Yellowfiero's playmate resto!

[merc245]

Damn it!!! Don't you hate it when that happens!!! I know that guy, same one that jacked his motor to high and wondering why it was porpoising. Damn idiot!!!!

Yah! its the same guy who's mota is still disassembled and he is patiently waiting. Not wanting to cause trouble before its due,But knowing all a long it WILL NOT be done anytime soon!Yah I know that guy, He's a freakin IDIOT too!

 

[yellowfiero88]

A little hudy delight and I am calmed down a little bit. Should be something easy to fix on the running part. I got to get the tires balanced on the dually and get an alignment done on it. When I get done with that, I will throw some plugs in it and test run it. If need be, I can barrow a test tank from the neighbor or he has a small job for me to do on his boat that I can swap him. I enjoy doing this work a lot but when I get stumped, I really get aggravated!

 

[ndaniels]

Well.... I know this one guy that used to own an Exciter... when he re-rigged it, he hooked the lines up the wrong way also! At least I caught it when I just started to bleed out the system... would have been more amusing at the lake!

Hope you get the motor goin, Brian.

 

[karzrus]

A little hudy delight and I am calmed down a little bit. Should be something easy to fix on the running part. I got to get the tires balanced on the dually and get an alignment done on it. When I get done with that, I will throw some plugs in it and test run it. If need be, I can barrow a test tank from the neighbor or he has a small job for me to do on his boat that I can swap him. I enjoy doing this work a lot but when I get stumped, I really get aggravated!

YF, did I miss something, did your stolen truck come home or did you get another one already? BTW best wishes on the playmate motor issues, stick with it your almost there.

 

[Rob B]

YF, did I miss something, did your stolen truck come home or did you get another one already? BTW best wishes on the playmate motor issues, stick with it your almost there.

He's got a newer dually, you can see it in post #103 third and fourth picture. The one stolen hasn't been recovered yet.

 

[JT Patroni]

Brian,

I know you will have the little mate fixed in short order.
One thing I learned years ago, "Life is like a bowl of cherries"

You just have to get the friggin pits out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim

 

[82Diplomat]

Brian,

Not sure how much help I can be, but I COMPLETELY rebuilt a Mercury SportJet 90 this past winter. First time ever for me and a project like this. Took my time since it was winter. All new electricals, rebuilt carbs, fuel pump, block bored 0.30 over, wiseco pistons, boysen reeds, etc.

I know mine is actually a FORCE block (junk), branded Mercury but so far at 15 hours, mine fires quickly and runs great. I pray at the end of the season this year I can still say the same thing...

Forgive me for asking stupid questions, but I'm sure you checked for even compression (didn't read the whole thread), an even spark (I have an 8 cylinder spark tester that works great) and good fuel PSI. The portable test tank sounds like a great idea, but when mine was stalling I found my fuel check valves on the fuel recirculation system were all faulty (should hear the check ball rattle when shaked). Carb rebuilds probably didn't hurt either as I found my #3 bottom cylinder carb had the wrong size jet (supposed to be larger than the other two). Also my timing was about 6 degrees advanced at WOT and I had a weak ignition coil.

To torque the flywheel nut to spec, I used a long 2X4 with 1 large 2" hole and 3 smaller holes that matched the pattern on the flywheel. I bolted the 2X4 to the flywheel (like a puller), held the 2X4 in one arm and the pulled the torque wrench with the other. WORKED GREAT!

Hope some of these ideas help. Love watching your projects!

George

 

[justincase]

Brian, sorry to here this....drink some beer!

 

[Gimme Fuel]

I know that same guy too....he took a perfectly good 502 out, cost himself a whole summer with no boating.....and is still trying to get it going.....although he is finally close to succeeding......what a moron. BWHAHAHA, the things we do to be cool and go fast.

Sorry to hear about your gremlins YF.....good luck!

 

[yellowfiero88]

Brian,

Not sure how much help I can be, but I COMPLETELY rebuilt a Mercury SportJet 90 this past winter. First time ever for me and a project like this. Took my time since it was winter. All new electricals, rebuilt carbs, fuel pump, block bored 0.30 over, wiseco pistons, boysen reeds, etc.

I know mine is actually a FORCE block (junk), branded Mercury but so far at 15 hours, mine fires quickly and runs great. I pray at the end of the season this year I can still say the same thing...

