MASTERBrian
Petty Officer 3rd Class
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2011
- Messages
- 84
I recently purchased a 1990 Bass Buggy Pontoon with a 50HP Johnson on the back. From what I found it is a 1995 Motor, model is J50TLEOD.
I bought this from a neighbor and the price was right, but the boat has a few small issues. Last time he took it out he ended up getting high centered on a stump or something which cause the boat to nose dive and come to a stop. He said they weren't going too fast, but he questioned if he did any damage. Before this the boat hadn't been out for a few years, so he was trying to work out the kinks from that....
He said he had it in reverse when he took it off the trailer, but after that, he's had issues. I think I'm getting it to go into reverse and nothing on motor side appears to be binding. I think it's something in the lever. Seems to me like the safety lockout isn't working real well. Are those tough to repair or is that just a replace it type of thing?
I've also found that the steering cable has a crack in the casing, so I'm guessing that'll have to be replaced sooner than later.
He also mentioned he thought it needed a carb kit, so I just ran a decarb through it and she sounds great, but haven't had it on the lake yet, I just ran it in a tank. I'm hoping that the seafoam will help clear any crud out of carb and maybe get her to run better.
The biggest concern at this point is that he thought it was leaking fluid from the lower unit. What I saw was some residue on the skeg, but the boat dealer -over the phone - said that sounded more like poor oil in the gas causing what I explained. It seemed to be more on one side than the other, but that doesn't mean someone didn't clean it off. I did check the levels and they did seem a bit low and the fluid did appear a bit whitish in color, but I again don't know if that was due to sitting a year and who really knows the last time it was checked and filled. I topped it off for now and will check after I get the tank drained and if ok, again after a run on the lake for the weekend upon close monitoring. He didn't know if the motor hit or just a pontoon, but there is some damage to the front side of the anticavitation plate. Basically, there is a chunk of the lip missing, but I can't find any sign of leaking around the area or any cracks on the lower unit.
The other thing is I may have to swap props or try to get the prop straightened at some point, as it is a bit wavy on the edges, really not too bad, but it's obviously hit something at some point.
At this point, what should I look for on that lower unit? If it is leaking where the prop shaft is, is that a difficult fix? I figure it's probably due a water pump some time, so while it's apart.... What else should I look for? How much will the damage to the anticavitation plate front side hurt performance, on a pontoon? Is there an easy fix for that? I'll try to get a pic of it.
I'm also curious if the shifting into reverse was in the lower unit. Like I said, it felt to me as though it was in the controls at the helm, not on the engine, but I haven't had on water to see under load. I did shift to reverse while in tank and it sure felt like it engaged.
If anyone has any suggestions as I go forward on what to look for and what not to do that would be great. I feel pretty confident, I can turn this into a fun boat for our family, but it may take a little time.
On a totally side note if I end up needing a new lower unit, is it a total PIA to replace the transom with a beefier one so it can hold a larger motor? I've come across some great deals on 115hp outboards, but this is only rated 60hp. A simple answer here is fine....I figure it's more a discussion for a new thread, just don't want to waste the time posting to one, if not feasible AND safe.!!
Thanks again!!
I bought this from a neighbor and the price was right, but the boat has a few small issues. Last time he took it out he ended up getting high centered on a stump or something which cause the boat to nose dive and come to a stop. He said they weren't going too fast, but he questioned if he did any damage. Before this the boat hadn't been out for a few years, so he was trying to work out the kinks from that....
He said he had it in reverse when he took it off the trailer, but after that, he's had issues. I think I'm getting it to go into reverse and nothing on motor side appears to be binding. I think it's something in the lever. Seems to me like the safety lockout isn't working real well. Are those tough to repair or is that just a replace it type of thing?
I've also found that the steering cable has a crack in the casing, so I'm guessing that'll have to be replaced sooner than later.
He also mentioned he thought it needed a carb kit, so I just ran a decarb through it and she sounds great, but haven't had it on the lake yet, I just ran it in a tank. I'm hoping that the seafoam will help clear any crud out of carb and maybe get her to run better.
The biggest concern at this point is that he thought it was leaking fluid from the lower unit. What I saw was some residue on the skeg, but the boat dealer -over the phone - said that sounded more like poor oil in the gas causing what I explained. It seemed to be more on one side than the other, but that doesn't mean someone didn't clean it off. I did check the levels and they did seem a bit low and the fluid did appear a bit whitish in color, but I again don't know if that was due to sitting a year and who really knows the last time it was checked and filled. I topped it off for now and will check after I get the tank drained and if ok, again after a run on the lake for the weekend upon close monitoring. He didn't know if the motor hit or just a pontoon, but there is some damage to the front side of the anticavitation plate. Basically, there is a chunk of the lip missing, but I can't find any sign of leaking around the area or any cracks on the lower unit.
The other thing is I may have to swap props or try to get the prop straightened at some point, as it is a bit wavy on the edges, really not too bad, but it's obviously hit something at some point.
At this point, what should I look for on that lower unit? If it is leaking where the prop shaft is, is that a difficult fix? I figure it's probably due a water pump some time, so while it's apart.... What else should I look for? How much will the damage to the anticavitation plate front side hurt performance, on a pontoon? Is there an easy fix for that? I'll try to get a pic of it.
I'm also curious if the shifting into reverse was in the lower unit. Like I said, it felt to me as though it was in the controls at the helm, not on the engine, but I haven't had on water to see under load. I did shift to reverse while in tank and it sure felt like it engaged.
If anyone has any suggestions as I go forward on what to look for and what not to do that would be great. I feel pretty confident, I can turn this into a fun boat for our family, but it may take a little time.
On a totally side note if I end up needing a new lower unit, is it a total PIA to replace the transom with a beefier one so it can hold a larger motor? I've come across some great deals on 115hp outboards, but this is only rated 60hp. A simple answer here is fine....I figure it's more a discussion for a new thread, just don't want to waste the time posting to one, if not feasible AND safe.!!
Thanks again!!
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