Re: 225 optimax - slipping prop?
Boat was taken to local mercury dealer (Bass Pro Shop) around 9/20/09 and got in long line to wait for attention. After weeks I checked and learned that despite long line of boats corporate had decided to cut down on work hours for mechanics so line was still long but I was assured that it would receive attention in next week or so. That didn't happen and I learned that, in addition to cut hours, 4 shop people had lost their jobs.
About this time I got a call from Legendary Marine in Gulf Shores trying to drum up business so I picked it up from Bass Pro and took it there.
After thinking about my problem I decided that I may not be giving out completely accurate information. I had said, for instance, that rpm's climbed past 6000 and speed was 31mph. This was true but what I realized was that when rpm's climbed so rapidly by the time boat speed reached 31mph I had shut it down - out of fear that something was wrong - despite the fact that engine seemed to be running fine. I suggested that the first place they look should be the tach.
The tach was the problem. Though it took eight days to get it done the tach was replaced and I got it back and tried it out. It ran perfectly and speed was back up in the 46 range which is acceptable.
However, the temp gauge pegged to the right. There was no other indication of overheating. Engine pumped water and was cool to touch and didn't miss a beat and there was no engine beep.
After running it slowly for a bit the heat gauge returned to normal and I pulled it out of water.
I'll try it out again to day and see how gauge reacts.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Maybe if I had described problem accurately someone would have considered tach as problem. Good lesson in the importance of posting accurate and complete info in order to get good feedback.
Boat was taken to local mercury dealer (Bass Pro Shop) around 9/20/09 and got in long line to wait for attention. After weeks I checked and learned that despite long line of boats corporate had decided to cut down on work hours for mechanics so line was still long but I was assured that it would receive attention in next week or so. That didn't happen and I learned that, in addition to cut hours, 4 shop people had lost their jobs.
About this time I got a call from Legendary Marine in Gulf Shores trying to drum up business so I picked it up from Bass Pro and took it there.
After thinking about my problem I decided that I may not be giving out completely accurate information. I had said, for instance, that rpm's climbed past 6000 and speed was 31mph. This was true but what I realized was that when rpm's climbed so rapidly by the time boat speed reached 31mph I had shut it down - out of fear that something was wrong - despite the fact that engine seemed to be running fine. I suggested that the first place they look should be the tach.
The tach was the problem. Though it took eight days to get it done the tach was replaced and I got it back and tried it out. It ran perfectly and speed was back up in the 46 range which is acceptable.
However, the temp gauge pegged to the right. There was no other indication of overheating. Engine pumped water and was cool to touch and didn't miss a beat and there was no engine beep.
After running it slowly for a bit the heat gauge returned to normal and I pulled it out of water.
I'll try it out again to day and see how gauge reacts.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Maybe if I had described problem accurately someone would have considered tach as problem. Good lesson in the importance of posting accurate and complete info in order to get good feedback.