1964 Starcraft Jet Star Aluminum Runabout Project

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

The boat gods were smiling on me today!! You never know what you'll find lurking in the bottom of your tool box. Who'd a thunk it? This tiny wrench, that I have no idea when, where or why I got it, fit the bolt and saved my day! I was able to get at and back off the bolt holding the wire connector and put in a new one.

Thank you, oh boat gods, for not holding up my motor mounting job with one tiny green wire! I am not worthy!!!!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Ups and downs. It looks like the boat gods were NOT smiling on me the day I bought the motor. After it's all mounted, I discovered something potentially disastrous that I had not seen before, and here it is...cracks and telltale rust:

Crap. that doesn't look good. I wonder if I bought an $1800 anchor. I drove it when buying it and at the time (2 years ago) didn't think it quite had all it should opened up, but on the other hand, it was on a heavy fiberglass fishing boat that I'm sure was way underpowered with the 50.

What to do? I guess just finish hooking it up and do a compression test on it, which I didn't do at the time. :facepalm: Told you motors were my weak point.

Advice?

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

From Panic Land back to Happy Land!

I posted the question in the J/E forum and got a quick answer from BonairII, it looks like it is just the paint cracking. I picked at it and all seems healthy underneath. Can't believe how thick the paint is in that spot.........................I NEED A BREAK!!!!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

OK, OK, I know y'all are wondering where the pictures are!! It's raining out right now and I'll get some as soon as I have a little light! Probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have a steering question. I hooked it up and removed the steering wheel to center it. Pointed the motor straight, temporarily put the wheel on and it works fine. However, turning one way, from straight to full turn is about 1-1/2 turns, but turning the other way, it's closer to 2-1/2 turns. How do you adjust it so the wheel is centered and the motor turns equally in both directions? Nothing in the Teleflex instructions about that. ???

 

[hidef]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

There is no adjustments to made with the steering itself. The cable locks into the helm and the other end of the cable is bolted the outboard tilt tube. The steering arm that came with the motor is what determines how much the outboard turns. I wonder if you have an arm for a different outboard? Does the engine turn all the way in both directions with the cable hooked up? Do you have the nut on the tilt tube tight? Also did you grease the ram really well before putting it in the tilt tube? Those things can rust and seize up in there and then they are a PITA to remove.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

There is no adjustments to made with the steering itself. The cable locks into the helm and the other end of the cable is bolted the outboard tilt tube. The steering arm that came with the motor is what determines how much the outboard turns. I wonder if you have an arm for a different outboard? Does the engine turn all the way in both directions with the cable hooked up? Do you have the nut on the tilt tube tight? Also did you grease the ram really well before putting it in the tilt tube? Those things can rust and seize up in there and then they are a PITA to remove.

I'm 99% sure that is the original steering arm. I can turn the motor equally in both directions by hand, the nut is tight. Moving the motor by hand, the wheel turns about 2 rotations toward starboard and 1-1/2 rotations toward port. I see that there are two holes to use on the steering arm, would using the other one make a difference I wonder? That would change the pivot point a little. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I didn't grease the ram but I should be able to grease it sufficiently mounted; I did thoroughly clean the tube out by running cloth patches sprayed with penetrant and pushed with a dowel.

Once I get the steering wheel oriented in its final position, is it a good idea to grease the splines a little before tightening the nut, looking ahead to the future if I ever want to change the wheel?

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Finally, here are pictures of my motor mounting adventure of yesterday. I got tired of waiting for someone to help me lift it off the stand and managed to wrestle the motor out the shed door by myself and onto the come-along. It weighs 25 lb. more than I do. The whole process went relatively smoothly considering it was a first for me. Didn't even know how to use a come-along until yesterday! And I got through it with all my fingers intact.

I got it out the door and the process began. It would have been a lot easier to position it if the lifting ring had been more centered, as it was, I had to do a lot of wrestling with it tipped so much, and my frame height was just barely high enough.

