TomB

I just retired as VP of Engineering for a global auto company and 38 years in the auto industry and here's my input. Smell the transmission oil and make sure it doesn't smell burnt. You'll know. If yes, there is already a tranny problem. Most likely the fluid will be ok. Make sure the fluid is at the correct level when hot and engine running. Your manual will advise on how to check it. Low or high will be problematic. Don't add any additives and don't replace the fluid "just in case" since both can trigger problems. Draining tranny fluid can loosen dirt and particles and cause new problems. Modern methods are to leave the tranny systems alone. If stuck in traffic always shift to neutral when stopped to avoid the heat generated with torque converter slip. When climbing steep grades slow down, shift down, use four ways, and climb with the engine at higher revs but less strain. Don't worry about tranny cooling if the vehicle is rated for the load. You can turn off the a/c to reduce heat load into the radiator and allow better tranny fluid cooling. Make sure your tires are good and inflated properly.

I have a 170 in my Ocean Kayak and the scupper mount for it is a free exchange from Humminbird. The OK also has sonar sun shield that i really like. i don't know if a color unit would be better than the black and white 170. My first battery was a gel cell that only lasted one season so i replaced it with a sealed lead acid. One bit of knowledge, that school of fish you see when you raise and lower the anchor...is the anchor not fish. I use a 7 lb hand dumbell.

You may want to use the same strategy that keeps Canada Geese away: make the chewed parts bitter. A product called Goose Chase repellent worked well for me years ago. It's made from the seeds of grapes so it imparts a nasty taste with no toxicity. About 100 bucks a gallon but goes a long way and you could split the cost with others. You could spray parts and discourage feeding so they move on. European countries have a big problem with Martins chewing up car engine parts and they spray on bad tasting repellents.

Read the whole post. A stiff diaphram and heavy float will cause the starving and hot flood problems he described.

Sounds like a bad fuel pump but your carb float has probably absorbed gas and has gotten heavy leading to flooding when off. Could be both. To troubleshoot I would check the fuel pressure when running but you won't go wrong with a carb rebuild kit and pump kit. Pump diaphrams get old and hard leading to low volume but higher pressure.

I'm 6'6" 220 and have an Ocean Kayak 13 Trident Angler that is great but not easy to stand up in. I will add outriggers this winter. It was about a grand with shipping and rudder from Saco Bound. Take a look at a Feedom Hawk 14 at Cabelas now on sale for $1105.

I am new to using a baitcaster this year so I understand your situation. I bought an Abu Pro Max reel and an Abu Vendetta rod with 50 lb Suffix Performance braid and it is extremely easy to cast. Set it up as everyone suggests and have had zero backlashes so far. Runs so smooth my thumb on the spool is almost not needed. It just works perfectly even when i throw a long cast. Have been using jigs and crankbaits therefore no real light stuff where my thumb will be ready. Important to use about 50 lb braid or a comparable thickness mono or flouro so the line doesn't dig into itself on the spool. I also bought a BPS Carbonlite rod/reel combo plus 50 lb suffix perf braid. I really like the lightweight but the reel definitely needs thumb control. Not as forgiving as the Abu Pro Max. The Pro Max is LH reel and the Carbonlite is RH reel. I wanted to find out which i prefer. I am a righty and my initial impression is I much prefer the LH reel. The RH is not a problem but switching hands just seems like wasted energy. The Abu pro max was about 79 and the Vendetta was about 60 and the braid 20. I fish from a kayak and really like using the baitcasters vs a spinning reel. I could cast the BC with a glove on and the spinning not so well. I don't like the rotating bail hitting my lap constantly etc. Good luck!

I have an Hbird 170 that works well. My OC is designed to use the transducer through the right scupper hole and it has a special place up front with a lid as a sun shield. The 170 is black and white so the battery lasts longer than a color FF. Be aware if you use a vinyl covered dumbbell for an anchor. The FF will false indicate a constant school unless the anchor is on the bottom. It helps to attach a quick connect (SAE connector) with a foot of wire to the battery so you can leave the blade terminals on the battery undisturbed and just unplug the quick connect for charging. I tie wrapped the wire to the battery so it doesn't come loose.

Ask him to do it only using clockwise rotation, no counterclockwise.

I know exactly what you mean. My 18 year tried to do the same thing about an hour ago. Then we went outside and I replaced his upper radiator hose including removing the air flow meter and shrouds etc. He was impressed. Rubics cube solution = matching colored plastic. Car fixed = he drives to school.

Welcome! Like me I'm sure you'll find a lot of wisdom and helpful tips here.

Visit kayakbassfishing.com and click on videos. They have Feb 2012 videos on you tube. They show results with jigs and give all the details for cold water bassin.

Using momondo.com from airport code PIB to BUF the round trip is about $570. (Hattiesburg,MS to Buffalo) Driving the 2200 miles round trip will be about $500 gas plus about $400 van rental. Call and ask for minimum rental age. Some are 26 years old. Militaryfares.com has fares for about $440 I suggest you call Delta (800) 325-8224 and get the reservations person and ask for special fares for active servicemen. Worst case is you can see if driving is worth it. My son in law spent time in Kandahar. Thanks for your service!

My 2 cents: Get yourself a test light from an auto parts store (10 bucks). Unplug the trailer lights and test the feeds coming out of the vehicle. The brown from the vehicle is ground so clip the spring clip on the test light to the ground from the vehicle. Test each of the other 3 connectors individually with the pointy probe. One is for brakes, one for left blinker, one for right blinker. If all work using the vehicle ground then you have a decent vehicle ground. If not trace back the vehicle ground and repair. Then to eliminate or fix a bad trailer ground, buy 12 foot or so of brown lamp cord from a hardware store or big box. Run the lamp cord from the front ground connection to the rear ground connection. For the test you don't have to be fancy. Reconnect the vehicle to trailer and test the trailer lamps. If they work now then nicely route and connect the new ground wire using soldered terminals if possible. Use both wires of the lamp cord and secure with black strap ties. (never use clear because UV light weakens it) I suggest lamp cord because it is cheap, readily available, and the multi strands is an excellent conductor. (electrons travel on the outer skin of wire so more strands is a better conductor than a single wire) Hope that helps!

The OK PGB is about 5 inches wider than my Trident Angler so will be easier to stand up. But I absolutely love the rod pod and fish finder setup in my Trident. Good luck whatever you choose. You'll have a blast.