I’m Not Dead Yet

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

If you mean yours ?    Probably not.  Yours is a Suzuki designed powerhead with a Mercury designed ignition system, charging system, and fuel system.  A Frankenstein.  

But maybe. Who knows?  Only time will tell.   It's been good to you so far, and that's a good sign.  How many hours would you guess it has on it now?

Couldn't be more than 50-60 of running time and it just turned two years in august.  I did the 100 maintenance deal after one year.  It's on it's 3rd set of plugs.  Keeps fowling them.  this is the last set I took out and they were gapped wrong.  .020 instead of the .040 called out.  I'm assuming they just took these straight out of the bax without checking because they come .020.
 

 

[fishinwrench]

Those plugs aren't fouled, they look fine....other than the gapping.   Brush them off, gap them at .040 and put them back in.

So.....yet another dealership letting the floor sweeper/trailer wheel bearing guy do their warranty work.  🙄

[snagged in outlet 3]

16 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Those plugs aren't fouled, they look fine....other than the gapping.   Brush them off, gap them at .040 and put them back in.

So.....yet another dealership letting the floor sweeper/trailer wheel bearing guy do their warranty work.  🙄

It sure was missing with those plugs in.  It ran fine for a year then it ran rough (like it was missing on cylinder) and almost died.  Changed the plugs and she is running fine again.

Dealer did the same thing last year when I brought it in running rough like that.

[fishinwrench]

Well yeah, they were gapped at half of what they are supposed to be.  That doesn't mean that the plugs are bad, it just means that they aren't set right. 

It throws the heat range off when the gapping is not correct.  The plug has to get hot enough to burn off wet deposits.

[snagged in outlet 3]

9 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Well yeah, they were gapped at half of what they are supposed to be.  That doesn't mean that the plugs are bad, it just means that they aren't set right. 

It throws the heat range off when the gapping is not correct.  The plug has to get hot enough to burn off wet deposits.

I assumed that but why would it run great for almost a year then shoot craps?  Buildup?

[fishinwrench]

26 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I assumed that but why would it run great for almost a year then shoot craps?  Buildup?

Fuel quality?   (Ditch the additives that you are probably being sold....and dumping in there)

Temperature of the air/water?  (as it relates to the length of time it takes the engine to warm up/cool down)

Load on the motor?  (weight of boat, amount of current) 

Something changed.   

My biggest hangup with 4-strokes is that once a little wear happens the fuel mixture and exhaust relief changes.  After that happens it is impossible to get the performance back to what it once was.    Valvetrain seats and guides are friggin NYLON PLASTIC so if the motor ever gets a little too warm for a short period of time you can bet they'll become distorted.   And to go in and rebuild/replace them costs as much as a new powerhead.   

And guess what condition exempts your warranty?   That's right..OVERHEATING !    If they can find any signs of overheated plastic your "warranty" ain't worth a spit.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I didn't use fuel additives.  Took your advice and put in what I need and I burn it.  As far as fuel quality it comes from Phillips 66 in a busy area so I know it at least is fresh to the station.

Load on motor could be it.  Sucked up a pile of leaves.  But it was running like monkey dodo before that.  Well I'll keep running it till it doesn't then I guess I'll buy an Evinrude.  Wouldn't mind running across an old 2 stroke.  Any you recommend? 

[fishinwrench]

Just see how long it stays running ok, now that the plug gap is set correctly.  

If it Jack's up and they tell you once again that it "fouled the plugs" then demand that they correct the problem that is causing fouled plugs..... before your warranty expires.

And don't settle for them giving you some bottle of bull$#!t additive to pour in your fuel tank.  Explain to them that attempting to operate on a river with flowing water with a motor that is not dependable is DANGEROUS.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

31 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Just see how long it stays running ok, now that the plug gap is set correctly.  

If it Jack's up and they tell you once again that it "fouled the plugs" then demand that they correct the problem that is causing fouled plugs..... before your warranty expires.

And don't settle for them giving you some bottle of bull$#!t additive to pour in your fuel tank.  Explain to them that attempting to operate on a river with flowing water with a motor that is not dependable is DANGEROUS.  

BTW, the best fishing purchase of my life is that jet boat.  I've had a blast, learned a bunch of new stuff, saw a bunch of new places and caught a bunch of fish.  Shoulda bought 25 years ago when I first got interested in them.   

[Mitch f]

6 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

BTW, the best fishing purchase of my life is that jet boat.  I've had a blast, learned a bunch of new stuff, saw a bunch of new places and caught a bunch of fish.  Shoulda bought 25 years ago when I first got interested in them.   

What size is your jet boat? What’s pushing it?