Beefer
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,737
Thought I'd share what I just did that could have ended with me going for a swim.
I had picked up an old Johnson 10hp for $40 a couple of months ago. The guy could get it to start, but it wouldn't stay running. When I was looking at it, I could see the fuel filter was filthy. I thought to myself 'Self, this is a steal!', and proceeded to load it into my car and head home with a smile.
Fast forward to today. Finally had a chance to work on it, changed the prop (old one was dinged up pretty bad, and I found a new one on ebay for $2.25), removed the ridiulos doel-fin, and cleaned the filter and stuff. I then went and got the Johnson fuel line fitting, got 5 gals of gas, a gal of oil, and a mixing bottle. I was pumped. I'm really excited about this little engine, and now it was time to test her.
My boat has a kicker plate, so I haul the Johnny out to the dock, mount her, put the bilge drain plug in the boat, and lower the lift to get Little Johnny into the water. I don't have a 55g drum, or an outboard stand, so this was how I was going to work on it.
Attach the fuel tank, prime the bulb, and pull. And pull, and pull.... Finally the wonderful 2 stroke smell and smoke fills the air, and she's running! Nice steady pee stream too. Woohoo! But after a few seconds (about 20), she quits, and won't run again. Hmm. I notice there is a slick in the water below. Ok, I'm leaking fuel. Check all the fuel lines, and I find the culprit. The fuel pump.
So I remove the pump, take it apart, and sure enough, the diaphragm is leaking.
Ok, no biggie, I'll do a quick search online for a new one, and after a few minutes, find it. ($10). I also took the pump apart to clean it out.
I then go chit-chat wife the wife, do some stuff in the garage, and after about an hour, I figure I'm not doing anymore on the boat today, so I should raise the lift back up, and call it a day.
I walk out back, and well, I'm just glad there wasn't any winds from the north today. The tide came in just enough to float the boat, and she was about 4' from me having to go swim and get her. :facepalm: When I lowered the boat, I ony lowered it enough to get the Johnny in the water. The bow was still nicely planted on the lift, so I (originally) didn't see a need to tie her off. I do keep 2 dock lines tied to the bow and stern cleats, just for manual maneuvering in and out of the lift. One line was till sitting on the dock, and I was able to pull her back in.
That's the best SHT I got so far, other then leaving the plug out. Sorry this was so long. :redface:
I had picked up an old Johnson 10hp for $40 a couple of months ago. The guy could get it to start, but it wouldn't stay running. When I was looking at it, I could see the fuel filter was filthy. I thought to myself 'Self, this is a steal!', and proceeded to load it into my car and head home with a smile.
Fast forward to today. Finally had a chance to work on it, changed the prop (old one was dinged up pretty bad, and I found a new one on ebay for $2.25), removed the ridiulos doel-fin, and cleaned the filter and stuff. I then went and got the Johnson fuel line fitting, got 5 gals of gas, a gal of oil, and a mixing bottle. I was pumped. I'm really excited about this little engine, and now it was time to test her.
My boat has a kicker plate, so I haul the Johnny out to the dock, mount her, put the bilge drain plug in the boat, and lower the lift to get Little Johnny into the water. I don't have a 55g drum, or an outboard stand, so this was how I was going to work on it.
Attach the fuel tank, prime the bulb, and pull. And pull, and pull.... Finally the wonderful 2 stroke smell and smoke fills the air, and she's running! Nice steady pee stream too. Woohoo! But after a few seconds (about 20), she quits, and won't run again. Hmm. I notice there is a slick in the water below. Ok, I'm leaking fuel. Check all the fuel lines, and I find the culprit. The fuel pump.
So I remove the pump, take it apart, and sure enough, the diaphragm is leaking.
Ok, no biggie, I'll do a quick search online for a new one, and after a few minutes, find it. ($10). I also took the pump apart to clean it out. I then go chit-chat wife the wife, do some stuff in the garage, and after about an hour, I figure I'm not doing anymore on the boat today, so I should raise the lift back up, and call it a day.
I walk out back, and well, I'm just glad there wasn't any winds from the north today. The tide came in just enough to float the boat, and she was about 4' from me having to go swim and get her. :facepalm: When I lowered the boat, I ony lowered it enough to get the Johnny in the water. The bow was still nicely planted on the lift, so I (originally) didn't see a need to tie her off. I do keep 2 dock lines tied to the bow and stern cleats, just for manual maneuvering in and out of the lift. One line was till sitting on the dock, and I was able to pull her back in.
That's the best SHT I got so far, other then leaving the plug out. Sorry this was so long. :redface:
