1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

It appears you have your shift cables zip tied to your power cables. I wouldn't do that as it looks to be exacerbating the problem. I think you're ok though, perhaps just don't store it with the motor up for long periods.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Ok EZ I'll try to loosen those up and maybe just rely on the spiral wrap to hold things together.
Glen - I'll check that out tonight.
Adam - That's right you did mention it was a holiday afterall. Where are your pics buddy?

I found a new trim switch that goes on the remote control..$55 for a stinkin toggel switch, geesh. List price is $110 so I'm supposed to feel like I got a deal?!!! Taking that all apart will be a PITA.
Ordered a bunch of parts to connect the fuel system, once thats done....
1) wiring
2) sliding doors under the splashwell
3) register
4) Install CG plackard when it gets here so I'm legal (small poke to Clay)

Not sure if I'll go with a dual battrery set up right off the bat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Try TCoutboard for your switch.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Yep I had the cables swapped. There are times I can look at the tag on a tee shirt and still put it on backwards:facepalm:. Now it shifts fine but I have a question..... When it's in gear the prop is engaged in both directions. In other words I can turn the engine over by turning the prop by hand in either direction, does this in forward and reverse. Is this normal? It's a E90TLESB , 1990 90 hp Evinrude.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

yes

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Yep I had the cables swapped. There are times I can look at the tag on a tee shirt and still put it on backwards:facepalm:. Now it shifts fine but I have a question..... When it's in gear the prop is engaged in both directions. In other words I can turn the engine over by turning the prop by hand in either direction, does this in forward and reverse. Is this normal? It's a E90TLESB , 1990 90 hp Evinrude.

MP - It's that Murphy guy, he was helping hook-up the shift/throttle cables. Did ya know he's invisible?

Sounds like you're about ready for a muff run.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks EZ.
Maybe a muff run this weekend. Without Murphy!!!!

 

[fstorm08]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I'm really getting excite for your splash MP!!

Absolutely beautiful work!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Things are moving a bit slower than I'd like. Hot tub is being a real PITA to trouble shoot. It will cost $200 for someone to come over to tell me what's wrong and momma ain't happy either.:facepalm: Can't bring myself to pay that since I always fix things around the house myself.
I did manage to install my new trim switch and all the parts I need to hook up the fuel tank are here.

Question....I now need to mix 50:1 and most folks recommend amsoil synthetic 2 stroke oil. I have about a gallon of conventional oil I inherited in the old VRO tank that's about 2 years old and stored well. Should I use it and if so is it ok to mix synthetic with conventional 2 stroke oil?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Yah, I had nearly 2 gallons in my oil tank. I just dumped it in with the fuel I pulled out of an old tank. The bucket of fuel/oil mix will get my next bonfire started

And, we'll start fresh

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Had the muff run yesterday and got a over heat alarm. It looks like no water was going through the head but water was coming out of the tell tale. The PO claimed to have recently had the impeller replaced professionaly, so with that and considering the massive corrosion in the thermostats I found when I replaced them I suspect the water deflectors may be clogged. I'll be tearing into that this am. Feeling the thermostat housing and hoses it was obvious that there was no water passing through. Other than that the engine fired up after a few minutes of coaxing and ran smooth until it started to get warm, just before the alarm went off.

General question...I was running the garden hose just enough to get water in the lower housing as I normally do but it filled the leg and it took a long time to drain out. Is it possible that I was pumping all the way through the tell tale? If so the issue may be with the water pump. I might just test by running water into it again without starting the engine. I'll be on the J/E forum with this if there continues to be an issue.

Running fresh Amsoil 2 stroke oil.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

If you try running in a bucket & no water thru the tell tail, I'd bet you're right about pump.....I just read somewhere that despite a 'pro' backyard mechanic, the impeller was installed in reverse (maybe upside down). Either way the 'normal bend in the impeller vanes was fighting the water flow not pushing water thru the system. I may have the details wrong, but when removed & correctly oriented, the impeller & system worked correctly.

Good luck getting it resolved soon, there's still a bunch of Sunday left to get her wet.

 

[parrisw]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

For some reason I always have trouble running on muffs, even in a box full of water I have trouble , its got to be pretty deep to work properly. I would take it apart anyway and go through it all. Pump, deflectors, gives you a chance to clean out the block of salt too. My outboard was professionally checked out before I bought it, it ended up needing, a water pump, housing and all, deflectors were totally swollen and plugged off with salt, the block was packed with salt about 1/3 the way around the bottom cylinders.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks for the input guys. There is no way to pump water all the way through the tell tale with a hose as I suspected. Sooo I started by pulling off the port side cylinder cover and here is what I found.

Everything was completely blocked with salt deposits. The starboard side wasn't as bad but the deflectors were mostly blocked. I also pulled the exhaust manifold while I was at it, that was in pretty good shape but now everything is cleaned and ready to be put back together once I get gaskets.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Man, salt water sure does a number on our boats and engines eh? That extra work you put in will be nice piece of mind for ya

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

in a box full of water its got to be pretty deep to work properly.

Quoted for emphasis. Remember the pump is on top of the lower unit and has to be complete submerged to work properly. Covering, even really covering the intakes isn't enough. I learned this the hard way and my boat made an unnecessary trip to the shop a couple years for this. I haven't had any issues with muffs though powered by a garden hose with decent water pressure.

The good news is this little hiccup is pretty much a blessing because obviously it's going to be a good thing for you to have gotten in there and cleaned everything out.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

MP - You probably did this already, but just in case, run a wire through the tell-tell and hose. Salt and wasps can plug that plumbing real easy. You had enough salt in there to supply Morton's.

You're firing up the motor - Splash is close.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Jas - I hope people are checking out those pics. It's important to flush with fresh water when you get home from the ocean. This thing has been neglected and there is the proof. Good thing my alarm horn is working.

EZ - Good point. The leg was completely filled with water and peeing out of some small holes on the side so I know there was plenty for the pump. And yes I'm glad I found this now. I only wish I had inspected these areas when I did the other work in the winter. Now I'm waisting valuable time.

GA_B - The hose is clear and had flow when I ran her. Mud wasps are a issue here too so I keep an eye out. Yep, splash is close.

Been thinking about the jack plate Teamster mentioned. If I decide to to that I'll make my own.

 

[parrisw]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Did you not pull the cylinder heads right off? If not I would, in your pic I see they are still on. Very easy to pull off, and the deflectors are under the heads not the very top covers. This is what I found on mine when I pulled it apart down to the block, a few more bolts and your there. Sorry if you did this. Just would had to see you have to take it apart again. It is a Johnson/Evinrude your working on right?

You can see the ends of the deflectors, and the amount of sale inside the block I had on mine. And this motor was checked out good by a pro marine mechanic.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Once again I'm reminded of how valuable this site is! I didn't pull the heads off but I will tonight and head gaskets will be added to my order. It is a 90 hp 1990 Evinrude.
Thanks parrisw!!!!