First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

[VIP-Soto]

I purchased a 98 VIP Valiant on Saturday morning. It's 19' with the 4.3 Merc. She starts right up every time. The previous owner has not been using the boat for the past two years. He has winterized and summerized her every year.

Issues:

1. The boat wont run past 3000 rpm. Is this normal? It doesn't have the punch that I think it should. Starts off pretty weak and the nose sticks straight up in the air. Trim is all the way down. At this pace, I don't think I can pull a skier out of the water. It just feels weak.

2. Reverse - I can put her in reverse and she will slowly back up. BUT, if I give it gas in reverse, she dies. What gives?

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Ayuh,.... It sounds like it needs a Full Tune Up,+ Service,... Especially the Fuel Filters...
And,...
The Lower Shift Cable is about Dead,+ needs Replacing...

 

[VIP-Soto]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Dropped it of for tune up. $700?

 

[proxyx]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

I've seen a ton of boats with "The Lower Shift Cable is about Dead,+ needs Replacing..." problem that was fixed by adjusting shift cable.
This is a poor advice and a standard one in your book Bond-o. Not longer then 2 weeks ago happened to me. Adjusted the cable, problem fixed.

Low WOT rpm is in most cases related to wrong propeller size/pitch provided compression is OK. Check if the engine is not flooding, too much gas will kill the power. Check spark plugs - should be brown. If black adjust carb idle mix.
And don't panic. Most "issues" you pointed out are everyday problems. Just check the forum... some ppl have REAL problems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

I've seen a ton of boats with "The Lower Shift Cable is about Dead,+ needs Replacing..." problem that was fixed by adjusting shift cable.
This is a poor advice and a standard one in your book Bond-o.

Ayuh,.... That's Your opinion....

The Facts are,... 10 years is about the Design Life of a lower shift cable....
If it needs Readjusting,.... It's because it's Worn...
There for,... Readjusting is at Best, a Band-aid Fix, that will work for Awhile,...
Yet, the lower shift cable Still is worn out,+ Still needs Replacing....

 

[proxyx]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Ayuh,.... That's Your opinion....

The Facts are,... 10 years is about the Design Life of a lower shift cable....
If it needs Readjusting,.... It's because it's Worn...
There for,... Readjusting is at Best, a Band-aid Fix, that will work for Awhile,...
Yet, the lower shift cable Still is worn out,+ Still needs Replacing....

If it was the only component MAYBE.
But there are other items in the path like shift lever, shift lever cable, shift plate, interrupter switch... etc plus slack in the cable sleeve (even new, that settles down with time - NORMAL) plus components play that increases with use. Barrel socket play. Lastly normal steel cable elongation. All NORMAL. THAT is why you need adjustment. Not because the cable is worn.
Not my opinion. That's experience + physics in action.

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

But there are other items in the path like shift lever, shift lever cable, shift plate, interrupter switch...

Ayuh,... That's All irrevelant to the Lower Shift Cable,+ it's adjustments...

etc plus slack in the cable sleeve (even new, that settles down with time - NORMAL) plus components play that increases with use. Lastly normal steel cable elongation. All NORMAL. THAT is why you need adjustment. Not because the cable is worn.

That's Exactly Where the Lower Shift Cables Wear Out....
The outer casing Wears, causing Slop in the cable, which Can't be Properly adjusted out....
The inner wire don't stretch, the casing wears out...
If there's too much Slop in the rest of the linkage, it needs Replacing,...

As I said before,... Adjusting is a Band-aid to mask the underlying Problem....

 

[proxyx]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Since you seem to have your legs stuck in concrete all I can say suit yourself. Respectfully, this is YOUR opinion which contradicts experience and defies logic. Just to remind you, Merc manuals cover shift cable adjustment = maintenance. If for shifting problems Merc always recommended cable replacement there would be no chapter covering it. Plus the parts would be snap in, non-adjustable... think about that for a moment.
Anyway, I will keep adjusting if need be, you will keep replacing... LOL.
Let's leave it.

PS. if the boat we're talking about had maladjusted cable (improperly adjusted) would you replace it right away, just like that, without even seeing it? I doubt it. So I'd say let's be careful with recommending replacement...

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

PS. if the boat we're talking about had maladjusted cable (improperly adjusted) would you replace it right away, just like that, without even seeing it? I doubt it. So I'd say let's be careful with recommending replacement...

