Well, here's my sign at least. If a power trim unit is acting like the manual release valve is loosened and won't trim properly, it's entirely possible that the manual release valve is loosened and thus the motor won't trim properly. :)
Back to the beginning of the day. The kids and I went out early today, around 9:30. Boy do they get whiney quick. "I'm hot.", "I'm sweaty", "When can we go in.". I don't know what they're going to do when it really get's hot... Anyway, got the motor back off and replace the leaky o-ring. The operation seemed to be a success. So I bolted the motor back on the boat...but no trim.
I spend the better part of two hours trying to figure out why it wouldn't fully trim. It would move on the lower trim cylinders, but the main center cylinder acted like it wasn't doing anything...it wasn't pressurized at all. I thought it might be a hydaulic line that was crushed a bit when the motor when through the Bayliner transom, but taking that off revealed it to be allow flow still...
So I struggled with it. I pulled the motor on more time to check that the trim motor was engaging the pump correctly. I tried adding fluid...but it really didn't seem low. It just wasn't working...
Finally tonight, I had a revelation. There is an manual release. I was treating the fill screw on the fluid resoviour a bleed screw and had forgotten about the actual manual release/bleed screw that I apparently loosened about 5 years ago. Went out with a flashlight and had it trimming up and down within 30 seconds.
So I can finally move on from the trim. Lower unit time...
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Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Frustration
And now frustration starts to set in...
Nothing serious, just very slow progress...and when it seems like I will start to make some decent progress, little thing stall it out again.
Things I've done since the last post...
Anyway, I got a couple of days to work on it and got the above list accomplished. Unfortunatly after working a few more hours today, it's still only temporatily hung. The reason being, the trim motor is leaking like a sieve past the oring on the bottom. So I order a new oring in the hopes that will fix the problem. If it doesn't, I'll try to build an "oring helper" out of gasket maker on the bottom of the trim motor. But I really don't think that will help either since we're dealing with a pressurized system... We'll see I guess....
Here are a few pics...got kind of dark on me, but you get the idea...
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Nothing serious, just very slow progress...and when it seems like I will start to make some decent progress, little thing stall it out again.
Things I've done since the last post...
- Removed mercury control box/cables
- Loosened Challengar steering
- Removed omc contros from Bayliner
- Removed Johnson from Bayliner
- Replace trim motor on Johnson
- Temporarily mounted Johnson to Challengar
- It seems like I'm hardly getting anything done...either it's raining or Elizabeth or I have some other obligation. PTO meeting, planting a garden, etc.
Anyway, I got a couple of days to work on it and got the above list accomplished. Unfortunatly after working a few more hours today, it's still only temporatily hung. The reason being, the trim motor is leaking like a sieve past the oring on the bottom. So I order a new oring in the hopes that will fix the problem. If it doesn't, I'll try to build an "oring helper" out of gasket maker on the bottom of the trim motor. But I really don't think that will help either since we're dealing with a pressurized system... We'll see I guess....
Here are a few pics...got kind of dark on me, but you get the idea...
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Saturday, May 3, 2008
Catapults and Come-alongs
First a quick comment on the title. The previous post was "Tower of Power"...and as this post is about removing the inline 6 Mariner, I thought of laying seige on a tower of a castle. Thus the catapult reference. Yes, my brain really does work that strangly.
Anyway, from the remainder of the title, you can guess how the motor was removed. And not just a come-along, but in in true redneck fashion, it was attached to a chain on a tree limb. Details after the pics...
Unfortunately, I didn't really get any work in progress pictures. I was too busy trying to work somewhat safely while making sure 3 kids didn't kill themselves or each other while they were playing in the driveway... But as you can see, in the end I did manage to remove the motor from it's host.