I got it on the transom the first time and marked where the holes would go. I had made a template long ago, but didn't trust its accuracy enough, so I did it this way, making sure that the motor could be adjusted up later if needed.

I marked where the trailer was parked with spray paint so I could get it back in the same position after moving it forward to make some working room.

I got the holes drilled and they were pretty darn close and required only minimal tweaking afterwards. I was a little ticked when a chunk broke out of the interior when the drill came through. I got out the old JB Weld and put it back in. clamping it for a good long while. It seemed to work pretty well, I'll just have to do a little paint touch-up later.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

I backed the trailer back into position and time to put the bolts in. This was the hardest part, trying to center it, get it mounted in the third hole for height based on where the cavitation plate fell, while at the same time holding it in a more vertical position, inserting the steering cable in the tube, and getting first one, then 2, then 3 & 4 bolts in to hold it up. It was a lot easier to manage when I was marking the holes and the weight was resting on the top of the transom. After that, I took them out one at a time to install permanently...and don't spare the 5200!!

And a little more on the inside too...

Installed the steering arm last, and the final result:

Looks like (I hope) it's in the perfect position and I don't have to adjust the height further...

 

[hidef]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

You have steering arm in the wrong hole. It needs to be in the back hole. You can put the bolt from the back hole into the front hole or just leave it out. Your height looks perfect.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Just a few shots of the inside of the motor. It's very clean overall, I'm just paranoid that I missed something when I bought it due to inexperience, but I guess I have to forget about that for now, time will tell. This is the first time I ever bought a motor from a non-dealer.

Now I'm just waiting for the stuff I ordered to arrive.

 

[hidef]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Your height looks perfect. The control arm needs to be mounted in the back hole on the steering arm. That should cure your steering issue. The front hole is for hooking up a steering rod to another outboard. When you run that engine for the first time premix the tank 50:1 and top up the VRO tank with oil. Until your are certain she is drawing oil you want to premix. 24:1 won't hurt it any and you will know she is getting oil.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

You have steering arm in the wrong hole. It needs to be in the back hole. You can put the bolt from the back hole into the front hole or just leave it out. Your height looks perfect.

I wondered about that. It came in the hole where it is now, but who knows what steering system was in the previos boat. I'll move it back, thanks.

 

[hidef]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

No problem I was editing my post when you replied. She is looking good. You should use some 1 1/2 inch outside diameter washers on those mounting bolts though. They will distribute the load better.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

When you run that engine for the first time premix the tank 50:1 and top up the VRO tank with oil. Until your are certain she is drawing oil you want to premix. 24:1 won't hurt it any and you will know she is getting oil.

Good advice, thanks, I plan on running pre-mix until I'm sure all's in order.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Lake - can you smell the 2 stroke oil and hear the waves lapping on the hull? Can't be long before the splash! And since I keep bugging you about the new sig pic, well you know. Almost buddy!!!!!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Lake - can you smell the 2 stroke oil and hear the waves lapping on the hull? Can't be long before the splash! And since I keep bugging you about the new sig pic, well you know. Almost buddy!!!!!

That's next on my agenda, I have to remember how to do it, it's been so long!

Yup, I'm getting the itch!!

Edit: DONE!

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Very, very nice. It's great to see it come together so well. Gives the rest of us hope that our day will come as well.

Good work.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

I was just going to comment on how sweet this profile shot is - I see you swapped out your signature photo there

Nice Lake!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Thanks dj & Jas, it sure feels good to have it finally mounted. I spent half the day reorganizing my shed because of the newfound room and finally cleaning up after myself after working on the boat and just throwing stuff in there. I couldn't even turn around inside.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

Re: 1964 15' Starcraft Aluminum Runabout Project

She is looking good. You should use some 1 1/2 inch outside diameter washers on those mounting bolts though. They will distribute the load better.

Not sure where to find those, but I was thinking of making a mounting plate for the top two from some left over 1/8" aluminum I have.