Trevornollmeyer
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2009
- Messages
- 12
I just bought a used Maxum runabout with a 1997 120 Force outboard. This is our first boat and I know next to nothing about motors. I did find a manual online and have been trying to educate myself.
Here's my somewhat lengthy problem:
Right after I bought the boat I took it out on the lake once. It ran fine. I then changed the lower unit oil and found that it was milky. I had a mechanic pull apart the lower unit and check it out to make sure the water hadn't done any harm (it hadn't). He also pulled off the carbs & cleaned them out, something the previous owner hadn't done. I don't think the mechanic started it before he got it back to me.
We just took it to the lake the other day and had a few problems. I had a bear of a time getting it started, and when it finally did start, it ran at a really low idle. The motor actually died twice while shifting from neutral to the forward gears. The water outlet operated intermittently. We were out for about an hour or two and the outlet only had a stream of water about 1/2 the time. When the water came out, it appeared to be coming in spurts. The motor sounded a little rough at times, but I didn't get any overheating alarms and we didn't push the motor hard at all.
So, with all that background, what do you think the issue is? Would the low idle speed account for the lack of water flow? Would adjusting the idle take care of this? Did my mechanic misalign something in the cooling system when messing with the lower unit? Is it as simple as a new impeller?
I apologize for the lengthy post but appreciate any feedback.
Trevor
Here's my somewhat lengthy problem:
Right after I bought the boat I took it out on the lake once. It ran fine. I then changed the lower unit oil and found that it was milky. I had a mechanic pull apart the lower unit and check it out to make sure the water hadn't done any harm (it hadn't). He also pulled off the carbs & cleaned them out, something the previous owner hadn't done. I don't think the mechanic started it before he got it back to me.
We just took it to the lake the other day and had a few problems. I had a bear of a time getting it started, and when it finally did start, it ran at a really low idle. The motor actually died twice while shifting from neutral to the forward gears. The water outlet operated intermittently. We were out for about an hour or two and the outlet only had a stream of water about 1/2 the time. When the water came out, it appeared to be coming in spurts. The motor sounded a little rough at times, but I didn't get any overheating alarms and we didn't push the motor hard at all.
So, with all that background, what do you think the issue is? Would the low idle speed account for the lack of water flow? Would adjusting the idle take care of this? Did my mechanic misalign something in the cooling system when messing with the lower unit? Is it as simple as a new impeller?
I apologize for the lengthy post but appreciate any feedback.
Trevor