Yesterday, I took the time to remove all the wiring and cables from the motor. Labeling them nicely in case someone plans to hook them back up again. Today everything went fairly uneventfully until it came time to remove the steering cable/bar. I knew the bar was bent since I couldn't turn the steering wheel fully left, and it did not want to come out. I "tapped" it about 3 inches with the chunch of 4x4 you see on the back of the boat and then couldn't budge it anymore. So out came the hammer, I figured it wasn't come out any other way... Tapped it flush with the motor mount with the hammer and then used a socket extension to tap it about 5 inches in. Still had a ways to go...and it still wasn't budging by hand. Searched all about for something else to use to get it the rest of the way and finally found a 12" piece of threaded rod, which got it the rest of the way.
So, now that's it was free, I layed it gently in a trailer and covered it with a tarp...to be dealt with later. I think my steering is going to need to be replaced though. Although I think that would have been the case anyway as it wasn't working freely to begin with. I may be able to use the steering from my old Bayliner, but I'm not terribly hopeful. It's a couple of feet longer and I don't know if I'll be able to route it in a non-binding manner. We'll have to see on that one...
One a side note, I've ordered my impeller for the 85 and also got some muffs and ran it for a bit with those. Still having with it not wanting to crank without a splash of gas down the carbs. I tried to draw up some Seafoam into the bowls, but am not sure on how effective that was. I think I'll probably go ahead and pull the carbs, so can clean them properly. Better to be safe than sorry...
Read more!
Anyway, from the remainder of the title, you can guess how the motor was removed. And not just a come-along, but in in true redneck fashion, it was attached to a chain on a tree limb. Details after the pics...
 |  |
| From Project Fisher | From Project Fisher |
Unfortunately, I didn't really get any work in progress pictures. I was too busy trying to work somewhat safely while making sure 3 kids didn't kill themselves or each other while they were playing in the driveway... But as you can see, in the end I did manage to remove the motor from it's host.
Yesterday, I took the time to remove all the wiring and cables from the motor. Labeling them nicely in case someone plans to hook them back up again. Today everything went fairly uneventfully until it came time to remove the steering cable/bar. I knew the bar was bent since I couldn't turn the steering wheel fully left, and it did not want to come out. I "tapped" it about 3 inches with the chunch of 4x4 you see on the back of the boat and then couldn't budge it anymore. So out came the hammer, I figured it wasn't come out any other way... Tapped it flush with the motor mount with the hammer and then used a socket extension to tap it about 5 inches in. Still had a ways to go...and it still wasn't budging by hand. Searched all about for something else to use to get it the rest of the way and finally found a 12" piece of threaded rod, which got it the rest of the way.
So, now that's it was free, I layed it gently in a trailer and covered it with a tarp...to be dealt with later. I think my steering is going to need to be replaced though. Although I think that would have been the case anyway as it wasn't working freely to begin with. I may be able to use the steering from my old Bayliner, but I'm not terribly hopeful. It's a couple of feet longer and I don't know if I'll be able to route it in a non-binding manner. We'll have to see on that one...
One a side note, I've ordered my impeller for the 85 and also got some muffs and ran it for a bit with those. Still having with it not wanting to crank without a splash of gas down the carbs. I tried to draw up some Seafoam into the bowls, but am not sure on how effective that was. I think I'll probably go ahead and pull the carbs, so can clean them properly. Better to be safe than sorry...
Read more!
Tower of Power
You might notice all of these blog entries are from the same day. I'm actually doing some catch-up blogging. These are the events from the past week or so...
So, I've now purchased a 1986 Challenger 172 Fish & Ski. It has a 1987 Mariner in need of a lower unit and otherwise unknown condition, an almost new Motorguide Pro Series 70lb thrust trolling motor, hummingbird transducers, some oxidized gelcoat, and a couple of pretty decent fresh scars on the hull in need of patching. In dire need of interior work, but seeming solid overall in regards to floor and transom. So where to begin...
As stated earlier, the original plan was to pull the Mariner and put my old 85HP Johnson on there. Well, the pull of that tall inline 6 Mariner was too great. It cranked right up and seemed to idle okay...plus a prop-shaft rated 115 versus a powerhead rated 85 got me greedy. I started looking into lower units...and power trims as the motor was missing the trim. Ended up finding a guy local who would sell me a used lower unit for $300. And I won an ebay auction for the trim...$225 shipped. Wasn't wanting to spend the money, but decided to put my rc cars up for sale to offset the cost.