Ayuh,.... Diagnosing boat issues from what is stated by the owner, who probably has No Clue as to what they're talking about,....
I'm Not standing over the boat, Lookin' at it,...
The Best I can do is use the Info provided,+ suggest the Most Likely cause of their Issue....
And,....
A 10 year old Mercruiser,....The Odds favor,.. It's Probably a Worn Out Lower Shift Cable....

 

[proxyx]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Ayuh,.... Diagnosing boat issues from what is stated by the owner, who probably has No Clue as to what they're talking about,....
A 10 year old Mercruiser,....The Odds favor,.. It's Probably a Worn Out Lower Shift Cable....

Have you noticed...? You're guessing. Gotta see the boat, period.

To the thread owner: none of the issues here are unusual or unheard of. Happens all the time. No reason for panic. Use sound judgment of a good mechanic in your area instead of jumping to conclusions. Too bad it happened with a new purchase but... remember ppl buy new cars and next day end up in service dept. same with new boats. Hopefully boat wasn't setup/maintained properly. Most issues can be easily corrected.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

gotta agree with bondo on this one. I do a couple a month and have for about 30 years.
cable kit is about 90 dollars and takes about 2 hours to install and once the initial installation adjustments are done your done until something either wears out or water gets the cable.
you cannot properly adjust for wear and there have been two style of cable in the past 15 or so years.
a solid hardened stainless and a multi strand plastic armored, neither stretch.
in my area normal cable life is about 5 years and the cable needs replacing.
gotta love the salt pond.
I do get to replace the occasional worn shift spool or rev gear and clutch due to an improper cable adjustment done by some of the local backyadigans.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

bond-o has helped 10's of thousands of people and someone with 13 posts is going to question him? rediculous......

 

[proxyx]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

bond-o has helped 10's of thousands of people and someone with 13 posts is going to question him? rediculous......

And in all of them he was spot on... haha. Anyway, hats of to him for trying.
Maybe it comes as a surprise to you but I was born before I joined the forum. Even God makes mistakes... that is what comes to mind when I look at one of my friends wife...
There is always a better way.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

well if thats how you respect a friends wife good thing your a no body on here! good luck to ya and happy safe boating!

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bond-o
Ayuh,.... Diagnosing boat issues from what is stated by the owner, who probably has No Clue as to what they're talking about,....
A 10 year old Mercruiser,....The Odds favor,.. It's Probably a Worn Out Lower Shift Cable....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have you noticed...? You're guessing. Gotta see the boat, period.

Ayuh,... If you're willing to pick up the travel tab for Lookin' at all the boats I've Helped fix,...
Or more importantly,... To all the boats I'm gonna Help fix,...
Send me the credit card,.. I'll start packin' Now....

Giving Bad advise is Bad enough,....
Attacking Me personally isn't going to win you any Friends around here....

 

[Don S]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

Attacking Me personally isn't going to win you any Friends around here....

Nor me, nor anyone else.
Like I said in my reply to one of your other posts,

For someone that has been on this forum for less that 2 full days, your "I know more than anyone else" attitude sure shows through.

Drop the attitude, and you might get along a little better around here.

 

[dubs283]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

it is a shame how some people treat a public forum like a public bathroom

 

[MRS]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

There is always a better way

Yea there is but you sure do not know what it is why cause stuff nobody around here really cares for it. We can disagree on on things sometimes but we do respect each other lick your wounds and move on (Grow up)

 

[proxyx]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

So you also say that THIS particular shift cable is about dead right? without seeing it... knowing more about the boat... ???
Maybe it was replaced 2 months ago? Have you asked...?

This is an example how easy it is to pass judgment or give poor advice.

Ayuh,... If you're willing to pick up the travel tab for Lookin' at all the boats I've Helped fix,...
Or more importantly,... To all the boats I'm gonna Help fix,...
Send me the credit card,.. I'll start packin' Now....

Giving Bad advise is Bad enough,....
Attacking Me personally isn't going to win you any Friends around here....

No one is attacking you. You should be able to distinguish between personal attacks and pointing out that you went a bit far saying "cable is about dead" without knowing anything about the boat... sounds bit extreme to me.
I can think of couple more reasons for described behavior. But you say "+ needs replacement", period. "I know more than anyone else" attitude sure shows through. Had you said check the cable etc. ok, I'd understand.
That's all.

There's nothing personal about saying you are wrong IMO, or is it?

 

[TowRoper]

Re: First time out with my 98 VIP Valiant 4.3

good god cant ya just drop it and get on with getting this guy back on the water?