'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[MichaelP]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I neglected to mention that while unhooking the motor I used a nice trick that I believe Bob_VT helped me with(although it may have been another SC brother).

We got the power, throttle, shift, and gas lines unhooked from the outboard, then lifted the motor and it was WAY easier to get the finicky steering cable out.

It would have surely bent the rod if I had done this prior to lifting the Merc off the transom, since the steering rod was too long to clear.

Anyone who has done this will know what I mean. It worked great and I recommend this method to anyone that needs to pull a motor.

Not sure if I will get to work on the rig today, I have some last-minute shopping to do.

Merry Christmas to all you nice folks.

I just removed the 90 Rude and the steering cable was so bad that I decided to take a sawzall to it. The only other way to get the cable out that I could see is what you described. Lift the motor and ease it out.

We had a beautifull white Christmas here in Maine. Forcast is calling for 12-18" of the white stuff tonight. Morning commute should be interesting. Funny how many of us Mainers don't even talk about the snow unless we get 12" or more in one shot.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I just removed the 90 Rude and the steering cable was so bad that I decided to take a sawzall to it. The only other way to get the cable out that I could see is what you described. Lift the motor and ease it out.

We had a beautifull white Christmas here in Maine. Forcast is calling for 12-18" of the white stuff tonight. Morning commute should be interesting. Funny how many of us Mainers don't even talk about the snow unless we get 12" or more in one shot.

Sorry to hear that you had to get violent with the sawzall I am glad that mine can be reused.

Since you guys mention it we had a pretty nice white Christmas here too, all the snow we got two weeks ago still hasn't melted, our snow fort for the boys in the front yard has lasted quite well

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Glad you got the motor off without issue. See that wasn't so hard was it?

For $40/hr, I would not even consider touching that outboard myself.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Glad you got the motor off without issue. See that wasn't so hard was it?

For $40/hr, I would not even consider touching that outboard myself.

Yeah pulling the Merc was not a big deal really...I just hope the compression is ok on it so I can rationalize putting some new parts on her.

I was thinking about pulling the old carbs off and maybe taking a look myself...so it won't take as long to get the new carbs in there, but I really should let the mechanic have a look before I start losing parts and doing stuff in the wrong order

I won't mind paying $40/hr at all since I will be learning at the same time.

Now I need to go get a new heater since the wick on my kerosene won't crank up anymore Also still need to get my rivet tool fixed, it's always something.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Here are a few photos after lifting the motor off. That ladder worked pretty well, but I wouldn't try it with a motor any heavier than 250lbs.

BTW that sign says "PRAY for snow" since at one point in time somebody operated snowplows out of this garage.

The gray strap in the transom is a semi ratchet strap that worked great for hoisting the motor.

I've got some grime on the transom from the 5.5hp Johnson. It will be much nicer to have it mounted on the kicker bracket.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

And a couple of the Merc on the stand. That thing is rock solid and is working great.

I do wish that I'd gotten all 4 swivel castors instead of the 2 "shopping cart" style I have on it now.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Super cool you have yourself a boat shop buddy!

At $40/hour AND he is willing to let you watch/learn you have found yourself a pretty cool guy

 

[dozerII]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

It is amazing what a person can figure out with a little time and a ladder. Great job HA, looks like your well on your way now.
Glen

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Good idea with that ladder. We have two at work an no one will use them because they are just too heavy. Are you leaving on your CMC Power trim? Do I see a two blade prop on that Merc?

 

[fshngho]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Looking good Mike. I am sure your mechanic will look, but if I may...
I have an 86 135HP Merc and I have had troubles with the carbs. As a matter of fact, so much trouble that I now can remove all 3, take them apart and clean the bowls and re-install them in under 30 minutes. Repetitiion has its rewards. Anyway, my troubles were the floats at first then I noticed they were constantly clogging up. The ethanol in gas now deteriorates the rubber hoses and will stop up jets and all small holes in the carbs. After your guy cleans the carbs have him install better hoses to help stop this problem. I found out the hard way. Good Luck and burn that sign.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Super cool you have yourself a boat shop buddy!

At $40/hour AND he is willing to let you watch/learn you have found yourself a pretty cool guy

I know it's great to have so much room to work with, especially now that the Merc is on the stand (my only compaint is that it's under 30 degrees in there)

Hopefully I can learn enough to do some stuff on my own eventually, although it would probably be best to learn on Johnnyrudes. With his 30 years of wrenching on outboards it'll be tough not to learn something.

It is amazing what a person can figure out with a little time and a ladder. Great job HA, looks like your well on your way now.
Glen

Thanks Glen, the ladder did work pretty well. My buddy decided to give that a shot since it was his ladder. I wasn't sure if it was gonna hold or not

Good idea with that ladder. We have two at work an no one will use them because they are just too heavy. Are you leaving on your CMC Power trim? Do I see a two blade prop on that Merc?

I will be removing the CMC bracket, looks like it could be cleaned up a bit.

The prop on the Merc is ironically a 2-blade speed prop...the irony stems from the fact that the motor has not run 100%(more like 60%) so I haven't really been able to use the prop the way it was intended

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Looking good Mike. I am sure your mechanic will look, but if I may...
I have an 86 135HP Merc and I have had troubles with the carbs. As a matter of fact, so much trouble that I now can remove all 3, take them apart and clean the bowls and re-install them in under 30 minutes. Repetitiion has its rewards. Anyway, my troubles were the floats at first then I noticed they were constantly clogging up. The ethanol in gas now deteriorates the rubber hoses and will stop up jets and all small holes in the carbs. After your guy cleans the carbs have him install better hoses to help stop this problem. I found out the hard way. Good Luck and burn that sign.

