yowoodchuck

Thanks for the tip, Beats changing the carb...I will make sure I have new fuel line at the ready. It is really hard to see anything--while it is on the water...but it really seems to be inside the cowling I'm sure when it is on dry land it will be much easier to figure where things are happening. Gas leaks make me nervous, when I smell gasoline on a boat--I think fire will ensue sooner or later. 🔥

Sweet~!

So my lake buddy here at Sugar Creek Lake (BTW-fishing sucks here and its not very pretty), has a pontoon boat on a lift that overwinters on the lift. The last time I got him to pull the boat out this spring, we put in new plugs, waterpump, and lower unit oil, along with new filters and oil. All worked great. About the middle of July, the motor started leaking a little gas...It is really hard to see where this gas is coming from, as I'm hangin off the back of the pontoon and trying to survey the conector, filter and carb. It seems not to be coming from the connector on the motor or the incoming fuel line connector. To make matters worse (think about what you wish for), his new wife now considers the boat Hers and wants it to be available to fish all the time she is there. She also wants to go anytime he goes, so she can outfish him. So, I'm looking for what the problem (other than his wife) might likely be, so that when we do pull the boat out I have any likely needed parts in advance...should I get a new carb? New fuel pump? Some gaskets? It has to be fast and easy...Anyone out there dealt with this? Many Thanks, any and all ideas appreciated.

I think the smoke tube addition is a good idea, for when you want more smokey flavor!

Hey-I swore by my homemade giant plate steel smoker with a smoking cabinet that was 5 ft x 2ft with 6 heavy wire mesh racks and a outboard firebox that was 36 x 30 x 24 to put wood in. The problem was, it took 2.5 hours before it was all up to temp and ready to smoke. I could smoke 20 king salmon sides, along with deer rump roasts and tenderloins in that thing. Then I used my friend's Pit Boss pellet smoker a couple times and it seemed so easy. So, I bought a 1000 sq. inch pellet smoker of the Cuisinart brand on sale at wally world and will probably never use the plate steel monster again. Set the temp and it holds within 5 degrees all day in wind, rain or snow. I can get a read out on my tablet and even put the probe it and have it send me an alarm when my desired internal meat temp is reached. Plus--it also makes for a great way to cook a pizza at high temp, with a bit of smoke. Downside is that it does not ever seem to get quite smoky enough for me, but my wife likes the lower level of smokiness better. Do not use too cheap of pellets, they are much more prone to get jammed in the auger.

I'd happily pay $12/year. You might be able to buy a 6 pack with that! This forum is well worth it.

Is there a donate button? I get lots of info here, as I'm sure most members do. maybe a paid membership that was ad-free as an option? Really not my business, but the site does take some work and hosting...

I just got back from Rainy Lake. We were there 8 days after ice-out. That was also one week before walleye season opened up there. A lot less riff-raff. We fished 6 days for smallies and pike. Both were eating 3-5 inch yellow perch, which were schooled up in the warmer water. Water temps ranged from 46 to 58. We caught most of our fish on 4 and 5 inch rattling stick baits and # 3 through 5 mepps and other inline spinners. Noise and flash both seemed to matter more than color. On the 3 days the wind was from the West and warm--we caught roughly 25 smallmouth off points each day --all females full of eggs, mostly between 16 and 20 inches. The smallest smallmouth was 14". They acted like pike...no big jumps. All were released. The pike were a different story---they acted like smallmouth--some big runs and some acrobatics. The pike ranged from 28 to about 43 inches long. We caught 2 small pike all week. We had a hard time catching pike that were in the slot for eating, most of the pike were about 30 inches and above. On the good 3 days we caught about 60 pike each day, maybe 80 on the best day. CoVid really helped the fish. There will be some really large classes of smallmouth and pike that will grow to be giants. In two years, I think 48 inch pike will be common, and I plan to be there. I stayed on the Canadian side in a great but somewhat funky lodge, run by a great but somewhat funky person. Not the ritz, but a great location and a boat-in place that was off the grid and really beautiful. North West Rainy Lake is my favorite part of the lake, lots of deep water near lots of football and basketball sized rock and may islands.

And...Thanks to Ranger 520vx. The additional data is very helpful. I think my friend just might be able to look at this and check it out and put it back on if it is missing.

Thank you for the tip and info. I am not near the boat anymore, and it is going to Canada in a week. Should he be very worried, or somewhat worried, or not worried. With your tip, he could maybe get it to a dealer (110 mile round trip). I suspect the clip has been in the lower unit housing 10 years, judging by the condition of the impeller and how hard it was to get off the shaft... Thank You again WRENCH!

