Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

[Nucknoilerfan]

I have a 1980 7.5hp Gamefisher that appears to be in okay shape. The problem with it is a reliabity issue. Sometimes I go out to the lake and the thing starts and runs pretty good pushing my 12' Aluminum around resonably well. Othertimes I get to the lake and yank and yank till sweat is running and my fuse is shrinking. There has also been times when it starts fine and I motor out to my fishing spot, lay anchor for a couple of hours and then the thing doesn't want to start. I've replaced the fuel pump, rebuilt the carb, replaced the plugs numerous times and had a buddy replace the head gasket. As far as I can tell the compression seems fine but I'm at a loss to think of what the problem could be. Do I have a professional look at it and fix it or do I spend around $400 and try to find a used 9.9 merc or something. This one only cost me about $100 from a friend but I'm not quite sure if that was a deal or not.

 

[ed/il]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

Sure it is a deal. If it runs fine sometimes the problem is probably something minor. Perhaps your kill switch, or primer ball, or choke. When this happens check for spark. If no spark you have a place to start. Wild guess bad kill switch. Keep trying you'll get it.

 

[Nucknoilerfan]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

The spark seems good as far as I can tell. I use a remote fuel tank and sometimes I wonder if I over prime it. I thought about trying the onboard tank to see if it makes a difference. The reliabilty of this thing drives me nuts. From what I've read on these things the carbs seem to be a constant problem or maybe a common problem.

 

[Nucknoilerfan]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

The spark seems good as far as I can tell. I use a remote fuel tank and sometimes I wonder if I over prime it. I thought about trying the onboard tank to see if it makes a difference. The reliabilty of this thing drives me nuts. From what I've read on these things the carbs seem to be a constant problem or maybe a common problem.<br /><br />OOPS SORRY GUYS DOUBLE POST, REMINDER TO SELF, " "BE PATIENT" "

 

[horsefly38425]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

when you say onboard tank do you mean it has a tank that sits above the motor / if so they have no fuel pump and you are lucky it will pull fuel from a remote tank at all

 

[Nucknoilerfan]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

Yes it does have a tank on top of the motor but there is also a bypass where you can run a remote tank. As far as a fuel pump is concerned, to the best of my limited knowledge I'm refering to the little diaphram thingy that is in the carb. When I finally get it running it doesn't appear to have any problem drawing fuel from the tank, it's the getting it started that I'm having grief with. When I got the motor I disconnected the line from the onboard tank and rerouted the connection for the remote tank so that I could install an inline fuel filter. I prefered to run a new remote tank because I didn't know the condition inside the onboard tank. Also this made the motor lighter for packing around. When I installed the fuel filter I disconnected the onboard tank fuel line so that the fuel filter would fit inside the engine cover. Perhaps I should try and run the motor with the onboard tank just to see if that makes the starting any easier but that wouldn't leave me any room for a fuel filter. Is a fuel filter neccesary?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

The fuel pump is a little bladder that fits alongside the mounting flange of the carb against the block. It's a common Tillotson carb and the carb kit may include one. It uses the same carb kit as an old 5Hp Tecumseh horizontal shaft motor. The onboard tank should have a screen at the inlet. The remote tank may or may not have one.<br /><br />Google Sears Parts Store and you'll be directed to their site. There are parts diagrams there. Have your model number handy. This is where I normally mention iboats Marine Store as a source for parts, but there'll be precious few offered here. Lotsa neat accessories, though.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Gamefisher Advice? Fix/Sell

I would go for one of the more mainline motors.<br /> Evinrud/Johnson/Merc.The E/J 5,5.5,6,7.5 and 10 hp motors of the 50s and 60s and 70s they have excellent reputations, routine parts available back to the 50s.About the only weak point is the coils which are readily available and fairly inexpensive.I'm betting the 5.5 would out perform your 7.5.