How to get engine help.

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
1. Ask your question in your subject. That will get the attention of the guys who know about that problem.<br /><br />2. Don't yell (all caps), or clutter-up your question with HELP!!! or PLEASE!!! It's redundant and annoying.<br /><br />3. Tell us EVERYTHING you know about your problem and your engine in the first post.<br /><br />4. Check your spelling and your punctuation. It doesn't have to be perfect, but a question that is too hard to read may get ignored.<br /><br />5. Put all follow-up or related questions in the same thread as replies to your original.<br /><br />6. Don't add your new question to someone else's thread. Make your own thread.<br /><br />7. Before you post, read a few days of posts to see what works best. You may also see your problem posted by someone else, along with some good advice.<br /><br />The easier you make it for the guys here to understand your problem and give useful advice, the quicker you can be back on the water. :) <br /><br />If our advice works, come back and tell us about it. :) :)
 

MGuckin

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 10, 2001
Messages
760
Re: How to get engine help.

The search function works well also. Question might have already been asked.
 

smalloutboardsarecool

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 11, 2002
Messages
171
Re: How to get engine help.

JB are you a part of the Iboats team? if not just because you have 2800 messages does not make you the boss~! good grief what do you do on your spar time!!!!
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: How to get engine help.

Hi, Bill.<br /><br />Just making suggestions to make it easier for you to get help, just like making a suggestion to help get your engine running.<br /><br />Didn't mean to sound bossy. <br /><br />If you want to post unanswerable questions, go right ahead, but please don't whine that nobody wants to help.<br /><br />In my spare time I help boaters save bux and learn how to maintain their engines. I do it free. Since I've been teaching technical stuff for nearly 50 years, I have plenty of spare time. <br /><br />The total number of posts is irrelevant. How many were answering your questions and offering you help?? What did that cost you?<br /><br />Think about it. :)
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: How to get engine help.

JB<br />I agree with your post. I have never worked in business but am 53 and been boating and doing all my own work since I was twelve. I like to help but so many of the post do not tell if it a I/O, Outboard, Inboard, Jet ski ect so how can you help. It would be nice if there was a way on the engine fourm to have a few blocks to be fill out before you can post. Like I/O, Outboard, HP, Model, Year if known then the problem. I like reading your post and OMC JOEs Thanks
 

Peter O

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 23, 2001
Messages
178
Re: How to get engine help.

Hey Mr. Bill, those 2800 posts are not just idle chatter. The knowledge that JB has is huge and he has helped out hundreds of people with his wisdom. Just read the archives and you'll get my drift. I hope you can bring as much benefit to the board with your next 2700+ posts.
 

smalloutboardsarecool

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 11, 2002
Messages
171
Re: How to get engine help.

Ok Im sorry, I came here in bad mood (some ****head decided to go full throttle ten feet from my dock in a 30 foot cruiser!! {my docks n a no wake sone}) he messed all sorts of stuff and the 10 jet skies behindhim one of them crashed... and broke his leg (how did that happppppen)<br /><br />sorry :(
 

495v

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 13, 2002
Messages
432
Re: How to get engine help.

Yeah Bill, you picked on the wrong dude!!! JB is one of the KING ding-a-lings around here. This guy's got more wisdom in his pinky finger than most of us combined. JB help's people in his spare time. Why don't you ask yourself how many people you've helped on this forum???????????
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: How to get engine help.

You are very kind, 495, and I appreciate your confidence.<br /><br />I am not comfortable with the notion of being a "king ding-a-ling". I do have more experience that many guys here, and being retired I have a lot more time than most. BUT. . . I don't have any more desire to help than anyone else, and several guys know more about engines than I do.<br /><br />I wouldn't claim to know more about this stuff than, for a few examples, DHadley, Corm, Clanton, Joe Reeves, 12 Footer, and many others.<br /><br />Thanks for the vote of confidence anyway. Without feedback this wouldn't be near as much fun. :) :)
 

495v

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 13, 2002
Messages
432
Re: How to get engine help.

All of those you mentioned are the rest of the "king-ding-o-lings" on this site. You and all you mentioned have a surpassed knowledge of boating and all of it's aspects. I tip my hat to all of you's! I read that Admin5 was planning on a tribute to the top 20 poster's and you guy's definately deserve it! Post on!
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: How to get engine help.

JB and I have been here for a while,that's all. There are some new guys here, who have answered boater's questions better than I coulda. And that is by yumpin-yiminy, what this site is all about..All I can add is, The server must be HE-YOOJ!! Anyway, I'm with you,JB as allways. I just got a great idea!!!! 'member how we were going to start a F.A.Q. area? Admin5 polled us on out opinions of the top10 or 20 questions asked, and was going to open up a beginner's thread or some such..Well i was jusrt thinkin, we could do that right here, right now!<br />We could type-up a "HOW-TO" for things like lower unit inspection101 ,impeller101, Fuel starvation101....Anyhoo, what do you guys think?<br />We could then directly link the inquiry to the "blala101" post.<br />Just a brain gas, but it could simplify things for the newguy.
 

Peter O

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 23, 2001
Messages
178
Re: How to get engine help.

Let me add Schematic and ODD1 to the list of King-Ding_a_Lings. All those previously mentioned and these 2 plus others have taught me a bundle in 6 months or so. Thanks to all of you for the free advice. I do like 12 footers brain gas idea too.
 

DaleT

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2002
Messages
469
Re: How to get engine help.

Being relatively new around this board, as well as inexperienced in the world of boat motors I can say that 12footers idea would surely have helped me.
 

Mumblerone

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 12, 2002
Messages
344
Re: How to get engine help.

You guys are the best...and I thought I new a thing or two. Learn something new everyday. Keep in mine that we all can have a bad day. We also know who to listen to (or not). Thanks JB and the rest. :cool:
 

smalloutboardsarecool

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 11, 2002
Messages
171
Re: How to get engine help.

I am so sorry JB :( :( :( please forgive me.? I am waiting for someone to ask something about the elto pal so I could answer (they don't make them like they used to.) it you have any old motors under 3hp and built befor 1940 pleae contact me buccaneersailor@aol.com
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: How to get engine help.

I like your idea, 12Footer. That way we could focus on what we know best and the new poster could get it right away.<br /><br />What does Admin5 think of it?<br /><br />I knew I was going to leave out some super guys when I started listing. My apologies to Schematic, ODDD1, and the many other effective helpers I didn't list.. . Whether you have helped thousands or only one. It's just a matter of time. I don't think anyone has tried harder to help than Rex Hubble. Thank you, too, Rex.<br /><br />Say, Cool. Forget it. We all have a bad day once in a while. I'll be glad to see you helping out someone with an antique li'l engine. I might have a question for you on my '48 Sea King 1.5! :)
 

striper

Seaman
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
60
Re: How to get engine help.

It sure does feel good to see a response on a problem of greif. I've only been here a short time but I tell ya what it sure is nice to get FREE info. Thank you so much fella's<br /> Be patient.
 
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