Forgive me for asking stupid questions, but I'm sure you checked for even compression (didn't read the whole thread), an even spark (I have an 8 cylinder spark tester that works great) and good fuel PSI. The portable test tank sounds like a great idea, but when mine was stalling I found my fuel check valves on the fuel recirculation system were all faulty (should hear the check ball rattle when shaked). Carb rebuilds probably didn't hurt either as I found my #3 bottom cylinder carb had the wrong size jet (supposed to be larger than the other two). Also my timing was about 6 degrees advanced at WOT and I had a weak ignition coil.

To torque the flywheel nut to spec, I used a long 2X4 with 1 large 2" hole and 3 smaller holes that matched the pattern on the flywheel. I bolted the 2X4 to the flywheel (like a puller), held the 2X4 in one arm and the pulled the torque wrench with the other. WORKED GREAT!

Hope some of these ideas help. Love watching your projects!

George

Great trouble shooting ideals George . Compression tho not perfect, it is very even and respectable @ 117 to 120.

So I am calling merc and raising 7 kinds of hell with them. Their engeneering staff sucks. I know you guy won't believe me when I say this but .....
.
.
.
.
.
.
You have to not only have a power wire to the coils, but them damn things need a ground to work as well! I just don't understand how they can design things to work like that. If they don't get it together and make things better, I might have to switch to yamaha or honda ( I can't do a johnny rude cuz I dont have room for the backup trolling mota ). Got fire on all 3 now. Its raining cats and dogs and its supposed to get colder tonight. If its not raining tomorrow, I am taking it out for a test run even if I have to wear a winter coat!!!

Another thing I found is the cover is pinching the fuel line very slightly so I will put a small notch in the cover for clearance. I don't think it was enough to really restrict the flow but I don't want to risk starving for fuel. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have all the bugs worked out and she will have a few hours on her of run time.

I then will start the prop testing, I got some easy prey to pass in a porpoising enforcer

 

[ndaniels]

Cool man! Thats easy enuff to deal with.

 

[82Diplomat]

Glad some ideas might have helped.

I've never built an engine before, but took my time with this one. It was previously built by a merc certified tech (got it on Ebay....) and I only got 20 hours out of it before the #3 cylinder melted. Somehow my fault I'm sure but it's been a lesson learned a day with my engine. My engine died about a week after YOUR engine last year dropped a screw from the carb I believe? Mine is the same powerhead as a Force 90 (3 cylinder) outboard connected to a jet pump. Works good in my boat when it's working but I sure miss my Diplomat.

Anyway, I studied 3 different service manuals for mine a page at a time and traced every wire, fuel hose (many sizes), etc. to be sure everything was to the manual. That's how I found the problems with the carb jet, recirculator check valves, and timing way too advanced. The spark tester I use has hookups for 8 plugs and adjustable gaps that show fire inside a clear window. If I don't see a healthy, blue spark, I know trouble's coming.

BTW - I've been told by many, be sure the plugs are properly grounded (you guys probably already know all this) when you test crank or you'll fry your electronics (stator, voltage regulator, and switchbox) about $700 worth of stuff. Also, I added a small inline fuel pressure gauge to check quickly when there was a stalling problem. Studying your thread, the only other think I noticed was your temperature gauge. I might be wrong on this, but I use the one that is the Outboard Head Temp gauge that comes with a small sensor that bolts to one of the head bolts. I've heard the one you have for outboards never registers high enough and is somewhat useless. I have the same gauges that your do Faria Cheasapeake and the temperature head gauge number is 13806. You'll see the center calabration number is 140 (my thermostat opens at 130) instead of 175 as on the 13804. When I'm running the head temp is always about 80-90.

Look forward to hearing the good news Brian.
George

 

[yellowfiero88]

Studying your thread, the only other think I noticed was your temperature gauge. I might be wrong on this, but I use the one that is the Outboard Head Temp gauge that comes with a small sensor that bolts to one of the head bolts. I've heard the one you have for outboards never registers high enough and is somewhat useless. I have the same gauges that your do Faria Cheasapeake and the temperature head gauge number is 13806. You'll see the center calabration number is 140 (my thermostat opens at 130) instead of 175 as on the 13804. When I'm running the head temp is always about 80-90.

