weekend. Hoping someone here can help diagnose it... I launched my boat on Sat morning, and it wouldn't start. Sounded like a dead battery to me...engine gave maybe one weak crank, then click-click-click. I swapped out my starting...
  11. sidechoke67

    Depth fndr vs. fish fndr price question

    I had a simple depth finder in my boat - that I just replaced with an entry-level fish finder. The fish finder does everything that the depth finder did, plus reads temp, shows bottom contour, and (hopefully) finds fish. Both my old depth finder and new fish finder sell for around $80 - so I...
  12. sidechoke67

    Old screw holes - what to do

    I just installed a new fishfinder and had to drill new holes for the transducer. I am debating between filling the old screw holes with MarineTex, or putting the old screws back in with 4200. Putting the old screws back in is easier, and leaves the holes in case I ever go back to the old...
  13. sidechoke67

    Removing bearing buddies

    This is my first Spring with my new boat. I wanted to pull the bearing buddies off, just to inspect and re-pack the trailer bearings. I tried "walking" the bearing buddies off with a 4X4 and a hammer, but, so far, those things haven't moved. I'm starting off pretty easy - but figured I'd...
  14. sidechoke67

    drain plugs on 3.0L

    This is my first Spring with my boat. I had it winterized at a marina last Fall. As part of the winterization, the marina left out the drain plugs for the exhaust manifold and engine block. I am trying to put the plugs in for the summer - but they don't feel like they go in all the way. So...
  15. sidechoke67

    Grease gun and bearing buddies

    This is my first Spring with my new boat. The trailer has some type of bearing buddies on the wheels - not sure if they are true bearing buddies or some competing product....either way, they basically look like bearing buddies. I don't own a grease gun currently. Is there anything special...
  16. sidechoke67

    How concerned w/ sub-freezing temps?

    I live in upstate NY, and am anxious to get my boat back on the water as quickly after ice-out as possible. My boat is a Glastron 175 w/ 3.0L Volvo and Volvo Penta outdrive. I keep my boat in my garage when not in use. So, I'm wondering just how worried I need to be with sub-freezing temps...
  17. sidechoke67

    Gelcoat repair questions

    I chipped some gelcoat near my gas cap last year. I have had a couple of estimates to get it fixed. Price estimates range from $800 to $1,500. It is just not worth that much to me to get it fixed...so, I've had a piece of white duct tape over it for awhile now. I'm thinking about trying to...
  18. sidechoke67

    What is "Summerizing" ?

    I had my boat winterized last weekend. I had always thought that once your boat is winterized, it is ready to go, come Spring. However, when I picked my boat up, I noticed a couple of hose clamps, and two drain plugs in a bag zip tied to the steering wheel. I asked the guy about it, and he...
  19. sidechoke67

    What does this throttle button do?

    First year boater here... I have a throttle like the one pictured, and am wondering what the button highlighted in the red circle should do. As far as I can tell, it doesn't do anything... I have a Volvo Penta 3.0L, and a Volvo throttle, if that matters. Thanks for any info!
  20. sidechoke67

    Problems getting boat in gear

    I have a 2001 Glastron 175, with a Volvo 3.0 litre/penta outdrive (and volvo throttle). The throttle has a button that you push to put it in neutral. Most of the time, when I put the throttle back to vertical, it snaps back into gear the way it should. However, occasionally, I have a lot of...
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