I believe my gas line is a newer one, it does say "ethanol resistant" or something on it, but who knows what other tanks/lines were used on it since the last time the carbs were new.

Hopefully I will be able to work on these carbs in that kind of time

BTW we(ok only some of us) don't hate snow up here...my philosophy is that if it's gonna be sub 20 degrees anyhow, we might as well have 2-3' of snow to enjoy, skiing, snow forts, snowball fights, etc.

 

[LastDollar]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Looking good Mike. I am sure your mechanic will look, but if I may...
I have an 86 135HP Merc and I have had troubles with the carbs. As a matter of fact, so much trouble that I now can remove all 3, take them apart and clean the bowls and re-install them in under 30 minutes. Repetitiion has its rewards. Anyway, my troubles were the floats at first then I noticed they were constantly clogging up. The ethanol in gas now deteriorates the rubber hoses and will stop up jets and all small holes in the carbs. After your guy cleans the carbs have him install better hoses to help stop this problem. I found out the hard way. Good Luck and burn that sign.

You just made up my mind on the internal fuel lines on my old Merc. The line from the tank has been changed. I wonder about the rubber diaphrams used in the fuel pumps. Sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread

 

[fshngho]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

First, I hope & pray you DO NOT have to work on your carbs like I did.
Second, I don't hate snow, My Wife loves it and I do too. We don't get as much as ya'll do so we enjoy it when we can.
Besides, now I have a garage so let it snow

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

You just made up my mind on the internal fuel lines on my old Merc. The line from the tank has been changed. I wonder about the rubber diaphrams used in the fuel pumps. Sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread

LastDollar thanks for stopping by, no worries on the hijack. I've hijacked my own thread enough to post photos of fish rather than progress on the rig

First, I hope & pray you DO NOT have to work on your carbs like I did.
Second, I don't hate snow, My Wife loves it and I do too. We don't get as much as ya'll do so we enjoy it when we can.
Besides, now I have a garage so let it snow

Dale I lived in Maryland for a bit(near DC unfortunately) and I know how rarely you get accumulation down there. I chose to move north again so I must like the snow or I'm a glutton for punishment.


I also have good news! I took apart the heater and fixed it. Then I realized that I didn't really need to take it apart all the way.

But it works now, and after examining it further I noticed a spot for 2 D batteries and the ignition works on the darn thing after all.

I should be able to get the CMC bracket off tomorrow, and hopefully the windshield and some of the transom.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I am glad to report that I brought the heater back to the boatel and we got to work tonight.

The CMC bracket is off, the exterior transom wood is off.

The ext wood was only like 1/4" at best. Pretty puny to do much there except absorb some vibrations. I am toying with the idea of throwing a 1/2"-1" piece of aluminum in to set back the motor a bit more, rather than having more wood in there to rot.

Hoping to get the splashwell screws out before the new year(all one thousand of them).

 

[Triton II]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hoping to get the splashwell screws out before the new year(all one thousand of them).

Hey HA, if you haven't already got one, get yourself a power screw driver! I have a Bosch PSR 300 LI and it's a fantastic little tool. It can unscrew 1000 screws in under an hour!

TII

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hope you are working on the rig today, it's warm! Great day to get some stuff done for sure.

Or...

With all this rain, taking a drive to the UP might not be a bad choice either

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hey HA, if you haven't already got one, get yourself a power screw driver! I have a Bosch PSR 300 LI and it's a fantastic little tool. It can unscrew 1000 screws in under an hour!

TII

Triton it's funny you mention it...my buddies are always giving me a hard time for not using power tools to save time. I prefer to do things by hand and take more time with it.

Less scratches on the boat that way, and unlike many I do not actually "work" for a living, I sit at a desk. So when I'm not working I try to be as active as possible.

I need to or else my hands get too soft from working on computers and such!

That being said I have a cordless drill that I may use for some of the screws under the splashwell, so as to not take too long

Hope you are working on the rig today, it's warm! Great day to get some stuff done for sure.

Or...

With all this rain, taking a drive to the UP might not be a bad choice either

Jason I'd be working on the rig but I didn't get the day off today. The great irony is that I had been delayed while I was fixing the heater, and as soon as I fixed it the temps shot right up into the 40s and I didn't even really need it.

I would love to be driving up to get that sweet Chieftain this weekend, unfortunately I would need to sell the SS at this point to afford it, and it's currently completely dismantled.

Doesn't seem like it's in the cards this time around (hopefully it will still be available in the spring)

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Well I have lots to report, almost don't know where to start. First off I forgot to bring the camera over to the winter storage facility so no pics till tomorrow

For those of you willing to read, here what we got accomplished:

STARCRAFT
-transom corner brackets removed
-plastic drain fittings from splashwell removed
-all splashwell screws removed(not normally mind you, almost all broken off)
-transom aluminum trim piece removed
-both U-bolts removed from stern
-all snap screws removed, and flush-mount rod holders

We will be lifting the remaining transom wood out using the same gantry that pulled the Merc. This will be a breeze, and I just need to get some eye-bolts that I didn't have today to do it.

This is all going well and I'm looking forward to getting the new plywood ready.

MERCURY
-propeller removed, including lots of gunk and old fishing line
-lower unit lubricant drained and inspected- no metal fragments, clean as could be
-lower unit removed and inspected
-water pump dismantled, impellar in great shape

I am very happy that the impellar is looking good and that the lower unit seals seem to have been good also. Moving on to compression numbers and carb work now.

I really hope the cylinders and block are ok since this outboard is decent and could improve significantly if the fuel issues are resolved. If not I will be looking to sell it and buy a late 70s OMC 70hp...or maybe twin 48 SPL Johnsons

I'm really motivated to get some work done early in the new year, thanks for keeping me on task gentleman