Look forward to hearing the good news Brian.
George

Great call. Yes I should be running that gauge. I got the wrong gauge and to be honest, untill now I didn't know they had the smaller gauge. I might have to change it out to that gauge. It does read but very low like you said. I do still have the factory buzzer that works for the temp warning (disconected the faulty oil sensor) Right now, I have spent over my budget for this year on the playmate so next year I will swap it and I might even do a water pressure gauge instead of the temp. Either way I have a better eye on what is going on than what was in the boat from the factory.

Infact budget wise, unless I get a smoking deal on a prop, I will be running a 12 3/4" x 21p michigan wheel aluminum or the 23p stainless off the enchanter (if it fits and will turn it). As long as its fast enough to scare some of the bigger boats out of the hole, I will be happy. I think it will be one of the faster 13' boats around, lol!

I did finish it all up tonight minus the kill lanyards. Steering fixed, motor running, and she is ready to spank some baja........... Even cleaned the carpet, scrubbed the seats, sanded and buffed the motor covers (till the buffer grabbed one and threw it across the concrete) It escaped with very minor road rash. Guess I will have to get some finished pics tomorrow if its nice out and maybe even a run!

 

[82Diplomat]

Look forward to the post updates. I'm guessing from what you said that spark (and maybe fuel) was the problem. If idling is a problem in the future, I'd check the reeds and fuel recirculation check values (assuming your engine is very similiar to mine - can't tell exactly from the pics). I've heard so many stories of outboard running great on muffs and then acting totally different in the water. Makes 'ya nuts.

I can relate to the overbudget, just rebuilding an outboard powerhead the "right" way cost nearly $2K in parts & machining. When you're ready here's where I got the other Faria gauge 13806 and it was a fast ship from Ohio.

http://www.boatersland.com/far-13806.html

My jet pumps water to the engine (no water pump) so it must be idling at 1100 rpm to properly cool it. That's why I'm so paranoid and don't want to cook a new powerhead. (again)

BTW - When does the stroker for the Enchanter get installed? Always loved that boat.

 

[yellowfiero88]

Yep, I hooked both ends of the ground wire to the coil so there was no ground going to it. I installed the grounds like they were supposed to be and it fired right up. Thanks for the link George. As for the enchanter, I got all the parts sitting her minus the exhaust headers so it is next on the list. If the playmate runs right today, I will start on the enchanter next week.

 

[82Diplomat]

Having fun watching the updates. Sunny here in Columbus. I'm in the home office today making up for the 12 hours I spent at Alum Creek on Thursday during the record 84 degree high. While I was there Thursday some guy was proudly showing me his X19 (4 Winns Donzi knockoff I believe) in the swimmer's cove. Boat sounded fabulous with a 351 and lopy idle.

As luck would have it - when he went to start it to leave, it wouldn't crank. After an hour of troubleshooting it just turned out to be a loose wire in harness under the dash. Love the easy fixes...

 

[ndaniels]

What kind of exhaust are you lookin for Brian?

 

[yellowfiero88]

Nick, I am looking at the lightning headers from MK but don't know if I want to drop that kind of coin for them or not. They sure do look sweet tho! If I dont do them then it will be the IMCO powerflow polished aluminum manifolds. Either way, Mike is giving me a great deal on them.

 

[yellowfiero88]

Today was a good day

She ran flawless today. Put her in, pumped bulb 3x, hit the throttle 2x, bumped the key and off we went

I could not get a good reading on the gps at full speed but the speedo was very close to being dead on. @35gps, speedo read about 33-34. At wide open I was more worried about running the boat than looking at the gps. So top speed is speedo. last run of the day was 51mph @ 5600rpm, 19p aluminum 3 blade (thought I saw 54 on gps). I got 2 hours run time going up and down the river today and every time I ran her, she ran better. I did find that I can not trim it up as she will chine walk out of control. If I keep the trim neutral, she runs great and is very smooth and stable. Also crusing along, if you let off the throtle and hit it, she WILL jump out of the water. Out of the hole, I thought would be quicker. 2200 rpm and she takes off like a bat out of hell. I do have a 21p aluminum prop sitting here in perfect shape that I am going to try, just need to get the hub kit for a merc on monday.

 

[yellowfiero88]