I was helping a friend get his water pump redone on a Yamaha 90 2 Stroke (cica 2007) and when I pulled the lower unit, there was this spring steel clip ring lose on top of the shift mechanism area. About a 1.15" diameter. (see photos) Motor ran well, but would heat up will long idles or slow trolling...impeller was very old and missing 2 vanes. I replaced a bad gasket and the impeller. I could not figure where the clip ring came from, so I re-assembled, hose tested then ran it on the water for an hour--all works great. So I am left wondering--where did the clip ring come from, and should I worry. I looked hard in the repair manual in exploded diagrams and could not find an obvious match. Any ideas? Thanks for any and all assistance!

Just an update report: I ran another land test with the muffs--all seemed just fine. I dropped the boat on the water and everything worked great. Thanks again Fishinwrench

next time I will understand better and begin by doing it your way--which makes a lot of sense. Could have got the job done right the first time. Thanks again for the assistance.

Rodger to all of that. I took off the prop, put the throttle control in neutral....put the shift link in neutral testing to be sure it was in neutral, slid it back together, put in a couple of screws in tight...then put the prop on, then shifted the throttle to forward and the prop wouldn't turn...so all back to normal. It sure doesn't take much to bump that shift linkage out of position...will be aware on all future yamaha impeller changes and will mark the shift linkage. I now have three friends in Florida who have these 60 through 90 yamahas... WRENCH--THANKS FOR THE GUIDANCE!!!! The beer is cold and good...I owe you several.

Keeps getting bumped going in, snaps to neutral maybe I should shift to neutral on both ends and try assembly again cold beer seems far away...

I was afraid that I'd have to drop the lower unit and start over....☹️ However--not that I have received sound procedural advice--I will proceed. I really appreciate your willingness to help us newbies to the yamaha and other worlds here. Will report back.

I hope in this learned group, someone can offer some ideas on what to do. I pulled the boat out last December, and changed lower unit oil and upper head oil and filter. I then dropped the lower unit, carefully ... unhooked the water speedo tube and changed the impeller. The housing and plate looked great, so I just replaced the gaskets and impeller. It all reassembled smoothly, and fit tight to the mid section, and I bolted it together. no problems...all smooth. Today--I pulled the boat out, put the hose muffs on...and turned the key, . it started right up and ran smooth. After a few minutes, I shifted into forward---prop did not spin, shifted into reverse--same thing...motor reved up smooth, but nothing on the prop...no sound change, no clunk. I've never encountered this type of shift mechanism that these yamahas have....just the shift rods on the Johnsons. Can anyone offer a clue as to what specifically to look at? The shift control seems to move at the powerhead. Thanks for any suggestions.

I have: 1 --15 inch tall, 2 3/8 " diameter Springfield post and seat mount that are used, but in great shape. (no base) 1--Springfield 2 3/8" diameter adjustable height seat post with seat mount new in box--adjusts from 22 1/4' to 29 1/2" (no base) 1- Fixed seat base with short post, seat mount, and floor base mount--12 inch height. Great condition--unknown make. The whole bunch for $ 150.00, plus shipping-if I can't deliver (I might be able to deliver to Stockton, Lake of the Ozarks, Columbia or Pomme de Terre) Selling on CL for $ 200.00.

Thanks for the report--been wondering about Stockton.

Wrench--1st off, the dogs are great and remind me of an old friend who loved to go fishing. He departed at age 14, but had a great run. 2nd--The photos and your tritoon story remind me of an old adage of my father's--Why go out on New Years Eve, when any real pro can go out and get a drink and kiss a girl--any other night of the year. Why compete with amateurs? Good time to not be at many lakes.

The pare-down can be brutal. The canoe is a tub, but very stable...it would not be a good boundary waters canoe....BUT the trailer is great. I just need to clear boats and unused tools and junk out.

big jet, little jet, canoe, deepV, kayak...It all comes down to courtesy and showing some respect for the resource and other people. As someone once said before the concrete block hit him: "Can't we all just get along?"

Not very often in the past five or so years...tending to fish close to home....🙁

SOLD---I have a great aluminum trailer--single axle, galvanized wheels and springs--for sale. It could be set up to haul up to a 16 foot jon boat or a couple of kayaks or a couple of canoes. It has bearing buddies, 1 7/8 ball hitch, spare and is very light. A '63 VW Beatle could even tow it. Very good condition, with good title in hand. Comes with 16ft canoe. See Craigslist listing with more photos here--https://columbiamo.craigslist.org/boa/d/huntsville-take-me-to-the-river/7524151500.html. Price discounted $ 50 if I'm contacted here vs craiglist. So member price is $ 450.