Bad day at the ramp is still better than going to work!

This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 12 months ago by Redngoo.

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June 19, 2017 at 12:34 pm #270416

Jeff Kindy
Participant

2001 BassCat Sabre / 2001 Mercury XR6 150 HPSaturday was supposed to be a day of finding fish for next weekends tournament on Lake Erie / Detroit River. Met my co-angler link at the ramp at 8 am. While taking the cover off, we broke a rod that got tangled up in it. It was a rod I didnt like and was a back up anyway. Now I have a reason to replace it!Key was left in the ignition. It was in the on position. I believe the float key ring is just enough weight that while traveling it bounces and turns the key on. This is the second time I have found it to be in the on position.While putting the drain plug in I noticed a puddle of oil in the backsplash well. HmmmmmmRan to Autozone and bought a pair of jumper cables. (needed a set on the boat anyway)Back to the ramp and remove the motor toter.Put the boat in the water.Jump the cranking battery, wont start. Turn on the depth finder to see voltage and have a major drop when cranking. Figure its a bad cranking battery from being on for potentially 7 days.Back to Autozone, get new battery.Forgot core charges exist. Oh well will take it back after fishing…Put the new battery in, the posts are different sizes than old battery and the old wing nuts wont fit. No nuts on new battery.Back to Autozone, wait for train on the way there…Hook up battery and it cranks like mad!Still wont start. Check fuses, fuel primer bulb, kill switch. Everything I can sitting in the water at the dock.Raise the motor to put on trailer, oile pours out of cowling…????? Cowling has puddles of oil on bottom????Take boat to my dads house. Pull a spark plug out and its fouled pretty bad with wear. Thats also when I noticed the cap to the secondary oil tank is cracked.Go to Boaters World and get plugs and cap.Put everything in and on. Good to go?Still wont start……..Looking over everything, cant see anything amiss.Begrudingly I allow my Dad to shoot some ether into the intake. It fires up! Well that means its a fuel issue.After about an hour of searching, just to appease Dad, I cut the zip tie holding the fuel line to the other wires and tubes.After a few seconds of cranking and sputtering it fires up and runs!Sometimes the simplest of things can cause a whole days worth of work.I wanted to share this to the group so it is in the back of other peoples minds to check. The fuel line didnt look kinked but it must have been just enough to keep fuel from getting to the motor. While moving the hoses around to jump and install the cranking battery must have been just enough to kink it.Erie Jig and TackleApollios ShieldTackle ArmorArdent Reels

June 19, 2017 at 12:39 pm #270417

In2Deep
Participant

Change the context of this to any home improvement project I do, and instead of back and forth to the auto parts store substitute Home Depot, and this pretty much sums up how it goes for me.HA!

June 19, 2017 at 1:34 pm #270418

himmelrr
Participant

You may want to check your fuel lines. Ones that old may be deteriorating especially if you use ethanol gas.

June 20, 2017 at 11:20 am #270419

basscat tyler
Participant

Yeah you may want to pull the fuel line to make sure its not flaking away on the inside.

June 20, 2017 at 2:48 pm #270420

oldtimer57
Participant

Yep. If you have grey hose with red writing, it needs to go. It is not up to handling E10 fuels and the inner lining will deteriorate and cause major issues, and can actually end up blowing your power head. The inner lining can erode, separate, fracture, etc. This can cause a lean running condition which is not conducive to long life in a two stroke. If your tubing is grey with blue writing, you are good to go there.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

June 20, 2017 at 5:55 pm #270421

08Sabre
Participant

Anyone know what year the fuel lines were designed to take the e10 fuels?

June 21, 2017 at 12:22 am #270422

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The lines BCB installed to the T are usually fine. Its the lines that come with the motor that most shops used that break down. Had to replace those lines in my 07.

June 21, 2017 at 4:02 am #270423

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

BCB has used ethanol resistant lines since the late 1990s. the fuel line from the valve to the engine is usually the engine companies supply line.

June 21, 2017 at 5:36 am #270424

MMosher
Participant

I cranked a battery almost dead until I realized I forgot to hook up the kill switch. Doh!

June 21, 2017 at 11:43 am #270425

Redngoo
Participant

MMosher wrote:I cranked a battery almost dead until I realized I forgot to hook up the kill switch. Doh! Trust me your not a lone ranger on that. Whether admitted or not. I stayed stranded all night about 20 yrs back. For the same reason. Im not ashamed. But never to be forgotten!!2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury
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