Got My Boat

[BD]

I got an 88 procraft w/ an 89 125 Force engine.

I would like to ask someone on here who is a boat mechanic a couple of questions about the trim solenoid, the plugs etc. Is there anyone I can PM who is familiar with Forces?

Boat is super clean and within the first 45 minutes I caught 2 fish out of it....then the wind picked up to 20+ mph winds and the wife was ready to go lol.

Thanks again for the replies. I just have some basic questions.

[Daniel My Brother]

Hey BD,

Why not just post your questions (one at a time) here for everyone to check out. That way we can all learn from the responses.

Just a thought,

Dan

[BD]

Oh, it wasn't for any bad reason etc. I just didn't want to have replies for things like it sounds like it's the "x" when the solenoids, plugs, etc are in different locations, sizes, etc.  Someone who knows that engine type deal....

One question I had/have was on the solenoid we noticed the screw that goes into the trim solenoid appears to be stripped. It didn't leak oil until after we added trim oil, so I was wondering if we added too much, or yeah possibly the bolt is stripped. The reason we added trim oil was because the motor SLOWLY falls to full trim down.

Again not a problem since I would want it mostly down when on plane. I am however, anal and don't want even a pea size leak, so I was going to ask a 'force tech/similar company' if they thought I should replace the solenoid, or have the local techs look at it, or not worry about it and so on. I guess I don't want to pay $65 an hour for something that might not be an issue, or is going to cost a small fortune in researching vs something I can buy and replace. They still charge to look at stuff  

I fish smaller lakes, and will be using the trolling motor 99.9% of the time. I am not a 'run and gun' guy. I fish for bigger fish off shore with my friends in their boats etc. I do have to have the local guy check the 24 volt setup. I think the trolling motor I just replaced (brand new 70lb minn kota) is only pulling from one battery. So my next question (which I guess is a general technician question) is that shouldn't take long at all to correct, right?

The power cable is already ran to the back etc, just looking at the batteries though, it looks like the setup has both grounds going to one fuse, both positives going to one fuse, but not one ground to the other positive etc. I am not a mechanic, but I am a computer tech, so I was wondering how long (i.e. cheaper for me to do it, vs them). There is also the fact that they warrant work, where if I do something wrong........

Basically I just had little questions. The boat runs fine, just got to get the TM at full power. The leak, well.......

I would also like to clean the carb, change plugs, so on but if that force tech were to say "oh no, it's hard or not pleasant on that engine" etc, then it would be worth someone doing it. Just questions really being a new boat owner and all

[callyer]

$65/ hour???? man.... I would mail my boat across the country to get labor rates that low!!!! ;D

[Redlinerobert]

Let's see some pics!

[BD]

The rates are good I agree.

I will post some pictures tonight.

[Way2slow]

You first thing should be to check on ebay and see if someone has a manual for the motor. If not, see if you can find one of those generics like the Clymer or something. Seriously doubt you're gonna find anyone real knowledgable of that motor that could answer your question of the top of their head.

As for the tilt cylinder leaking down, that's probably the packing (seals) on the piston inside the cylinder leaking by. Could be a check valve but normally it's the seals.

As for the fluid being added. If you had it trimed up when you added the fluid, take the plug back out and trim it down until the the cylinders are fully retracted. If it's over filled fluid will come out the plug hole, let it drain until it has slowed to a drip, then trim it back up and put the plug back in. If no fluid comes out when you trim it all the way down, you need to add a little more.

Not real sure about where you are talking about the solenoid leaking. If leaking around the base where it goes into the T&T housing assembly, there are probably a couple of O-rings that you can pick up at a hydraulics shop. Don't depend on one of those generic O-ring kits, those don't fit anything.

As for the TM, you said you replaced it what a new 70 lb MK. Serously doubt the boat has the cable of circuit breakers for that size motor. If you check, provided it even has them on the battery, you will find they are only about 30 amp, way too small for that motor. You need to replace those with 45 or 50 amp breakers. You may be popping the breaker.

Is that a 12/24 volt motor or a straight 24 volt? If 12/24 you need four 6 guage cables, two possitive and two negative going to the TM batteries, anything smaller and the TM is going to suffer. If it's a straight 24 volt, you have at least 8 guage cable (four of them) connect the two TM batteries in series, connect both the red cabes to the positive of battery A and both the black cables to the negative of battery B and get you a couple of SB-50 connectors to plug the TM up with or just hard wire it straight to the boat cables if you don't have to take it off to secure it.

As for the carbs, back to the manual, it will show you how to do that, where to set the float level and how to do a proper linc and sinc when done.

[BD]

And the dog approves, can't you tell?

Complete side note: This program is absolutely THE tool EVERYONE here should be using.

http://www.brothersoft.com/graphics_design/jpeg_tools/picture_resizer_47436.html

It's 280k. doesn't install anything. you take a photo and drag it onto that .exe that you put on your desktop. It automatically puts your pictures at the right size for posting them here, and makes them VERY small. When done it will tell you to hit enter to exit, the pic will be there on the desktop with 400 on it.

No need to thank me

PS it's free!

[BD]

Way thanks for replying. I am going to go over to the marine place tomorrow. Just looking at the trolling motor, it's set up for 12 straight, but the other battery there, was so he could use both batteries in 12 volts. lol

I think it's wired wrong. On the other stuff, I know it's hard to explain something over the internet, so I will see what he says. Thanks again!