two questions, and in your opinion....

[thesignguy]

OK, first question. I have a 88SPL that we bought last year. We ran the boat 6-7 times before I hung it up for the 2010 season. I never really checked anything, just threw it in the water and added the gas. This year I replaced the plugs and she fired right up and now I'm wondering is there any sort of additive that I should be using to de-gum the carbs or use for PM?

Second question. I am planing on installing a stereo with four 6.5" speakers and a depth/water/fish finder. I have no other electronic devices running other then the gauge's and lights at night. My question is should I install another battery to power the stereo and fish finder? Does the 88spl charge the battery when running? I don't want to kill the battery listening to the stereo and then try to get back home with a non starting engine. Thanks!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

I don't personally use any additives but lots on here swear by SeaFoam added to every tank. Your motor will charge the battery but it's not a strong charger. Your fish finder uses negligible power but I would personally be too paranoid to sit and listen to the stereo for long and then try to crank my motor to get home. Especially since these motors need good power to spin the starter fast enough to start. A second battery (marine starting battery for your motor + deep cycle for accessories) on a battery switch would be the way to go. I personally have just decided to never install any permanent stereo on my boat. Too many nice portable options out there to bother installing something else in the boat to maintain.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

First of all change the gearoil. Secondly I agree with Ezmobee on everything but the extra battery. If you have a modest stereo an a good battery you will not have any issue. You might get a 27 series battery. They are a bit larger than the standard 24 series battery.

 

[thesignguy]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

Is replacing the gear oil easy to do or should I have it serviced at the marina? I do not have a manual yet, is there somewhere on the web I can get the instructions from?

Thanks for the replays!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

Changing gear oil is real easy to do. You will need a quart of "Marine gear oil for mechanical shift motors" gaskets for the fill and vent plugs, a screwdriver and a hand impact driver. Use the impact driver to loosen and the screwdriver to remove the plugs, one on top of the antiventilation plate, the other under the bullet-shaped gearcase. Let the old gearlube drip into a pan.

Now, install the new gaskets onto the plugs, and keep them handy. Insert the nozzle of the gearlube bottle into the lower hole and squeeze it, until your hands want to fall off. Eventually the new gear oil will exit the top hole, without any bubbles. Now install the top plug, still leaving the gearoil bottle in the lower hole. Now remove the gear oil bottle and quickly install the lower plug. Tighten with the impact driver.

 

[thesignguy]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

I'll check it out but I do not have access to a impact gun. Is it on that tight that I need one?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

I have not needed an impact for the ones I've done. They are tight though. Use a nice large screwdriver that fits the slot snugly to avoid stripping or rounding it off.

I would HIGHLY recommend getting a factory service manual. I've gotten one for both the JohnnyRude motors I've had and they are really great. I don't know the specifics for your motor so I couldn't find an exact one for you but I'm sure it's here somewhere http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ev...+manual&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

Get yourself one of these to make it easier to fill the gearcase with lube http://www.iboats.com/Fluid-Pump-Lube-Pump/dm/*******.523501553--**********.365992622--view_id.56375 (BassPro, maybe Walmart would have them as well)

 

[ezmobee]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

Secondly I agree with Ezmobee on everything but the extra battery.

I don't really disagree with you. I just know that I'm too paranoid to run a stereo for long while hanging out because I'd be afraid the motor wouldn't start.

 

[jgriner]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

I don't really disagree with you. I just know that I'm too paranoid to run a stereo for long while hanging out because I'd be afraid the motor wouldn't start.

im the same way, also, but my orignal battery was to small for my boat, so when i bought a new battery, i kept the orgianal battery under one of the seats, and a set of jumper cables... my luck is that spare doesnt get charged very often and then i will end up with 2 dead batterys, but hey i at least have some jumper cables.... one day i will add a battery switch.


lower unit oil

 

[yoster]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

I prefer to have the JD girl explain servicing my lower unit..

 

[sschefer]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

Ha, I wonder how Yamaha feels about Merc products being used to maintain their motors.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

is it just me, or do you guys like the way she says lower unit too??

 

[Monte1961]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

I don't know about you guys, but I run 150 watt am/Fm CD player with two 6,5"speakers that's on all day, a minkotta electric foot operated with 25' of lead and also starts me big motor using a US Battery out of Signal Hill, Ca for the last 4 years, and have not had any problems thus far. But as with anything, your battery needs maintenance also. At end of season, Battery is allowed to drained slowly in till completely dead and stored in shop where it doesn't freeze. Then in the spring I fill all cells with distilled water and recharge @ 2amp hrs in-till fully charged.

 

[thesignguy]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

Thanks for the videos, it looks pretty easy to do. I'll go get everything I need and try it this weekend.

I think I'm gonna just get a second battery for the stereo, just in case and a set of jumpers! The battery to the best of my knowledge is at least 3 years old, it was fine last year and as long as the connections are tight facepalm the rude started right up this year too!

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

monte ? how does one go about draining the battery down slowly? a lightbulb or something?

 

[jgriner]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

try to get some long jumpers, the longer the better boat batterys aren't always the easiest to get to

 

[emoney]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

You know, I'd think about changing out the impellar/servicing the water pump while I'm at it. Especially if you get a service manual (which I highly agree withEZ about) because you'll find it's not that hard to do. Not every issue can be forseen, however, a lot of "on-the-water" breakdowns could be prevented with good maintenance. Good luck.

 

[Monte1961]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

monte ? how does one go about draining the battery down slowly? a lightbulb or something?

I leave the radio on and my transom light on. Takes about two +/- days to fully drain battery.

 

[thesignguy]

Re: two questions, and in your opinion....

The previous owners did not give me any kind of maintenance history that why I'm asking before we break down on the water. I'm gonna do the gear oil this weekend and add some Sea Foam additive to remove a gunk or crap buildup in the engine.

My luck generally applies to Murphy's Law and even though I'm trying to do PM on the boat/engine is always seems to evolve into a bigger mess and backfires in my face:facepalm:

Thanks everyone for the posts and replies