Well, I couldn't get the lower unit until next week, so I thought it would be prudent to check the compression before putting down the money. Should have done it before buying the power trim too... I think you see where this is going. Everything was going well until cylinder #6. It only had 30psi. There was still and slim chance that it could just be a stuck ring...but then I saw metal on the spark plug, #6 was toast. So now I've got to resell a trim unit, but I think I should be able to get my money back...maybe loose a bit on shipping... At least I didn't buy the lower unit yet...
So now I'm back to my original plan. I've got all wires and cables unhooked from the Mariner, ready to pull it. And I've been prepping my 85. I'm having a little trouble getting it to start without a shot of gas down the carb throat. Once started it idles fine, but just doesn't want to pull fuel to being with. I'm guessing a slightly clogged jet... I'm hoping to get away with not pulling the carbs...but we'll see...
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So, I've now purchased a 1986 Challenger 172 Fish & Ski. It has a 1987 Mariner in need of a lower unit and otherwise unknown condition, an almost new Motorguide Pro Series 70lb thrust trolling motor, hummingbird transducers, some oxidized gelcoat, and a couple of pretty decent fresh scars on the hull in need of patching. In dire need of interior work, but seeming solid overall in regards to floor and transom. So where to begin...
As stated earlier, the original plan was to pull the Mariner and put my old 85HP Johnson on there. Well, the pull of that tall inline 6 Mariner was too great. It cranked right up and seemed to idle okay...plus a prop-shaft rated 115 versus a powerhead rated 85 got me greedy. I started looking into lower units...and power trims as the motor was missing the trim. Ended up finding a guy local who would sell me a used lower unit for $300. And I won an ebay auction for the trim...$225 shipped. Wasn't wanting to spend the money, but decided to put my rc cars up for sale to offset the cost.
Well, I couldn't get the lower unit until next week, so I thought it would be prudent to check the compression before putting down the money. Should have done it before buying the power trim too... I think you see where this is going. Everything was going well until cylinder #6. It only had 30psi. There was still and slim chance that it could just be a stuck ring...but then I saw metal on the spark plug, #6 was toast. So now I've got to resell a trim unit, but I think I should be able to get my money back...maybe loose a bit on shipping... At least I didn't buy the lower unit yet...
So now I'm back to my original plan. I've got all wires and cables unhooked from the Mariner, ready to pull it. And I've been prepping my 85. I'm having a little trouble getting it to start without a shot of gas down the carb throat. Once started it idles fine, but just doesn't want to pull fuel to being with. I'm guessing a slightly clogged jet... I'm hoping to get away with not pulling the carbs...but we'll see...
Read more!
Project "I wanna go fishing"
One of the bad things about buying a ski boat at the beginning of spring is that while you're out on the water all you see is fishing boats and bass boats. This coupled with the fact that I was wanting something I could fish out of when I started looking at boats again anyway, leads to the following...
Whilst bringing the Glastron to the dealer to get a speaker and the hour meter fixed under warrenty, I seem to have accidently bought a bass boat. Well, technicaly it's a fish and ski, but you get the point. I mentioned to the service manager as he was helping unhook my boat that I was looking for a bass boat that needed a motor and he brought me to this 1986 Challenger...needed a lower unit on the 115 Mariner. Said $800 would get it off the lot. Later in the day, I wrote them a $700 check and dragged it home. So begins "Project Fisher".
Read more!
 |
| From Project Fisher |
Whilst bringing the Glastron to the dealer to get a speaker and the hour meter fixed under warrenty, I seem to have accidently bought a bass boat. Well, technicaly it's a fish and ski, but you get the point. I mentioned to the service manager as he was helping unhook my boat that I was looking for a bass boat that needed a motor and he brought me to this 1986 Challenger...needed a lower unit on the 115 Mariner. Said $800 would get it off the lot. Later in the day, I wrote them a $700 check and dragged it home. So begins "Project Fisher".
Read more!
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