ross patti
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2005
- Messages
- 157
After 4 months trying to fix an electrical problem[done with the help of the iboats gurus],my 35 Johnson went perfectly on it's 10 mile test trip.<br /> The following Sunday,we loaded up with live bait,fuel,snacks,etc and left at 4.30am for the 60 mile drive to the river.<br /> The forecast of rain looked unlikely as we slid the boat off the trailer.I eased into the captain's seat and turned the key.<br />Not a sound.Being the inquisitive type,I turned it again.Still nothing.<br /> After checking :battery,leads,starter motor,ign.switch,etc,etc,etc, we finally gave up after 3 hrs of checking.It ran fine 3 days ago,and now was dead.<br /> The trip home was pretty quiet;morbid,even.We took it to my brother-in-law who is handy with such things.After 2hrs,he isolated the problem to the neutral starter safety switch.It had power to it,but no ground from it.He was certain this motor should NEVER have started.Without the ground lead,it should not work.The only answer was an accidental earth leak thru the lead.<br /> Whatever the reason,the motor now started.<br /> The Pig-headed fisherman in me said..."It's only 11.30,let's go fishing closer to home"....In the words of Homer"It's still good,It's still good !!!"<br /> As we slid the boat off the trailer again,My thoughts drifted off to that nice little insane asylum down the road...<br /> This time,when I turned the key,it started.Brilliant !!<br /> After 10 seconds,it started to die.By the time I reached the tank to release the air valve [which was released]the motor died.<br /> Ten minutes of trying to start it only made it worse.There was fuel peeing out all over the place.It looked like the fuel pump was just dumping the stuff in the engine.<br /> After 20 minutes of frantic paddling,we finally made it back to the ramp.Everyone around looked amused as we put the boat on the trailer, again !!<br /> At the bottom of the leg,there was fuel leaking.The top of the motor had fuel leaking.It smelled like a refinery.<br /> At home after another long,quiet drive,I discovered the problem...<br /> A bolt at the carby Was the wrong length.It had worked it's way out about a quarter inch,and was now holding the choke linkage open permanently.Yes,I put it in,so I can blame no-one else.<br /> I hope I've used up all my bad luck now,and I trust you had a chuckle reading about" Black Sunday "
And seafoam did wonders to my old evinrude the thing idles better now than when my grandfather bought it new.